District judge candidates field questions at local forum

Three candidates to fill the unexpired term of the late James McClelland on the 16th Judicial District Court bench responded to questions in a forum Thursday hosted by the City of Franklin and the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce.
The candidates in the Oct. 24 Division D race are Eddie Guidry of St. Martinville, Nicholas “Nick” LaRocca of Morgan City and Lewis Pitman of New Iberia.
Moderator Anthony Baham delivered the questions which the candidates had been provided in advance.
All of the candidates are experienced litigators each with more than 30 to 40 years of experience practicing law both in and out of the courtroom.
On what they would do to make it easier for criminal offenders to transition into society LaRocca said that due to cost restraints preparations would have to be taken one step at a time. He said he would advocate a cooperative effort among law enforcement, courts and faith based organizations to find ways to strengthen and improve the transition from jails into communities.
He added that Congress passed the Second Chance Act in 2008 which provides for grants on reentry programs.
“We can do this together one step at a time,” he said.
“Drug use is a terrible problem,” Guidry said. He said drug offenders should be educated and taught job skills. “We need counseling to counsel them how to handle the stress of being released from prison,” he said. He added that treatment of offenders with mental health issues also should be improved.
Pitman said new any programs would require enactment by the state legislature. He added that what is available now is a drug court reentry program which has been implemented in Orleans and Baton Rouge parishes. The program is similar to drug courts that are in operation in the 16th JDC in that it is made part of parole conditions with strict monitoring. Pitman, who noted that he has served in an assistant district attorney role in all three drug courts in the district, also advocated extended use of work release programs.
On the prevention of domestic violence, Guidry said the victim “should always be protected.” He noted that Chez Hope in Franklin and Safety Net for Abused Persons in New Iberia are available to provide services to victims of domestic violence. Those agencies should be made better known to the public. He added that offenders should have to go through intervention programs.
Pitman said in his personal observance, in 85 percent of domestic violence cases, the use of alcohol and/or drugs were the underlying cause. He added that cases should first be assessed as to their cause to determine if the offender has anger management issues or is “just evil and enjoys hurting people.” In the former, offenders should be subject to anger management and battery prevention programs as conditions of probation. In the latter case, offenders should face lengthy jail sentences, he said.
LaRocca said the pattern of domestic violence often repeats generationally.
“Louisiana ranks third in the nation in female deaths caused by a spouse,” he said. He added that domestic violence is deliberate choice by the offender to gain control over his victim.
“We must have batterers know that our society does not support or tolerate violence in the home,” he said. After being found guilty, offenders “should spend some time in quiet reflection and I’m talking about jail,” LaRocca said. “We don’t appreciate our liberty unless it’s taken away from us and that’s the deterrent.”
He said the Chez Hope and SNAP programs provide domestic violence victims the tools to remove themselves from abusive relationships and start new lives.