Supreme Court District 5

Judge Jeff Hughes, of Walker, has announced his candidacy in the Nov. 6 election for the Louisiana Supreme Court, District 5, which covers the Baton Rouge metro area.

Hughes is an eight-year member of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge. He previously served as a district court judge for 14 years and as an attorney in private practice for 12 years.

The Republican candidate said he is a fiscal and social conservative, with a pro-life, pro-gun and pro-traditional marriage philosophy.

Hughes was selected for the Law Review at LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in history, with honors, from LSU. The judge was salutatorian of his class at Denham Springs High School and a National Merit Scholar finalist.

“Crime is obviously a concern for area voters,” Hughes said. “I have more years as a judge in criminal court than all other candidates combined.

“Fortunately, I have never released from jail anybody who turned around and killed someone,” Hughes said. “Most people who find themselves in criminal court are just not that smart, or were in the wrong place at the wrong time. But it is important to be able to discern true evil and lock it away for as long as possible — or to impose the death penalty, if needed.”

Hughes authored the first appellate decision that affirmed the conviction of serial murderer Derrick Todd Lee, who is on death row.

Four years ago, he was the only Republican to challenge Chief Justice Kitty Kimball, a Democrat who has announced she will retire in January.

Hughes is a dog lover who has volunteered at the Denham Springs Animal Shelter. He is president of the Bay Tree Hunting Club and attends Shady Bower Church.

District 5 includes East and West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, Livingston, Ascension, Iberville and Pointe Coupee parishes.

Two other Republican candidates for the remaining six years of Kimball’s 10-year term on the Supreme Court also are on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal — Baton Rouge residents Toni Higginbotham and Jewel “Duke” Welch.

Other Republican candidates in the race are 19th Judicial District Court Judges William Morvant and Timothy Kelley.

Other candidates are Democrats John Michael Guidry, of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, and Baton Rouge lawyer Mary Olive Pierson, and Baton Rouge attorney Jeffry Lamonte Sanford, no party.

Voters wanting additional information about Hughes can visit his website at: http://www.judgejeff.com.