Appellate court Judge James “Jimmy” Genovese confirmed Feb. 1 that he has entered the race for Louisiana Supreme Court in the Third District, which encompasses Lafayette, Acadia, Vermilion, St. Landry, Avoyelles, Jeff Davis, Cameron and Calcasieu parishes.
Genovese is running to replace retiring Justice Jeannette Theriot Knoll, who is nearing the end of her second 10-year term on the state’s highest court. Knoll will retire at the end of the year.
Genovese serves on the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, a seat he was elected to in 2004 after having been a district judge from 1995-2004.
“As the next Supreme Court Justice, I will bring absolute fairness and equality to our state’s highest judicial body,” Genovese said in making the announcement. “I believe in a level playing field with a balanced approach for every case that appears before me. I have no allegiance to any special interest group, and I will issue every opinion strictly following rule of law. We do not need judges legislating from the bench.”
Genovese says over the last two decades he has been a fair and deliberate jurist who is tough on crime and thorough in his due diligence before issuing rulings.
“I enter this race as the only candidate with appellate court experience,” he said. “That is a critical and important distinction that separates me from anyone else who will be running. I have the experience the citizens of this district deserve and the integrity they should expect in their next state Supreme Court justice.”
Also running for the seat being vacated by Knoll is 15th Judicial District Court Judge Marilyn Castle. Both Castle and Genovese are Republicans.
Before his election to the bench, Genovese was a practicing attorney in Acadiana for 21 years. Born and raised in Opelousas, he still lives in St. Landry Parish. He and his wife, Martha, have five daughters and two grandchildren.
The election is in November.