Lisa Nelson
Lisa Nelson was a Republican candidate for Division A judge of the 30th Judicial District Court in Louisiana. She was defeated in the primary election on October 14, 2017.
Nelson was also a candidate for the 30th District seat in 2015.[1]
Biography
Nelson earned a B.A. in history and political science and a J.D. from Louisiana State University.[2]
At the time of her 2017 run for office, Nelson was the interim prosecutor for the city of Leesville and a public defender for the 30th Judicial District. Her professional experience also includes work for Kisatchie Legal Services, as an adjunct professor at the Fort Polk Branch of Upper Iowa University, and as a partner with the law firms Self & Nelson and Williams & Nelson. Nelson has served as a certified foster parent, the president of the Kiwanis Club of Vernon, and a board member for the Pilot Club of Leesville.[2]
Elections
2017
Louisiana had partisan elections for local judicial offices in 2017. A primary election was held on October 14, 2017, and a general election was held on November 18, 2017. Primary and general elections were also held on March 25, 2017, and April 29, 2017, respectively.
The candidate filing deadline for the spring elections was January 13, 2017, and the deadline for the fall elections was July 14, 2017. In Louisiana, judicial candidates who are unopposed as of the end of the candidate filing period are automatically declared elected, and their names do not appear on the ballot.[3][4] Tony Bennett (Independent) defeated Lisa Nelson (R) in the primary election for the Division A seat on the 30th Judicial District Court.[5]
| 30th Judicial District Court, Division A, Primary Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Independent |  Tony Bennett |
75.24% | 3,719 | |
| Republican | Lisa Nelson | 24.76% | 1,224 | |
| Total Votes | 4,943 | |||
| Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, "Official Election Results," accessed October 30, 2017 | ||||
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
There are 217 judges on the Louisiana District Courts, each elected to six-year terms. They must face re-election if they wish to serve again.[6]
The district courts select chief judges by peer vote (with term lengths that vary by individual court).[6]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[6][7]
- licensed to practice law in the state for at least eight years;
- a resident of the district represented for at least one year; and
- under the age of 70 at the time of election (judges who turn 70 in office may serve until their term expires)
2015
- See also: Louisiana judicial elections, 2015
Louisiana's judicial elections included a primary on October 24, 2015, and a general on November 21, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates was September 10, 2015.
| 30th Judicial District, Division C, Primary Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Other | Scott Westerchil |
62.6% | 6,557 | |
| Republican | Lisa Nelson | 37.4% | 3,913 | |
| Total Votes | 10,470 | |||
| Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, "Official Election Results," accessed December 4, 2015 | ||||
See also
- 30th Judicial District, Louisiana
- Louisiana judicial elections
- Courts in Louisiana
- Louisiana District Courts
External links
- Louisiana District Judges Association
- Social media
Footnotes
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Candidate Portal," accessed September 14, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Around the Town, "Lisa Nelson Announces Candidacy for Judge," July 5, 2017
- ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "RS 18:511, Subpart F: Election of Candidates," accessed March 23, 2017
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "2017 Elections," accessed February 1, 2017
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Candidate Inquiry," accessed July 15, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Louisiana; Selection of Judges," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ NOLA.com, "Lawmakers fail to pass amendment eliminating mandatory retirement age of judges," June 3, 2013
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana
State courts:
Louisiana Supreme Court • Louisiana Courts of Appeal • Louisiana District Courts • Louisiana City Courts • Louisiana Family Courts • Louisiana Justice of the Peace Courts • Louisiana Juvenile Courts • Louisiana Mayor’s Courts • Louisiana Municipal Courts • Louisiana Parish Courts • Louisiana Traffic Courts
State resources:
Courts in Louisiana • Louisiana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Louisiana
