Roland Belsome
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Roland L. Belsome is a justice on the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. In 2008, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court against Greg Guidry and Jimmy Kuhn.[1],[2]
Belsome is a graduate of New Orleans Public Schools, the University of New Orleans, and Tulane University School of Law, where he has served as an adjunct professor.
Judge Belsome currently serves as judge of State Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit elected from the parishes of Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines. Before his election to the Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, he was a judge in Orleans Parish Civil District Court and a well-known trial attorney.
Supreme Court Campaign
Endorsement
On July 24, 2008 The Alliance for Good Government announced it was endorsing Judge Belsome in his bid for the Supreme Court.[3]
Trial Lawyer Connection
Judge Belsome was a guest in July for a meeting of the Academy of New Orleans Trial Lawyers. The academy is an organization of civil trial lawyers from the New Orleans area who meet once a month at a local restaurant to discuss the current topics and trends of civil trial practice and procedure.[4]
On Judicial Behavior
Having officially announced his candidacy for Louisiana's highest court, Belsome publicly "called [for] an independent judiciary" which he believes to be,"essential for the fair administration of justice" and said his goal is "to continue to promote independence, accountability and transparency in the judiciary."[5]
Prior Political Activities
Potential New Orleans Mayoral Bid
Friends were rumored to be trying to convince Belsome to enter the 2006 New Orleans mayors’ race. At the time, Belsome would have had to resign from the bench, in order to engage in a partisan election; another factor under consideration was his friendship with Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu, who was rumored to be entering the race as well. Landrieu eventually entered and lost to sitting Mayor Ray Nagin. Belsome never did run, but 21 primary candidates stepped up to challenge Nagin [6][7]
Special Election Victory
Belsome won an early 2004 special election for an open seat on Louisiana's Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. He labeled his opponent, Barrie Byrnes, a "part-time processor of traffic tickets;" for his part, Byrnes would attack Belsome's "reversal rate as a Civil Court judge. According to local media, both candidates appealed to 'racially charged local controversies' in their campaigns."[8]
Notable Cases
Dental malpractice case
The Supreme Court issued a ruling in a 1996 dental malpractice case that Judge Belsome participated in as a lawyer. Discussion of the old case reopened since Belsome announced a run for the Supreme Court. He asserts that the court’s decision (Case No. 95-C-1054) was based on "bad facts" argued by opposing counsel to then-trial Judge Thomas Porteous.
In 1996, the Supreme Court agreed with Porteous, who awarded Belsome only $25,000 in legal fees, stating that Belsome was — contrary to standards of professionalism — "uncommunicative with his client," a physician, who later fired him. "The central reason for the client’s discharge (of Belsome) can best be characterized as nonfeasance," the high court ruled.
The ruling awarded most of $206,000 in legal fees to the doctor’s second attorney, but increased Belsome’s fees for work done to $61,800. Belsome says: "(The old case) has made me a better judge. I want to make sure everyone has their say in court (and) that the rules are applied evenly and fairly."[9]
Awards, Memberships and Civic Activities
Judge Belsome is an active lecturer in various continuing legal education programs given by organizations such as the Louisiana State Bar Association, Tulane Law School, Loyola Law School, the Louisiana Trials Lawyers Association, and others on a wide variety of legal topics. Judge Belsome is a member of numerous professional organizations, and has served on the board of important public policy initiatives, like the Mayor’s Domestic Violence Advisory Board.[10] Judge Belsome is also a financial contributor to actor Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation; funding goes toward revitalizing Louisiana's Lower 9th Ward via the construction of "sustainable", high quality, and affordable homes.[11]
See Also
- Louisiana
- Louisiana Supreme Court
- Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal
- Louisiana Supreme Court Elections (2008)
External Links
- Judge Belsome Bio
- Judge Belsome's 2008 Election Site
- Conviction reversed: No jail time for public defender
- Court Reduces NOLA Debt and Firefighter Back Pay
- Marriott Wins Round in Suit Filed by Hotels In New Orleans
- Baton Rouge Bar Association Supreme Court judicial forum.
References
- ↑ Louisiana Advocate, "Election to replace retiring Chief Justice Pascal Calogero Jr.", July 15, 2008
- ↑ Times-Picayune, "2 Republican judges to face off for high court seat", October 5, 2008
- ↑ Endorsements Announced
- ↑ Academy of Trial lawyers event
- ↑ Appellate judge seeks promotion
- ↑ Tom Watson, Leslie Jacobs, Dennis Bagneris, Bernard Charbonnet and others may enter Mayor's Race . . .
- ↑ Wikipedia 2006 New Orleans Mayoral Election
- ↑ The Newsroom Guide to Judicial Independence: An Initiative of The Constitution Project
- ↑ Three Seek High Court Seat
- ↑ Hon. Roland L. Belsome, Jr. 4th Circuit Court of Appeal LegalSpan Biography
- ↑ Make It Right Foundation List of Donors
