BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced appointments to the Louisiana Sentencing Commission.

The Louisiana Sentencing Commission serves to review sentencing laws and practices in the state and make recommendations to the legislature based on their findings.

According to statute, the commission is comprised of 22 members, including 18 voting members and four non-voting members. The four non-voting members of the commission include a representative of the Louisiana State Law Institute as designated by its president, a representative of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice as designated by its chair, the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, or his designee, and one professional having a doctorate degree in a social science or criminal justice field. All gubernatorial appointments are subject to senate confirmation. The voting members of the commission are as follows:

Ricky Babin, of Donaldsonville, is the District Attorney for the 23rd Judicial District.  Babin will be reappointed to serve as a district attorney, as required by statute. 

Mike Cazes, of Port Allen, is the President of the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association and has served as the Sheriff of West Baton Rouge Parish since 2004.  Cazes will be reappointed to serve as the President of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association, as required by statute. 

John DeRosier, of Lake Charles, is the District Attorney for Calcasieu Parish and is the President of the District Attorney’s Association. DeRosier will be appointed to serve as the President of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, as required by statute. 

David Dugas, of Baton Rouge, is of counsel at McGlinchey Stafford and formerly served as the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana for nine years.  Dugas will be reappointed to serve as an attorney specializing primarily in the defense of persons charged with criminal offenses, as required by statute.  

Jean Faria, of Baton Rouge, has served as the State Public Defender since 2008.  Faria will be reappointed to serve as the State Public Defender, as required by statute. 

Jay McCallum, of Farmerville, is a district judge in the 3rd Judicial District. McCallum will be reappointed to serve as a district court judge having criminal justice experience, as required by statute. 

James Michael McDonald, of Baton Rouge, is a judge on the Louisiana Court of Appeal First Circuit serving the 2nd District. McDonald will be reappointed to serve as a judge of a court of appeal, as required by statute. 

Laurie White, of New Orleans, is a criminal court judge for Orleans Parish.  White will be appointed to serve as a district court judges having criminal justice experience, as required by statute.  

 

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