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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 192
BY SENATORS BROWN, GARY SMITH, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE,
APPEL, BROOME, BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAITOR, CORTEZ,
CROWE, DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GALLOT,
GUILLORY, HEITMEIER, JOHNS, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG,
MARTINY, MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH, MURRAY, NEVERS,
PEACOCK, PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, JOHN SMITH, TARVER,
THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHI TE
A RESOLUTION
To commend and congratulate the Honorable Joel Thomas Chaisson II, former President of
the Louisiana State Senate, upon his successful election as St. Charles Parish District
Attorney.
WHEREAS, after nearly three decades of dedicated public service to the constituents
of the parishes of St. Charles, Lafourche, and St. John the Baptist as a parish councilman,
and as both a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the state Senate,
Joel Chaisson II continues to serve the people of St. Charles Parish, this time as their District
Attorney; and
WHEREAS, he began his political career in 1983, upon graduation from the LSU
Paul M. Hebert Law Center, when at the age of twenty-three he won his first election for an
at-large seat on the St. Charles Parish Council; a feat that ranked him as the youngest
parish-wide elected official in the state at that time; and
WHEREAS, earlier this year, a special election was held to fill the unexpired term
of retiring St. Charles District Attorney Harry Morel; and
WHEREAS, Joel Chaisson II ran unopposed in that special election when no other
candidate stepped forward to qualify; and
WHEREAS, District Attorney Joel Chaisson II comes to the office well qualified
from his vast experience in the House of Representatives with committee assignments that
included civil law and procedure, insurance, labor and industrial relations, judiciary, ways
and means, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay; and as a senator with
service on committees for Judiciary C, transportation, highways, and public works, health
and welfare, and education; and SR NO. 192 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, he ascended to the position of Senate President in 2008, with an
affirmative nod from his fellow senators based upon his reputation as a consensus builder
of successful solutions to complex problems; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure in the Senate, he had been a moving force in election
reform, in strengthening criminal penalties, in particular, certain DWI offenses, in addressing
liability, medical malpractice, and in criminal injustice, compensation for those who seek
post conviction relief; and
WHEREAS, Joel Chaisson II assumed the office of District Attorney for St. Charles
Parish on June 1, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Joel Chaisson II is certain to make a seamless transition to head the
Office of District Attorney with the assistance of retired District Attorney Morel and the
experienced parochial employees of St. Charles Parish.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend and congratulate the Honorable Joel Chaisson II, upon his unopposed
election as the new District Attorney of St. Charles Parish.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Honorable Joel T. Chaisson II.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE