Scott J. Crichton - Associate Justice - Louisiana Supreme Court

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Scott J. Crichton 
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<div class="col-md-12"><div class="col-md-4"><table style=""><tbody style=""><tr style=""><td style="text-align:justify;"><br /><img alt="Associate Justice Scott Crichton" src="/biography%2FScott_J_Crichton.jpg" style="pointer-events:none;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td>Louisiana Supreme Court<br />Associate Justice Scott J. Crichton </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="col-md-8"><h3>ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SCOTT J. CRICHTON</h3><p>Having been elected without opposition, Scott Crichton is serving his tenth &ndash; and final - year as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana.  Scott chairs the court&rsquo;s Executive Committee as well as the Louisiana Judicial College; he is the court&rsquo;s statutory designee to the Louisiana Sheriffs&rsquo; Executive Management Institute Board, the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, as well as the Judges Imparting Knowledge, Education and Skills Task Force.</p><p>Scott serves on the Board of Governors for the Louisiana Center for Law and Civil Education and is the recipient of the 2022 Judge Benjamin Jones Judges in the Classroom Award.  In 2024, the Louisiana Judicial College Board of Governors presented him the President&rsquo;s Award in recognition of his years of service to judicial education &ndash; he is a frequent lecturer at bar association seminars, primarily speaking on the subjects of ethics, professionalism, trial and appellate advocacy. For five years (2018-2022), Scott was a member of the adjunct faculty of Tulane Law School and published two coursebooks: Contemporary Issues in Legal Ethics (2021) and Advanced Appellate Advocacy (2020). He also co-authored an article in Louisiana Law Review,<em> Appealing Standards: Louisiana&rsquo;s Constitutional Provision Governing Appellate Review of Criminal Facts</em>, 79 La.  L. Rev. 360 (2018).  His participation in academic and student development includes serving several years on the faculty for the LSU Law Center Trial Advocacy Program.</p><p>Prior to his election to the Supreme Court, Scott served 24 years (1991-2014) as a judge with the First Judicial District Court (Shreveport/Caddo Parish), presiding in both the civil and criminal divisions.  During the 1980s, he served as an assistant district attorney for Caddo Parish, maintained a civil litigation practice, and served on the adjunct faculty of LSU-Shreveport.</p><p>Scott is a past president of the Louisiana District Judges Association, past member of the Advisory Committee to the Supreme Court on Revision of the Judicial Canons, the Louisiana Judicial College Board of Governors, and the Criminal Best Practices Committee.  He has served numerous terms as chair or co-chair of the Shreveport Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee.  Scott is certified by the National Judicial College in program design and has taught over 200 CLE hours to lawyers and judges.  He is also a graduate of the inaugural class of the Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute.  From 2007 to 2014, Scott was an occasional co-host of a popular Shreveport Sunday morning radio program, &ldquo;Praise Temple Full Gospel Countdown.&rdquo; </p><p>Through the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s Judges Imparting Knowledge, Education and Skills Task Force, Scott has designed a PowerPoint presentation for high school students, titled &ldquo;Crime, Consequences and the Power of Choice&rdquo;, which has been instituted state-wide in connection with the Judges in the Classroom program.</p><p>Scott grew up in Minden, Webster Parish, Louisiana.  In 1968, at the age of 14, he enrolled as a boarding student at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.  Scott completed North Carolina Outward Bound School (1971); graduated from The Webb School (1972); received his bachelor&rsquo;s degree from the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge (Bachelor of Science, 1976); and obtained his law degree from the Paul M. Hebert LSU Law Center (Juris Doctor, 1980).</p><p>Scott is a member of St. Mark&rsquo;s Episcopal Church in Shreveport, where he has served on the vestry. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Webb School, and in 2017 was inducted into Webb&rsquo;s Distinguished Alumni Society. </p><p>Scott credits his parents, Tom (owner, hardware store/cattle rancher) and Mary (homemaker and life master, bridge), with teaching and instilling in him the virtues of humility, education, and a commitment of service to community, all of which have guided him throughout life.  Scott, age 70, and his wife, Susie, share time in Webster Parish and New Orleans. They have two sons, both of whom are lawyers.</p></div></div><div class="col-md-12"><p><br /></p></div>
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<div class="col-md-12"><div class="col col-md-4"><table style=""><tbody style=""><tr style=""><td style="text-align:justify;"><br /><img alt="Associate Justice Scott Crichton" src="/biography%2FJay_McCallum.jpg" style="pointer-events:none;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td>Louisiana Supreme Court<br />Associate Justice Jay B. McCallum</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="col col-lg-8"><h3>ASSOCIATE JUSTICE JAY B. McCALLUM</h3>&nbsp;<p>Justice Jay Bowen McCallum, who now lives in Farmerville, is a lifelong resident of Union Parish. Born and raised in the Pisgah Baptist Church community, near Bernice, Louisiana, Jay is the first in his family to receive a college education, having graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in 1982 and LSU&rsquo;s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1985. He also holds a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.</p><p>Upon admission to the Bar, he returned home to Union Parish and joined Armand Rabun in the general practice of law. The offices of Rabun and McCallum, located at 205 East Jackson St., Farmerville, were situated between a funeral home and a bank. Thus, it was said, in jest, that they &ldquo;got clients coming and going.&rdquo; Jay&rsquo;s wife, Deanna Dunham McCallum, subsequently joined Jay in his law practice after becoming a lawyer herself.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></p><p>Prior to serving as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for 11 years (1992-2002), Jay also worked as an Assistant District Attorney. He worked as a trial court judge for 15 years (2002-2018) on the bench of the Third Judicial District Court.&nbsp;<br /></p></div><p>In 2018 Jay was elected without opposition to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in a district that was comprised of Bienville, Bossier, Claiborne, Caldwell, Jackson, Lincoln, Union, Webster, and Winn Parishes. On November 3, 2020, he was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court for District 4, which is the largest district in terms of geographic size and number of parishes. Jay took office as an Associate Justice on November 13, 2020.<br /></p><p>Judge Jay, as he is known to many of his constituents, is a much sought after motivational and inspirational speaker for various religious, civic, business, and trade groups. He is best known for using humor to instruct, inspire, and motivate his audiences. Jay is frequently found speaking to students in, and out of, the classroom. He has been honored to have been the commencement speaker for numerous high schools and universities, including Louisiana Tech University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.&nbsp;<br /></p><p>Jay serves on a number of committees including the Louisiana Technology Commission, Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society and was appointed by his fellow justices to serve on the Louisiana State Law Institute. He is in demand for continuing legal education presentations on behalf of such groups as the Louisiana State Bar Association and Louisiana Judicial College and has also lectured at various law enforcement academies, including for the Louisiana State Police and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. His speaking engagements have carried him to every parish of the state and to multiple states in the Deep South.<br /></p><p>Jay and Deanna are members of the First Baptist Church, Farmerville, Louisiana. In addition to Jay serving as a deacon and teacher, they are both active in the various ministries of the church.&nbsp;<br /></p><p>In 2021, on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary, Cedar Creek School named him as its outstanding Alumnus.&nbsp;<br /></p><p>Jay is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for public service. He has served on the Louisiana Sentencing Commission (by gubernatorial appointment) and sundry other commissions and boards. However, he is most proud of being a husband, father and grandfather.</p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
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<div class="col col-md-4"><table style="width:1112.73px;"><tbody><tr style=""><td style="text-align:justify;"><br /><img src="/biography%2FPiper_Griffin.jpg" alt="Associate Justice Piper D. Griffin" width="300" /><br /></td></tr><tr><td>Louisiana Supreme Court<br />Associate Justice Piper D. Griffin</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="col col-lg-8"><h3>ASSOCIATE JUSTICE PIPER D. GRIFFIN</h3><p>A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Justice Griffin graduated from Xavier University Preparatory School (currently St. Katharine Drexel Prepratory School), the University of Notre Dame and LSU&rsquo;s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1987.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>As a young lawyer Justice Griffin began her legal career practicing in the New Orleans area, focusing on casualty litigation.&nbsp; In 2001, after 14 years as a practicing attorney, Justice Griffin was elected to the Orleans Parish Civil District Court and served as its Chief Judge from 2008 to 2010.<br /></p><p>In 2020 Justice Griffin was elected to serve as an Associate Justice for District 7 representing portions of both Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, following in the footsteps of Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson and Justice Revius Ortique.<br /></p><p>Prior to joining the Court, Justice Griffin was active with both the bench and bar, volunteering with many organizations including Juvenile Court&rsquo;s Teen Court program, the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society (serving as its Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary), the New Orleans Bar Association (being elected as the first African American Chair of the Young Lawyer&rsquo;s Section and as a board member) as well as the Louisiana Law &amp; Civil Education Association.</p><p>Justice Griffin notes as one of her crowning career achievements, her appointment as the Constitutional Law Bar Examiner for the Louisiana Bar Exam by the Louisiana Supreme Court.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></p><p>As a member of the bench, Justice Griffin&rsquo;s volunteerism has not stopped.&nbsp; She is the Secretary of the Louisiana Judicial Council Foundation/National Bar Association and the immediate Past President of the Louisiana Judicial Council/National Bar Association.&nbsp; She has previously served as second vice president of the Louisiana Association of District Court Judges, president of the 4th and 5th Circuit Judges Association.&nbsp; She continues to be a frequent speaker for the Louisiana State Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, the Louisiana Judicial College and has been featured on many other national and local programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></p><p>Several years ago, Justice Griffin was appointed and continues to serve as a member of the Louisiana State Law Institute Council.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></p><p>Justice Griffin lives a life dedicated to service to her community and her profession.&nbsp; As such, she has been and continues to be active in many professional and civic associations and has received numerous awards and certificates in recognition of her accomplishments and her commitment to the community.&nbsp; These include receipt of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) 2020 Thomas Jefferson Justice By the People Award, 2019 Sarah J. Harper Humanitarian award which is given during the annual Thurgood Marshall luncheon by the National Bar Association Judicial Council, 2019 First District Missionary Society Women&rsquo;s Department Woman of the Year Award, the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award and its 2003 Ernest N. Morial Judicial Pacesetter Award; being recognized as a YWCA Role Model; 2004 Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc, Award for Exemplary Community Service Award, the 2003 Alliance for Good Government Civic Award as well as the 2002-2003 Data News Weekly Scoop Jones Trailblazer Award.<br /></p><p>Justice Griffin is an active member of her church, Second Baptist 6th District.&nbsp; She is a former foster mother and serves as a mentor and surrogate mother to many.<br /></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p></div>
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<div class="col-md-12"><div class="col col-md-4"><table><tbody><tr style=""><td><br /><img alt="Associate Justice William J. Crain" src="/images/biography/William_J_Crain.jpg" style="pointer-events:none;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td>Louisiana Supreme Court <br />Associate Justice William J. Crain</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="col col-md-8"><h3>ASSOCIATE JUSTICE WILLIAM J. CRAIN</h3></div><div class="col col-md-8 text-justify"><div><p>Justice Crain was a member of the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal from 2013 until his election to the Louisiana Supreme Court on November 16, 2019.&nbsp; He is formerly a Judge with the Twenty-Second Judicial District Court for St. Tammany and Washington parishes from 2009 to 2013.&nbsp; A 1983 graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in accounting, Judge Crain graduated from the LSU Law Center in 1986.</p><p>Judge Crain maintained a general litigation law practice for 22 years handling complex judge and jury trial cases.&nbsp; He has been a lecturer at continuing legal education seminars on many topics including &ldquo;Evidence and Persuasion at Trial&rdquo;, &ldquo;Professionalism&rdquo; and writ and appellate practice.</p><p>He was a member of the 2011 inaugural class of the Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute, as well as a member of the court cost committee of the Louisiana Judicial Council.&nbsp; He is the former President of the Board of Governors for the Louisiana Judicial College<br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p></div></div></div>
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<div class="col-md-12"><div class="col col-md-4"><table><tbody><tr><td><br /><img src="/images/biography/Jefferson_D_Hughes_III.jpg" style="pointer-events:none;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td>Louisiana Supreme Court <br />Associate Justice Jefferson Hughes</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="col col-lg-8"><h3>ASSOCIATE JUSTICE JEFFERSON HUGHES</h3><br /></div><div class="col col-md-8 text-justify"><div><p>Jefferson Hughes grew up and attended school in Denham Springs, Louisiana.</p><p>At Denham Springs High School he played four sports, was Salutatorian of his class, and a National Merit Scholar Finalist. He attended LSU on an academic scholarship and received a degree in history with honors. He attended LSU Law School and was selected for the Louisiana Law Review.</p><p>He served as a law clerk for Judge Frank Polozola and began private practice in Baton Rouge with the firm of Adcock, Dupree, and Shows. He then began a solo practice and was the first attorney to practice law in Walker, Louisiana. </p><p>After 12 years of private practice he was elected to the 21st Judicial District court in 1990 where he served for 14 years. In 2004 he was elected to the Court of Appeal, First Circuit, where he served for 8 years. He was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2012 and began his service on February 1, 2013.</p><p>Justice Hughes resides in Walker and attends Shady Bower Church.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0;">&nbsp;</p></div></div></div>
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