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June 17, 2014
Evelia LeBlanc Chaisson
June 17, 2014
A staff attorney with the state Office of Juvenile Justice has announced her intention to campaign for Houma’s City Court judgeship. The election is Nov. 4.
Cheryl A. Carter, 56, said she has long held a desire to become a judge. She traced this “passion” back to her days watching and imitating the fictionalized defense attorney Perry Mason work his cases on television but said it amplified through her work in the juvenile justice system.
“I’ve always wanted to be a judge,” Carter said. “Ever since I’ve been working with juveniles, the juvenile system, it’s just a passion. I feel that I would make a really good judge.”
Carter was born and raised in Alexandria. She has lived in Terrebonne Parish since August 1999 and spent eight years as an assistant district attorney in the 32nd Judicial District, mostly prosecuting juvenile cases in Houma City Court.
Carter holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Southern University and a juris doctor from the Southern University Law Center. After graduation, Carter served as an assistant district attorney in Orleans and Ouachita parishes, as well as in Guam, where she prosecuted felony assault and domestic violence cases.
Carter then held her post in Terrebonne and later claimed her current position as a staff attorney with the Office of Juvenile Justice, a role that holds her responsible for providing legal services throughout south and central Louisiana and legal-issues training for operators of secure facilities. Through the OJJ Carter has also taught juvenile law at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office academy.
City Court handles all criminal cases against alleged juvenile offenders in Terrebonne Parish, as well as adult misdemeanor charges and traffic violations within city limits. In civil matters, the court handles regular civil suits up to $20,000, small claims suits up to $5,000, evictions and other parishwide civil proceedings.
Carter said her 15 years of juvenile-related experience and handling of more than 100 jury trials in various judicial districts qualifies her for the judgeship.
“I feel that having worked both sides gives me a very good knowledge into, A, when they come into the system, what can we do for them and, B, if you have to place them into state’s custody, what services would benefit this child so that this child can reintegrate back into the community?” Carter said. “When a juvenile comes into the system, we automatically feel that this juvenile is a bad juvenile. From my perspective, I feel that all juveniles are worth saving, regardless of what they’ve done.”
If elected, Carter would focus on handling attorney’s filings expeditiously, be fair to alleged offenders, implement new programs for adults and juveniles and work with the Terrebonne Parish School Board to devise “new and inventive ways” incorporate parents more in their children’s education, she said.
Carter said education and extracurricular activities are vital to keeping children from committing criminal actions. Increased parental involvement may also make for a more stable home environment, Carter said.
“When you deal with juveniles, you’re not just dealing with that juvenile,” Carter said. “You’re dealing with the whole family. You have to look at it from that perspective. What can we assist the parent, as well as the juvenile, if there are problems in the home, to correct it and help this family get on the right track so that everyone can become productive and law-abiding citizens.”
City Court Judge Jude Fanguy will retire at the end of this year after 36 years on the bench.
Carter is the first female and the first person of color to announce her candidacy to replace Fanguy in a seat held only by white men. The election is Nov. 4.
