By Lou Gehrig Burnett
After wearing the judicial robe for 33 years, Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jeff Victory, 67, of Shreveport is retiring at the end of his current term on December 31, 2014.
Reliable sources tell the Fax-Net that he will not seek a third 10-year term on the state’s high court. No official public announcement has been made, however, but it is confirmed that Victory will retire.
FAX-NET EXCLUSIVE!
The news of Victory’s retirement had the political rumor mill abuzz this past weekend. Much discussion had taken place on whether Victory would retire or face what would have been a tough race for re-election.
Caddo District Court Judge Scott Crichton, who has served on the bench for 23 years, had already thrown his robe into the ring and has been actively campaigning and raising money for a race against the incumbent justice.
When contacted by the Fax-Net, Crichton said, “I commend Justice Victory on three decades of judicial service, and I wish him and his family the very best.” For now, Crichton, a Republican, is the lone candidate in the race for the 2nd District seat on the seven-member Louisiana Supreme Court. The election is scheduled for the fall of 2014.
The 2nd District consists of 11 parishes – Caddo, Bossier, Webster, DeSoto, Red River, Sabine, Natchitoches, Vernon, Beauregard, Allen, and Evangeline.
There are 409,524 registered voters in the 2nd District. Of that total, 258,949 or 63% are white, 133,791 or 33% are black, and 16,784 or 4% are other races. By party affiliation, 192,244 or 47% are Democrats, 119,704 or 29% are Republicans, and 97,576 or 24% are Other Parties.
Interestingly, of the total number of registered voters in the district, 237,436 or 58% reside in Caddo and Bossier parishes. A seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court is certainly a judicial plum, and it is unlikely that Crichton will be unopposed.
In fact, the political rumor mill is already saying that 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Jay Caraway, 50, a Democrat from Bossier City, is giving some thought to entering the race. He did not return a phone call from the Fax-Net over the weekend.
If anyone has ever earned his retirement, Victory has. Here is a brief look at his judicial career:
*1995-2014: Justice, Louisiana Supreme Court.
*1990-1995: Judge, Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal.
*1981-1990: Judge, 1st Judicial District, Louisiana.
*1971-1981: Attorney, Tucker, Jeter and Jackson.