Thibodaux attorney announces bid for appellate judgeship

Mark Plaisance, a former city court judge of Baker, La., and a Thibodaux attorney, has announced his candidacy for judgeship on Louisiana’s First Circuit Court of Appeal.

Plaisance, 50, a Republican, is making a bid for the First District, Division B seat currently held by Judge Edward Gaidry. The election will be Nov. 6, and the registration window is from Aug. 15-17.

The First Circuit Court of Appeal is one of five appellate circuits throughout the state. The 12-judge court is split into three four-judge districts that preside over 16 southeastern Louisiana parishes, including Lafourche, St. Mary and Terrebonne.

“I’m very thorough in my work. That guides me,” Plaisance said. “I do a very thorough job of researching to represent my clients and (did so) when I was a judge, and I believe in a good, solid opinion that gives guidance to the litigants.”

Plaisance was elected to city court judgeship in Baker, just north of Baton Rouge, which he served from 2003 to 2008. He is also a former appointed member of the Louisiana Supreme Court Rules Committee and has been appointed an ad hoc judge in the 20th Judicial District and in numerous city courts.

Plaisance earned his bachelor’s degree in business and mass communications from Nicholls State University and holds a juris doctorate from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center.

While in college and immediately following his graduation, Plaisance worked as a journalist and stringer for several regional newspapers, including The Daily Comet, The Daily Iberian and the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate.

Plaisance said he gravitated toward appellate law because of the writing. He estimates that 95 percent of his private work is appellate work.

“I’ve always enjoyed writing,” he said. “I’ve written appeals since I’ve been in practice. I’ve always had an inclination to write. What better way to integrate the law, which I thoroughly enjoy and the writing, which I really, really enjoy, together.”

He claims to have written about 275 state and federal writ applications and appellate briefs. Recently, he has filed briefs on parent relocation laws, something he feels is indicative of his broad experience.

“I’ve had the benefit and the luxury of experience in numerous issues, which will all come up to the First Circuit Court of Appeal,” Plaisance said. “That’s another reason why I believe I’m very qualified for this position and have been grooming myself for it for a bunch of years because of this broad experience.”

The appellate court candidate said he is aware that some issues will come down to his interpretation of the law, saying not every decision is “cut and dry.” In those cases, he will “invoke reasonableness” and rely solely on evidence entered into the lower courts.

“As a judge, I’ve ruled in favor of defendants, and I, as a judge, have ruled in favor of police,” Plaisance said. “I try to look at what was presented in front of me and render the best decision I humanly could based on what was presented in front of me.”

He previously sat on the Nicholls State University Alumni Federation Board of Directors.

Plaisance is married to DesLey Plaisance, assistant professor and coordinator of graduate mathematics at Nicholls State University. They have a son, who is an attorney and practices law in Baton Rouge.

Mark Plaisance

COURTESY PHOTO