Circuit Court of Appeal Hears Civil, Criminal Matters

McDonald has been endorsed by the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish.

The candidates in the election are:

• Attorney Gideon Carter III,

a Democrat who has been endorsed by the Democratic Party of East Baton Rouge Parish. Carter has practiced law for 25 years, including Civil Rights, civil litigation, state and federal criminal law, commercial law, succession and estate representation, financial/estate/retirement planning, insurance and personal injury litigation, family law, property law and worker’s compensation.  He has also been involved in a number of high profile school desegregation cases, including those in East Baton Rouge Parish, Jefferson Parish, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, Tangipahoa, and Pointe Coupee parishes.

• Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Mike McDonald who is the incumbent in the race. A veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, McDonald retired as a Captain.  He served as an Assistant District Attorney before being elected District Judge for East Baton Rouge Parish, a position he held for 16 years, before being elected to the Court of Appeal in 2003.  He has served on the bench for nearly 26 years.  He earned B.S. and law degrees from LSU.  McDonald said, “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.”

• District Judge Trudy White, a Republican, earned a B.S. degree in business management from Howard University and a law degree from LSU.  She served as General Counsel fo the Louisiana Department of Revenue and executive director of the Louis A. Martinet Society’s Pro Bono Program.  She served in the administrations of Gov. Edwin Edwards and Buddy Roemer.  Before being elected as District Judge, she served as City Judge for Baton Rouge.