Running for Office: Louisiana Supreme Court Dist. 5
November 02, 2012
Baton Rouge lawyer Jeffry L. Sanford is the only no-party candidate for the District 5 seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Sanford, who has 21 years of experience, refers to himself as a “constitutional rights attorney” and describes his campaign planks as those of “an independent liberty platform.”
He explained his view that justification for any state laws impinging on personal freedoms should be easily recognizable.
“If a law cannot be read and easily understood in the span of an hour, it (should) be stricken as unconstitutional,” Sanford said. “How can the citizens of this state be presumed to know the law if the Legislature that passes (it) doesn’t even read it? There will be no more unchecked idiocy from the Legislature.”
Sanford said he wants judicial changes that would erase criminal convictions from the records of victimless offenders who do not become repeat offenders.
He said sentencing guidelines should be adopted to “require the judges of this state to impose only token punishment for victimless crime.”
Asked for examples of victimless crimes, Sanford responded: “Drug possession is the first that comes to mind. Drug distribution to consenting adults is another. Gambling-related offenses and prostitution by adults are others.”
Sanford also said nonviolent offenders should not be imprisoned with violent offenders.
Sanford also said lawyers who knowingly file civil suits containing unfounded allegations should lose their law licenses.
“The problem of lawyers filing any kind of lies they are paid to file must be addressed,” Sanford said.
Sanford is one of eight candidates for the unexpired term of Chief Justice Kitty Kimball, who will retire in January. Six years remain on Kimball’s 10-year term.
Also running are 1st Circuit Judge John Michael Guidry and Baton Rouge attorney Mary Olive Pierson, both Democrats. Republicans in the race are 1st Circuit Judges Jeff Hughes of Walker, Toni Higginbotham and Jewel “Duke” Welch, both of Baton Rouge, and 19th Judicial District in Baton Rouge, Timothy “Tim” Kelley and William “Bill” Morvant.
District 5 includes voters in the parishes of East and West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, Livingston, Ascension, Iberville and Pointe Coupee. District residents wanting more information about Sanford may visit his website at http://www.sanfordforjustice.org.