[StBernard] Two vie for St. Bernard Parish seat on Louisiana 4th Circuit Appeal Court

[Westley Annis]

Two vie for St. Bernard Parish seat on Louisiana 4th Circuit Appeal Court
Published: Friday, September 17, 2010, 7:20 PM     
Updated: Friday, September 17, 2010, 7:24 PM
 Bob Warren, The Times-Picayune 
 
The campaign by the two candidates seeking the St. Bernard Parish seat on
the state 4th Circuit Court of Appeal has become a battle over experience -
who has it, who doesn't and what it's really worth. 

Daniel Dysart of Chalmette points to 30 years of courtroom, political and
civic experience, contending it has trained him well for the judgeship. His
opponent, he says, has neither the courtroom nor civic experience to merit a
judgeship.



Jeanne Nunez Juneau, also of Chalmette, lacks Dysart's courtroom and
political experience, but is trying to use that to her advantage, casting
herself as the outsider and portraying Dysart as part of the "old boy''
network that met in "smoke-filled backrooms'' to pick the judges.



The election is Oct. 2. The 4th Circuit Court hears cases from Orleans, St.
Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. The court has 12 judges - two from the
at-large population of the three parishes, one each from St. Bernard and
Plaquemines, and eight from Orleans. The judges earn $106,705 annually. The
term begins in January and is for 10 years. Judge David Gorbaty, who
currently holds the seat, did not seek re-election.

As of Sept. 2, Dysart had raised $52,700 and spent $40,920, according to
campaign finance records. As of Sept. 1, Juneau had raised $23,800 and spent
$5,556, finance records showed.

The race started off with a bang when two St. Bernard Parish residents,
represented by Dysart's law partner, challenged Juneau's eligibility to run
for the post because they said she had not lived in St. Bernard Parish for a
year prior to qualifying. Their lawsuit bounced back and forth between the
district and - ironically, 4th Circuit courts - before it was finally ruled
in Juneau's favor.

Juneau, who said she moved into a trailer on family-owned land in Delacroix
in June 2009 to meet the one-year requirement, has since moved the trailer
in front of a home she is renovating in Chalmette. She said the home should
be finished soon. She and her husband still own a home in Lacombe; she said
they are trying to sell it.

Juneau has hit Dysart over his legal representation of Murphy Oil, which
during Hurricane Katrina spilled nearly one million gallons of oil into the
nearby neighborhoods. Murphy paid $330 million to settle a class action
lawsuit involving more than 6,000 property owners.

Juneau said residents should question Dysart's relationship with Murphy, as
well as insurance companies he has represented. "The people who have been
through Hurricane Katrina are very aware and interested in this race,'' she
said. "They feel they were not treated fairly by the process after
Katrina.''

Juneau said she worked with Road Home grant recipients and Murphy property
owners in their class action suit to get them more money. Dysart said her
Murphy claim is flimsy and strains belief.

"I dealt with over 100 attorneys on the plaintiffs' side,'' Dysart said. "We
settled in record time. I don't recall her name coming up on one claim.''

Juneau responded that she worked pro bono for some Murphy claimants and
didn't go to court with them. "We're not on any record,'' she said.

Dysart said his work for Murphy and insurance companies dates back to before
Hurricane Katrina. But he said "we've represented many, many individuals
with claims against other insurance companies.''

Dysart, who recently received the endorsement of the Alliance for Good
Government, said appeal court judges have to be strong in research and
writing - which he says are his strong suits. He said his experience - he
says he's had 149 reported decisions in federal and appeals courts - sets
him apart.

"When you look at my experience compared to her experience there is no
comparison,'' Dysart said, noting that in addition to his legal experience
he has been a parish councilman and serves on the Home Mortgage Authority
and Hospital Service District board.

Juneau says she has yet to hear anyone question her experience as she
campaigns. Like Dysart, she also says research and brief writing are strong
suits. 

"People are concerned about the political establishment choosing the
judgeship. We want to give the people the choice,'' she said.



JUDGE, 4TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL CANDIDATE PROFILES      

 DANIEL DYSART
Personal
. 54. Born in New Orleans.
. Married, four children.
. Graduated from Holy Cross High School. Bachelor's degree in marketing from
University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1977. Law degree from Loyola
University.
. Attorney, Dysart & Tabary LLP.
. Vice president of St. Bernard Bar Association; House of Delegates for
Louisiana Bar Association; St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce; St. Bernard Home
Mortgage Authority; St. Bernard Hospital Service District; Corinne Estates
Civic Association.

Political
. Democrat.
. Member of St. Bernard Parish Council, 1991-1999.
. Has worked on campaigns of Judge Kirk Vaughn, Judge Robert Buckley, Judge
Jacques Sanborn, Judge Manny Fernandez, School Board member Diana Dysart and
District Attorney Jack Rowley.

Philosophy and platform
. To be fair and impartial.
. Analyze the record and arguments in every case.
. Thoroughly discuss the merits of each case with other panel members.
. Treat all parties with respect.
. Continue to promote professionalism in legal profession.

More information
. www.dysartcourtofappeal.com 


 JEANNE NUNEZ JUNEAU
Personal
. 38. Born in New Orleans.
. Married, two children.
. Graduated from Mount Carmel Academy. Bachelor's degree from Loyola
University in 1994. Law degree from Loyola.
. Attorney, Law Offices of Jeanne Nunez Juneau LLC.
. Member of St. Bernard Business and Professional Women's Club; St. Bernard
Bar Association; Louisiana Bar Association; Kiwanis Club; St. Jude Hospital
Sponsor; Violet Oyster Festival volunteer.

Political
. Democrat.
. First run for office.
Philosophy and platform
. Follow letter of law in each case.
. Judge each case on its own merits.
. Judge each case in a fair and impartial manner.
. Will familiarize herself with the entirety of each case.
. Have a professional and courteous staff.

More information
. www.jeannenunezjuneauforjudge.com