Justice Hughes Takes Oath in Satsuma

SATSUMA — Court of Appeal Judge Jeff Hughes took the oath of office Sunday afternoon as a new associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court in ceremonies at the Satsuma community center.
The crowd of more than 400 included Supreme Court Associate Justice Greg Guidry of Jefferson Parish, Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, and numerous court of appeal and district judges, parish presidents, district attorneys, and other local officials from throughout the Florida parishes.
Hughes practiced law in Walker for 12 years, served as district court judge for 14 years, and served on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal for eight years before being elected to the Supreme Court in a special election Dec. 8. Hughes is the first member of the State Supreme Court ever elected from Livingston Parish and the first Republican ever elected to the court from the Baton Rouge area. He replaces Kitty Kimball who resigned effective Jan. 29.
Speakers were Livingston Parish News publisher Jeff David and Central City News editor Woody Jenkins.  David recounted his friendship with Hughes as the two grew up in Denham Springs. He told how Hughes came to borrow his law books and then returned each time he chose to run for a different judgeships.  Hughes defeated a sitting district judge, then a sitting appeal court judge before running against the sitting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  He lost that race but came back and was elected to the Supreme Court Dec. 8, 2012.
Jenkins said Hughes’ election reminds us how blessed we are to elect our judges in Louisiana.  He said, “The United States is one of only three nations which elect their judges, the others being Japan and Switzerland. However, even in the United States, a majority of the states have supreme courts which are appointed rather than elected. Many of our problems originate from appointed federal judges who answer to no one.  These include the decisions on abortion, prayer in schools, Obamacare, and many others.  Thankfully, in Louisiana, we have the power to elect outstanding jurists like Jeff Hughes.”