LAFAYETTE — Candyce Perret has announced her candidacy for the single open seat in the Louisiana 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, which will be decided in a special election scheduled for March 25.
If her run is successful, Perret — a Republican, according to a report on www.katc.com — would fill the seat vacated by Jimmy Genovese, who recently moved up to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Genovese was harshly criticized as the beneficiary of over $2 million in spending in support of his campaign by the state's trial attorneys, with some calling into question his impartiality on the bench.
Despite the disapproval of Genovese by some in the legal world, Perret had kind words for her predecessor in an interview with The Louisiana Record
“Justice Jimmy Genovese always followed the law, was always prepared and he never legislated from the bench. [He] never forgot he was a representative of the people who elected him,” she said.
When asked why she would be the best option to fill Genovese’s seat, Perret cited the diversity of her legal experience.
“I have 20 years experience handling virtually every type of case that would come before the appellate court,” she said. “Also, as a former appellate court clerk, I know firsthand what it takes to do this job.”
According to a report on TheInd.com, Perret previously represented Marksville as city prosecutor, and was city attorney for Arnaudville, Leonville, Krotz Springs and Port Barre. Today, Perret runs her own small business as co-owner and general counsel for The Perret Group, which works in the oil and gas industry, as well as health care and real estate.
Perret is also a wife and the mother of three children, whom she credits as her “greatest champions in deciding to enter this race.”
The district in question is large, covering eight parishes in the southwest part of the state. If she wins the seat, Perret believes her experience will be her greatest ally while she represents these diverse parishes.
“The 3rd Circuit hears every possible kind of case. With the breadth of expertise I have with so many facets of the law, I feel I would bring balance to the Court of Appeal,” she said.
Perret said that one of the biggest challenges facing Louisiana is the state’s incarceration rate, which is the “highest incarceration rate in the world.” But she also was quick to note the state’s strengths. “Without a doubt, Louisiana’s greatest strength is our natural resources,” she said. “Couple that with our people and our culture, and we easily live in the most unique environment in this country.”
Perret isn’t daunted by the challenges that lie ahead, and she believes that this particular election is important.
“People should care about this judicial election because a strong judiciary creates stability in our society,” she said. “It affects everything. For instance, if our courts are perceived to be unpredictable or unfriendly to business, companies will not want to come to Louisiana, so economic development is affected.”
Perret believes that, “a good judge is always impartial, fair and prepared.”