‘The Last Word’: McClelland honored by friends, peers

District Judge James R. McClelland has retired from the 16th Judicial District Court.
The Louisiana Supreme Court recently appointed newly-retired Judge Ed Leonard to assume the duties of Division D of the Court until Sept. 30 or until further orders of the Court.
Judge McClelland, known as Jim or Mac to his friends and colleagues, was born in 1946 in Jefferson Davis Parish. He graduated from Elton High School in 1964, from Louisiana State University in 1969 receiving a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering, a master’s of business administration from LSU in 1971 and a juris doctorate in 1975.
While at law school, he was named a member of the Order of the Coif and co-authored the legal text book Louisiana Evidence Law with a major professor, Dr. George Pugh.
Upon his graduation from law school, he was offered positions from large major firms but his preference was always to live and work in a small town where he and his wife, Sandy Tate McClelland, could raise a family and become a part of a friendly, supportive community.
When the law firm of Aycock, Horne & Coleman offered him a position, he eagerly accepted. Jim and Sandy quickly became active members of the Franklin community. Jim coached Pee Wee football, Little League baseball, Biddy basketball and Hanson girls basketball teams. He is also a long time member of the Franklin Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
When the legal requirements of legal representation of indigent criminal defendants changed in 1975, Jim became a criminal defense attorney with the first Indigent Defender Board created in the 16th Judicial District. His knowledge and ability as a criminal defense attorney led to his being invited to join the staff of the District Attorney in 1981 while continuing his civil practice with the Aycock firm. Jim prosecuted felony cases for the District Attorney and represented the St. Mary Parish School Board and the St. Mary Parish Government.
This work continued until 2009 when he was elected and recently re-elected, without opposition, to the Division D judgeship for the 16th Judicial District Court. He has served with distinction, including as the judge of the St. Mary Parish Adult Drug Treatment Court, the St. Mary Parish Juvenile Drug Treatment Court and the St. Mary Parish DWI Court
McClelland was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2012 which eventually forced his retirement.
Judge McClelland, upon retirement, recommended to the Louisiana Supreme Court that his longtime friend and colleague on the bench, Judge Ed Leonard, be selected to temporarily fill his seat in Division D.
Judge Leonard, a Morgan City native, attended the public schools of St. Mary Parish, graduated from Nicholls State College, and graduated from LSU Law School. He entered into private law practice first in association with Leonard C. Wise, then as a sole practitioner, and then as a partner in the firm of Leonard and Hayes, with Dale H. Hayes. In 1970 he was invited by then District Attorney Knowles Tucker to join his staff. As assistant District Attorney he prosecuted the major felony cases, and also represented the St. Mary Parish Government and its various agencies and legal subdivisions. He continued his private law practice and assistant District Attorney work until his election without opposition as a district j udge in 1997. He was re-elected without opposition in 2003 and 2009. He retired from the bench in 2015, with the intent of practicing law again, which he still intends to do when his temporary appointment to the bench expires later this year.
Prior to McClelland’s departure from the bench, friends and employees gathered to wish him well during a crowded reception held in the St. Mary Parish Courthouse. McClelland had a statement prepared for the occasion, “The Last Word,” which was read aloud by his law clerk Brady Holtzclaw:
“During my 33 years of practicing law, my opponents always wanted to get in the last word to a judge in a case. And certainly, even since I have been on the bench, lawyers have tried to get in the last word before me. This is MY last chance to get in the last word.
“As you know, I am retiring as of March 1, 2015 due to health reasons. In fact, I am unable to deliver the words in this short speech and it will be delivered by my law clerk, Brady Holtzclaw.
“Sandy and I came to Franklin because it was the smallest town that I received a job offer from. The way the community has responded after news of my illness was received, shows that we were correct in choosing a small town in which to practice. Numerous friends have offered their support and time so as to make our lives as easy as possible while this terrible disease attacks my body. I know that these same people will provide support and assistance to Sandy and the family when I lose this battle. However, I ask that you do not feel sorry for me nor mourn my passing when the time comes. Sandy and I have had a very blessed life and I wish to outline a few of these blessings.
“I was blessed to be born to Ray and Florene McClelland. My parents were very interested in being my parents and not my friend. They were also very interested in education as being the path to a better life.
“I was blessed to live on a farm as I was born there. This life taught me that there is no substitute for hard work and also taught me that life is not always fair.
“I was blessed to be born with a good mind and blessed to have the opportunity to receive a good education. I believe I am living the American dream because a good education coupled with hard work has certainly helped Sandy and I to live a good life.
“I was blessed to marry Sandra Fay Tate on February 6, 1971. We have been true to our vows including until death do we part. We have certainly experienced our share of good times and bad, and sickness and health. Thank you for taking care of and putting up with me for all those years. I will love you forever and I pray that you will have a good rest of your life. You have certainly earned it in my book.
“Sandy and I were blessed to have two sons, Joseph and Jeffery. While our boys did not do it the way Sandy and I did it, we are both proud of them in what they have accomplished thus far in life. We were also blessed to have two foster children in our lives, Jamie and Jody. We are very proud of the way they have turned their lives around and are happy that they are both doing very well.
“Sandy and I were blessed to have 11 loving grandchildren born to our family. All of the grandchildren are smart and each possesses unique abilities, skills and talents. I pray that they couple these God-given gifts with education so that they might live lives that are successful and share this through the community in which they live. Our grandchildren certainly add a sparkle to our lives and we love each and every one of them very much.
“I was blessed in my professional career to always enjoy the jobs that I had and the people that I worked with. I was a partner at Aycock, Horne & Coleman and the skills that I had matched the skills that the other lawyers had, so that the firm was very successful. I enjoyed working 33 years with John Coleman, Andy Reed, Hal Stiel and Margaret Judice. It was truly my pleasure to work with these individuals and I consider them to be my friends.
“I was blessed to work with Jim Supple and others to begin an indigent defender program for the 16th Judicial District. I’m happy to say that what we started has continued today and the lawyers connected with that program still use some of those forms that we prepared when we got started. It was certainly my pleasure to be involved with Jim Supple, T. Frere McNulty and Shorty Deslatte.
“I was blessed to be appointed as an Assistant District Attorney by Bernie Boudreaux in 1981. I was fortunate to work with fine prosecutors until I was elected Judge and took office Jan. 1, 2009. I had various duties and assignments as an Assistant District Attorney and I enjoyed all of them. Phil Haney appointed me to serve as First Assistant District Attorney in St. Mary Parish for several years before my election. I was blessed to work with Bernie Boudreaux, Phil Haney and Bo Duhe. I was also blessed to work with Ed Leonard, Jimmy Senette, Vincent Borne, Curtis Sigur, Tommy Senette, Tony Saleme and Erica Rose. I feel that these fine people that make up our District Attorney’s Office will be successful in life as I believe I have been.
“I was blessed to serve on the bench with seven other judges in the 16th Judicial District. These judges were all very supportive of me and were always ready, willing and able to help if I had a doctor’s appointment or something of that nature. Of course, I was always ready to help if they had a similar problem. In any event, the camaraderie that I enjoyed with these judges was truly remarkable. The judges that I served with were John Conery, Ed Leonard, Vincent Borne, Gerry Wattigny, Keith Comeaux, Charles Porter, Paul deMahy and Lori Landry. I would put our bench against any in the state and I know that we would fare very well. I thank my fellow judges for this wonderful experience that we have shared.
“I was blessed to have seven law clerks while serving as your judge. These fine young women and young men always kept me informed about the cases coming before me and helped me to look smart and well prepared to the people appearing before me. All of my clerks were very intelligent and well educated. I have no doubt that each one will be very successful in life and I wish to thank them for always keeping me on my toes and for always being positive and having great senses of humor.
“I was blessed to work with court personnel in all three parishes who were very professional and always did their best to see that my special needs were met. I will always remember the kindness extended by the minute clerks and the bailiffs in all three parishes.
“And finally I was blessed to have Julie LeBourgeois as my secretary for all of my years of professional service. Sandy and I consider Julie a part of our family. We are so close that we even had grandsons born on the same day, August 29, 2011.
“As you can see, I have been truly blessed in this life. I once again ask that you not feel sorry for me or mourn me when my time on earth is done. Instead I suggest some of the following:
“Hug your spouse and tell them how much you love them.
“Hug your children and tell them how smart they are and how much you love them and how proud you are of them.
“Hug your grandchildren and tell them how much you love them and how much sparkle they add to your life.
“Enjoy an athletic event or contest involving your favorite team or teams.
“Enjoy a fine meal with your family and/or friends.
“Enjoy an expensive adult beverage on special occasions when such would be proper.
“Gentlemen, enjoy a fine cigar after a win by your team in an athletic contest or after a very fine meal.
“Enjoy anything else that you enjoy with your family and your friends but matches whatever occasion is being celebrated.
“Sandy and I want to thank each and every one of you for all the support that you have given us throughout our lives in Franklin and especially since I was diagnosed with this terrible disease on April 17, 2012. I wish to thank you for the support that I know you will extend to Sandy and the family in the days to come.
“Thank you for the kind attention this evening as I have attempted to get in the last word.”