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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 192
BY SENATORS BROWN AND GARY SMI TH
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Joel Chaisson II, former Senate President, upon his
successful election as District Attorney for St. Charles Parish.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend and congratulate the Honorable Joel Thomas Chaisson II, former President of2
the Louisiana State Senate, upon his successful election as St. Charles Parish District3
Attorney.4
WHEREAS, after nearly three decades of dedicated public service to the constituents5
of the parishes of St. Charles, Lafourche, and St. John the Baptist as a parish councilman,6
and as both a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the state Senate,7
Joel Chaisson II continues to serve the people of St. Charles Parish, this time as their District8
Attorney; and9
WHEREAS, he began his political career in 1983, upon graduation from the LSU10
Paul M. Hebert Law Center, when at the age of twenty-three he won his first election for an11
at-large seat on the St. Charles Parish Council; a feat that ranked him as the youngest12
parish-wide elected official in the state at that time; and13
WHEREAS, earlier this year, a special election was held to fill the unexpired term14
of retiring St. Charles District Attorney Harry Morel; and15
WHEREAS, Joel Chaisson II ran unopposed in that special election when no other16
candidate stepped forward to qualify; and17
WHEREAS, District Attorney Joel Chaisson II comes to the office well qualified18 SR NO. 192
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from his vast experience in the House of Representatives with committee assignments that1
included civil law and procedure, insurance, labor and industrial relations, judiciary, ways2
and means, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay; and as a senator with3
service on committees for Judiciary C, transportation, highways, and public works, health4
and welfare, and education; and5
WHEREAS, he ascended to the position of Senate President in 2008, with an6
affirmative nod from his fellow senators based upon his reputation as a consensus builder7
of successful solutions to complex problems; and8
WHEREAS, during his tenure in the Senate, he had been a moving force in election9
reform, in strengthening criminal penalties, in particular, certain DWI offenses, in addressing10
liability, medical malpractice, and in criminal injustice, compensation for those who seek11
post conviction relief; and12
WHEREAS, Joel Chaisson II assumed the office of District Attorney for St. Charles13
Parish on June 1, 2012; and14
WHEREAS, Joel Chaisson, II is certain to make a seamless transition to head the15
Office of District Attorney with the assistance of retired District Attorney Morel and the16
experienced parochial employees of St. Charles Parish.17
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana18
does hereby commend and congratulate the Honorable Joel Chaisson II, upon his unopposed19
election as the new District Attorney of St. Charles Parish.20
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the21
Honorable Joel T. Chaisson II.22
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
Brown SR No.
Commends the Honorable Joel T. Chaisson II upon his election as St. Charles Parish District
Attorney.