Two judges seek vacant Louisiana Supreme Court seat

Two judges have said they’re running for a seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court vacated by an associate justice who was appointed to a federal position.

Judge William “Billy” Burris of the 22nd District Court announced his plans to seek the Supreme Court seat Feb. 2. That District 1 Supreme Court position is open after Associate Justice William Crain was appointed to a judgeship in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Burris will be running against Judge Blaire Downing Edwards of the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal in the Supreme Court race. Both are Republicans.

The official filing period for the election is February 11-13. The Republican primary is May 16.

“Like President Trump’s judicial appointees, I believe the role of a judge is not to make law, but to apply it faithfully,” Burris said in a news release announcing his candidacy.

He already has been endorsed by the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, and several other groups in the oil and gas industries are supporting him as well.