By Lou Gehrig Burnett.
Local politicos consider it big plus for the campaign of District Court Judge Scott Crichton, who is running for a seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court. He has announced that Carolyn Prator, wife of Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator, will be co-manager of his judicial campaign along with Crichton’s wife, Susie. Crichton is challenging incumbent Associate Justice Jeff Victory, who has held the District 2 seat on the seven-member Louisiana Supreme Court since 1995. Both are Republicans.
For Crichton, who has been a District Court judge for more than 20 years, it’s an all-or-nothing scenario. That’s because it’s a rarity when the election for District Court judge and Louisiana Supreme Court judge occur at the same time. In 2014, that’s the case. So Crichton has to give up his District Court seat to run for Justice on the state’s highest court. His decision was prompted by state law, which says one cannot run for judge if he or she is 70 years of age or older. Crichton will be just past 60 when the election rolls around in 2014. Since the term on the Louisiana Supreme Court is for 10 years, he would not be able to run in 2024.
Basically, it’s now or never for him to seek a seek on the Louisiana Supreme Court. Justice Victory has worn the judicial robe for 32 years. In 1981, he was elected to the First Judicial District Court, and in 1990 was elected to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal for a term beginning January 1, 1991. He served there until he was elected as an Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court for a term beginning on January 1, 1995. Victory will be 68 at the time of the 2014 election, so he is eligible for one more 10-year term.
Louisiana Supreme Court District 2 consists of 11 parishes – Caddo, Bossier, Webster, DeSoto, Red River, Sabine, Natchitoches, Vernon, Beauregard, Allen, and Evangeline.
Crichton’s campaign headquarters is located at 725 Southfield Road. The phone number is 318-841-8000.
Qualifying for the election is August 20-22, 2014. The primary election is November 4, and the runoff, if needed, is December 6.