Running for Office; Baton Rouge City Court Division B; Robinson

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Mar 31, 2009 - Page: 5B

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Lawyer Durinda Robinson has announced her candidacy for the Baton Rouge City Court Judge Division B seat and is running, she said, for her sister.

Robinson, 55, said in her announcement that she wanted to finish the judicial election for her sister, Beverly Robinson-Downs.

Robinson-Downs qualified to run for the Division B seat but died of a heart attack before the election.

“My sister’s death comes as a total shock to my family and to the community,” Robinson, a Republican, said in her announcement.

“Bev was such a sweet spirit and bundle of energy. She worked so hard in her campaign,” the announcement says.

Robinson also said serving others is an important lesson she’s learned from her family and she wants to continue that work.

The election is slated 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.

Robinson, a 1977 graduate of the Southern University Law Center, is a mediator and has had a private civil practice for 28 years.

Robinson is a facilitator and teaches business law at the University of Phoenix, Baton Rouge campus.

Robinson is also on the East Baton Rouge Parish Tree and Landscape Commission.

One of the reasons Robinson said she entered the race is to make Baton Rouge a greener community by enforcing litter laws.

“Bev wanted to do the same,” Robinson said.

Robinson has worked as a judicial clerk at the Civil District Court for Orleans Parish and as an administrative officer for the city of New Orleans, where she dealt with people who disputed parking tickets.