Guidry defeats Kuhn for Supreme Court seat
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NEW ORLEANS — After a hard-fought race for a pivotal seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court, Greg G. Guidry, of Nine Mile Point, scored an impressive victory Tuesday over fellow state appellate court Judge James “Jimmy” Kuhn, of Ponchatoula.
With all 515 precincts reporting, Guidry, a judge on the state 5th Circuit Court of Appeal, had 151,281 votes or 59.6 percent of the unofficial total.
Kuhn, a judge on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, had 102,441 or 40.4 percent.
Both are Republicans who were seeking to fill the 1st District seat of retiring Chief Justice Pascal Calogero, a New Orleans Democrat.
The election of either candidate was expected to result in a more conservative direction for the state’s highest court.
During the runoff, both Kuhn and Guidry presented themselves as legal conservatives who would strictly interpret the laws in each case.
Both sides produced provocative attack fliers and television commercials, with help from third parties.
The Louisiana Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee this past week reprimanded both Guidry and Kuhn for violating the code of judicial conduct after reviewing their advertising claims.
A former federal prosecutor, Guidry was elected judge of the 24th Judicial District Court, where he served for six years. In 2006, he won election to the state 5th Circuit Court of Appeal, which hears cases in four parishes.
Kuhn, admitted to the practice of law 35 years ago, has served on the 1st Circuit since his election in 1994. The court covers 16 parishes, including East Baton Rouge. Previously, Kuhn was elected judge to the 21st Judicial District Court in 1990.
The 1st Supreme Court District includes all of St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes as well as parts of Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Calogero is scheduled to retire Dec. 31.
As the next senior associate justice, Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball, a Democrat from Ventress, will assume the duties of chief justice on the court.
With all 515 precincts reporting, Guidry, a judge on the state 5th Circuit Court of Appeal, had 151,281 votes or 59.6 percent of the unofficial total.
Kuhn, a judge on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, had 102,441 or 40.4 percent.
Both are Republicans who were seeking to fill the 1st District seat of retiring Chief Justice Pascal Calogero, a New Orleans Democrat.
The election of either candidate was expected to result in a more conservative direction for the state’s highest court.
During the runoff, both Kuhn and Guidry presented themselves as legal conservatives who would strictly interpret the laws in each case.
Both sides produced provocative attack fliers and television commercials, with help from third parties.
The Louisiana Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee this past week reprimanded both Guidry and Kuhn for violating the code of judicial conduct after reviewing their advertising claims.
A former federal prosecutor, Guidry was elected judge of the 24th Judicial District Court, where he served for six years. In 2006, he won election to the state 5th Circuit Court of Appeal, which hears cases in four parishes.
Kuhn, admitted to the practice of law 35 years ago, has served on the 1st Circuit since his election in 1994. The court covers 16 parishes, including East Baton Rouge. Previously, Kuhn was elected judge to the 21st Judicial District Court in 1990.
The 1st Supreme Court District includes all of St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes as well as parts of Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Calogero is scheduled to retire Dec. 31.
As the next senior associate justice, Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball, a Democrat from Ventress, will assume the duties of chief justice on the court.
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