Running for Office; City Court judge Division B; Smith
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Tarvald Anthony Smith has announced his candidacy for the Baton Rouge City Court Judge Division B seat.
Smith, 39, is a Democrat, an attorney and former assistant district attorney in East Baton Rouge Parish. He is currently an East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member.
The election is scheduled for May 2. If a runoff is necessary, it will be held May 30. Division B covers the western-most part of the city limits from Thomas Road to south of Lee Drive.
Besides working as a prosecutor, Smith worked as an attorney at E. Eric Guirard and Associates.
Smith, who is also licensed to practice law in Texas and the District of Columbia, has served on the Louisiana Indigent Defense Assistance Board.
According to his candidate announcement, Smith said he hopes to improve City Court docket management and hold evening court sessions if necessary.
Smith also said he hopes to encourage city prosecutors to expand the pretrial diversion program for minor offenders and work with the City Constable’s Office to provide security for night court if that is deemed necessary.
Smith said in his announcement that his seven years’ experience as a prosecutor and six years of work as a defense attorney, coupled with his plaintiff and defense civil practice, has prepared him to be a “balanced, fair and firm judge” in City Court.
Smith, who has practiced law for 13 years, is a graduate of Scotlandville Magnet High School, Southern University and the Southern University Law Center.
Smith said he has fought for children in the community as a School Board member, as a mentor and worked as a track coach at Istrouma High School.
Smith has five opponents in the race. Four are Democrats: Donald Dobbins, Kevin “Lovell” James, Kelli Terrell Temple, and Arthur R. Thomas. Republican Durinda Robinson is also running for the judgeship.
The seat became vacant when former City Court Judge Trudy White was elected state district judge in October.
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