Running for Office: 1st Circuit Court of Appeal
Advocate staff report
October 12, 2012
Judge Mike McDonald, R-Baton Rouge, is seeking re-election to the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, a position he has held since 2003.
Before his election to the appellate court, McDonald spent 16 years presiding over criminal and civil cases on the 19th Judicial District Court.
“I have been honored to serve as a judge for the past 26 years. The law and our Constitution have guided my rulings and will continue to do so as long as the voters allow me to serve them on the Court of Appeal,” McDonald said in a written announcement.
The 1st Circuit seat that McDonald holds — 2nd District, Subdistrict 1, Division B — encompasses all of East Baton Rouge Parish, excluding Scotlandville, Southern University, downtown Baton Rouge and LSU.
The qualifying period for the Nov. 6 election is Wednesday through Friday. Trudy M. White, a Democrat and a 19th Judicial District Court judge, has announced that she plans to challenge McDonald.
McDonald served in the U.S. Navy from 1969-72. He graduated from Officer Candidate School as an ensign and served aboard the aircraft carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt with Attack Squadron Eighty-Seven.
His duties included planning combat missions and briefing and debriefing air crews.
He retired as a captain in the Naval Reserve Intelligence Program in 1999, having served as commanding officer of Fleet Intelligence Reserve Support Team Europe and Atlantic 1182.
Before retiring, he worked at the Defense POW/MIA office, where he assisted in locating the remains of missing servicemen from various wars.
After earning his law degree from LSU in 1976, McDonald joined the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office.
He served as an assistant district attorney for five years, two of which as the chief assistant district attorney of the Narcotics Division.
McDonald, an Eagle Scout, served as a youth soccer coach for 35 years.
Recently, he was inducted into the Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He has been a Scoutmaster and a board member of Boys Club.
McDonald has been married to Memrie Taylor McDonald for 39 years. They have three children, Taylor, Becky and Daniel.
The McDonalds are members of St. James Episcopal Church.