Friday, November 4, 2016

Louisiana Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee Says Judge Caraway Attack Is FALSE

The Louisiana Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee issued a public statement today saying the negative attacks being run on social media by Judge Jay Caraway's campaign are false.

"The complaint concerns a statement posted to Judge Caraway's campaign committee Facebook page, "Jeff Cox Record," which says, 'Jeff Cox spent $33,500 to help elect Hillary Clinton.'...  The Committee believes the statement at issue is false and in violation of Canon 7A(9)."

Judge Caraway violated Canon 7A(9) of the Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, which provides that a judge or judicial candidate shall not "knowingly make, or cause to be made, a false statement concerning the identity, qualifications, present position, or other fact concerning the candidate or opponent,"

"Judge Cox has run a positive campaign, with the endorsement of law enforcement and hard working, honest people from throughout North Louisiana.  Meanwhile, his opponent has been caught playing dirty politics.   The  committee found Judge Caraway's ad linking Judge Cox to Hillary Clinton as being "false." The truth is, judges cannot endorse or help any candidate and Judge Caraway knew this, but he chose to lie about it anyway.  We are still waiting on one ad as to why Judge Caraway should keep his job as Judge.   One ad- and I'm betting you won't see one before Tuesday.  Shame on Judge Caraway.   He should know dirty politicians don't win,"  said H. Lyn Lawrence, Jr., a member of Judge Cox's Campaign Committee.

About Judge Jeff Cox
Judge Jeff Cox currently serves the 26th Judicial District Judge and has run a campaign based on five core principals:
  • Faith, family and service
  • Fair, honest and respectful treatment for everyone
  • Protect the U.S. Constitution and our 2nd Amendment right
  • Strictly interpret the law instead of legislating from the bench
  • No special treatment for any special interest
Judge Cox has been re-elected twice, without opposition, as the District Judge for Bossier and Webster Parishes in Division C. These two parishes comprise a majority of the votes in the Second Circuit. The other seven parishes include: Bienville, Caldwell, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Union and Winn.  He and wife, Susan, are the parents of two children, live in Bossier and attend First Baptist of Bossier.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Louisiana Republican Party endorses Jeff Cox for Court of Appeal

Baton Rouge, LA – The Republican Party of Louisiana announced today that it is endorsing Judge Jeff Cox in the race for 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal.

"Judge Jeff Cox is a lifelong Republican and in his 12 years on the bench, he has shown integrity and fairness to everyone who has come before his court.  He will work diligently with law enforcement to protect communities throughout North Louisiana and will impartially apply the law, without legislating from the bench.  He is an honest and reputable public servant and we are confident he will be a tremendous addition to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal,” said Anne Price, Deputy Director of the Republican Party of Louisiana. 

Judge Jeff Cox currently serves the 26th Judicial District Judge and has run a campaign based on five core principals:
  • Faith, family and service
  • Fair, honest and respectful treatment for everyone
  • Protect the U.S. Constitution and our 2nd Amendment right
  • Strictly interpret the law instead of legislating from the bench
  • No special treatment for any special interest
Judge Cox has been re-elected twice, without opposition, as the District Judge for Bossier and Webster Parishes in Division C. These two parishes comprise a majority of the votes in the Second Circuit. The other seven parishes include: Bienville, Caldwell, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Union and Winn.  He and wife, Susan, are the parents of two children, live in Bossier and attend First Baptist of Bossier

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Honor Trey Hutchison

August 11, 2004 is a date that is etched in the annals of Bossier City history, and not for a good reason. On this date, BCPD Officer Trey Hutchison was murdered as he walked up to a house on a domestic call. It left a permanent scar on his family, his brothers in the department, and on the city.
I have a lot of memories that center around Highway 80 and East Texas Street, beginning with weekends in High School cruising through the KoKoMo on Saturday nights, 
The most lasting memory, and certainly the saddest, was standing on the street in front of the mall and watching the funeral procession of Trey Hutchison leave First Baptist Church and proceed to Hillcrest. I was only one of thousands who watched every officer of BCPD in their police cars as they followed their fallen brother to his final resting place.
A bridge in Bossier Parish is being named in honor of SPD Officer Thomas LaValley, a very fitting tribute. 
Why can't the same be done for one of Bossier's own?
Why can't East Texas Street from Benton Road to Hillcrest be renamed the Trey Hutchison Memorial Highway? That's just one idea, there are many possibilities. 
Politicians, make it happen.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Judge Jay Caraway qualifies for re-election to Court of Appeal


Judge Jay Caraway has qualified as a candidate for re-election to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal.
 In 35 years as a lawyer, including 20 years also being a judge, the Republican resident of Bossier City has seen more than 6,000 legal disputes, with approximately 2,500 being appeals of criminal and civil judgments. He was also selected by the state Supreme Court to sit on the Judiciary Commission, and was invited by the Louisiana State University Law School to be an adjunct professor. 
 Judge Caraway touts his appellate court experience as a distinguishing qualification in this election. "I dealt with major appellate cases as a lawyer, and argued before the appellate courts of this state and the U.S. 5th Circuit," he said. "That cumulative experience prepares me for the next set of facts, for the next dispute that I will see as a judge; and working with other judges, we can reach the proper resolution under our law."
 Judge Caraway credits his roots in the North-Central Parishes of Louisiana as the life experience that prepared him for his public service as judge.
 This November 8 election covers the parishes of Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Union, Lincoln, Caldwell, Bienville, Jackson and Winn.
 To learn more about Judge Caraway visit judgejaycaraway.com.

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Judge Cox qualifies for Court of Appeals

Judge Jeff Cox qualified today as a candidate for the Second Circuit Court of Appeal.  Judge Cox has been re-elected twice without opposition as a District Judge in  Bossier and Webster Parishes.  These two parishes comprise a majority of the votes in the Second Circuit race.  The other seven parishes include:  Bienville, Caldwell, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Union, and Winn. 
A Republican with broad support from the law enforcement community, Judge Cox understands the concerns expressed by law enforcement and the broader community about criminals being released from jail and felony sentences being reversed.  “I am honored to have such strong support of people from every walk of life—especially our law enforcement officers,” Cox said.  Judge Cox is the only candidate in the race with courtroom experience as a prosecutor and trial judge.  He favors strict interpretation of the Constitution and is opposed to legislating from the bench.  
Judge Cox continues to be a strong advocate for the elderly, and he supports Second Amendment rights. 
Judge Cox, a native of Webster Parish, resides in Bossier City with his wife, Susan, and their children:  Gabrielle and Stephen, who are students at Louisiana Tech University.  Judge Cox serves as deacon and teacher at First Baptist Church Bossier and is a member of a number of civic and wildlife organizations. 
For more information, visit electjudgejeffcox.com.

Judge Jeff Cox signs the paperwork to officially become a candidate in the race for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal

Judge Jeff Cox, and his wife Susan, at the Secretary of State's office, where Judge Cox qualified as a candidate for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal this morning.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Breakfast 101

    I put this on Facebook this morning and a few people seemed to like it, so I feel compelled to share it on this forum. I know you all love it when I share my wisdom.
    Biscuits were created to be complemented with butter. Some people brush the top with butter, in fact, I have done that myself. That is not a ‘buttered biscuit’. A buttered biscuit is a biscuit that has been split open and has a big hunk of butter put in the center. It’s allowed to melt and run down the sides (and down your chin in the process). THAT is a buttered biscuit.
    Eggs are composed of two parts, the yolk and the white. The white is all protein and the yolk is fat. The yolk is the good part. They are meant to be eaten together, that’s why God made them the way they are. I like eggs in any form, and I usually eat them scrambled. They were orginially intended, however, to be fried in bacon grease.
    Sausage - As long as the label says ‘pork sausage’ you’re good to go. (At this point I'll embellish a bit, because it was pointed out in the original post that I left off Biscuits smothered in sausage gravy. By all means - smother them. Do not use packaged gravy mix! Cook your sausage down, sprinkle a little flour on it, let it cook for about a minute then hit it with milk.)
    Bacon is cured pork belly. Simple test – if it’s not pork, it’s not bacon. Of course, the pork belly can be cooked in other ways, braised with a nice glaze for instance. Let me see you eat a nice glazed ‘turkey belly’ and maybe you can make a believer out of me.
    Grits, yes grits. This is the south, not freaking Idaho. We eat grits down here. Grits, when they were created by the Lord, were intended to be eaten with salt and butter. Personally, I also prefer lots of black pepper. I have heard of people putting sugar on grits; they are obviously confusing them with cream of wheat, and they probably are Yankees.
    If you enjoyed a breakfast of ‘turkey bacon’ and an ‘egg white omelet’, more power to you. Now get in your Prius and head on over to the Hillary rally. 
    I’m going to eat breakfast.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Wally World or No?

By John E Settle Jr. 
The Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) meeting on Monday (June 13) has 8 agenda items dealing with the proposed new north Bossier Wal-Mart. This hearing will probably be standing room only,—and the votes by the MPC will then head to the Bossier City Council. This proposed development has created the largest citizen outcry in this decade by a city known to be very very business friendly,—so much that private citizens believe that their interests are frequently ignored.
 
The Oden family owns a substantial tract that fronts on Airline and Wemple road that they hope to develop much like the Target/Sams commercial area just north of I-220 and Airline. The first effort is the proposed transaction with the Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust (WMREB) and the MPC applications have created a storm of opposition that Wal-Marts have experienced in other locations throughout the nation. Specifically the WMREB has the following items up for vote on Monday: to change zoning classification from residential agriculture to B-3 General Business for a Walmart Supercenter and Fueling Station, for preliminary plat approval for the Wal-Mart Wemple Commercial Development Subdivision, an application for an exterior lighting review of the proposed Walmart Supercenter, an application for a Conditional Use Approval for 24 hour operation of the proposed Walmart Supercenter,  an application for Conditional Use Approval for the sale of high and low content alcohol for off premise consumption at the proposed Walmart Supercenter, a Conditional Use Approval for the sale of low content alcohol for off premise consumption at the proposed Walmart Fuel Station, a landscape review for the proposed Walmart Supercenter as well as a landscape review of the proposed Walmart Fuel Station.
 
The new store would be located approximately 3 miles north of the existing Walmart Supercenter on Airline, which naturally has lead to many questions as to the future of the existing location if the new SuperCenter is approved. Bossier has already experienced the major closing of commercial center on Benton Road near the overpass when the Kroger Market Place opened  and  the Kroger at that center. A Walmart spokesman declined to directly answer that closing issue, only stating that the new proposed Supercenter was a completely separate market—the growth north of I-220.
 
An MPC spokesman indicated that 2 major planning concerns were drainage in that area if the development is approved along with additional traffic on Airline Drive. WMREB is to present their proposals on drainage and traffic at Monday’s meeting, which should include the $64 question—who is to pay for any remedial efforts to alleviate the negative impacts of the development on both drainage and traffic. Neighborhood opposition has also focused on potential declines in values of personal homes and a possible increase in crime.

After the MPC votes, the Walmart circus will then move to the Bossier City Council for final approval. The Council recently voted to annex the 99 acres that includes the land intended for the Supercenter. This vote was taken after the Council had previously voted to de-annex this tract due to citizens. Eventually, this dispute could end up in he courts.
 

John E. Settle, Jr. is a attorney in private practice in Shreveport-Bossier and owner of ArkLaTex Title Company. John is a member of the State Bars of Louisiana, Georgia and California and has been practicing law for over 40 years. John writes a weekly column for The Inquisitor and is featured in other local interest publications.
Copyright © 2016 John E. Settle, Jr., All rights reserved

Monday, May 30, 2016

Memorial Day 2016

On Memorial Day, we honor those who have fallen in service to our country.  I have compiled a list of service men and women from Bossier Parish who have died in action, beginning with World War I. This list is as complete as I could make it; if you know of anyone who is not on the list, please let me know and I will add them. List of everyone from Louisiana who was killed in all wars.

WORLD WAR  I
Thomas E Doty
Robert N Gaynor
James H Roach
Clark Strayhan
Allie Bryant
Stephen Fullwood
Allen Gleason
Arthur Jackson
Gus Williams
Murphy Williams

WORLD WAR II
Willie B American
James O Avery
William Bedingfield
Guy A Buie
Gay Clark
Charles R Clemens
Thomas B Cole
Lamar Coleman
Harold J Courtney
Garland E Hickman
Campbell B Hodges
Woodrow W Holland
Louis A Johnson
Robert A Johnson
Grant King
Eugene E Lossett
Jake Maniscalco Jr
Horace J Miller
James V Palmer
Allen S Powell
Hines N Ritch
George F Rowe
Wilburn Sheppard
Roy T Strange
Stephen T Strayhan
John L Swilley
Harold M Valentine
Charles W Watson Jr
Kenneth Winham

KOREAN WAR
David Grisham
James Kelleher
C Steelman

VIETNAM WAR
Arthur Norman Welch
Dennis Bedelle Black
Alton Delaney Kellogg
Wallace Lee Ogea
Isaac David Faughn
Charles Reuben Miller Jr
Arnold John Rahm
Dolroy Francies
James Walter Myles
Herbert Walter
Milford Donovin Carter

IRAQ
Craig T Nelson
Bernard C Sembly
Julia V Atkins
Joshua C Burrows

AFGHANISTAN
Michael Garcia
Larry D Bunn

Republished from 2015