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2015 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 158
BY SENATOR ALARIO
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Senator Jody Amedee for 12 years of distinguished
public service representing Senate District No. 18.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the Honorable Lee Joseph "Jody" Amedee III, State Senator, for his years of
3 exemplary public service in the Legislature of Louisiana and to express appreciation
4 for his many contributions made on the behalf of the constituents of his district and
5 the state of Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, Jody Amedee is blessed with a quick smile and a firm handshake; he
7 is a statesman and gentleman brimming with self-confidence, a keen sense of humor, and
8 a mastery of the complexities of law and the legislative process; and
9 WHEREAS, representing portions of Ascension, Livingston, St. James, and St. John
10 the Baptist parishes, Senator Amedee embodies the best qualities of public service; he holds
11 a genuine interest in the needs of his constituency and a personal responsibility to represent
12 them with honesty and integrity; and
13 WHEREAS, he earned a baseball scholarship to attend Nicholls State University and
14 while in law school, Jody began work as a law clerk for the Louisiana State Senate from
15 1993-1996; after graduation from Southern University Law Center, he began his legal career
16 as an assistant district attorney for the Twenty-Third Judicial District; and
17 WHEREAS, while in the office of the district attorney, Jody handled all juvenile
18 cases for Ascension, St. James, and Assumption parishes, designed and implemented the
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1 Juvenile Probation Program, coordinated the Ascension Parish Juvenile Drug Diversion
2 Program, and assisted in the establishment of the Ascension Parish Drug Court; and
3 WHEREAS, in 1998, Jody Amedee formed a law partnership with his longtime
4 friend, Andre Gauthier, and established Gauthier and Amedee, a successful law practice
5 located in Gonzales, Louisiana, which has been recognized for excellence by the American
6 Association for Justice on three separate occasions; and
7 WHEREAS, Senator Amedee became intrigued with the idea of legislative service
8 during his employment at the Senate; in 2003 when Senator Louis Lambert resigned his post,
9 Jody made his decision to "test the water" and seek elective office; and
10 WHEREAS, during his tenure, he served with great diligence on Senate standing
11 committees on Senate and Governmental Affairs, Judiciary C, and Environmental Quality
12 as chairman, on Transportation as vice chairman, and as a member on Agriculture,
13 Commerce, and Natural Resources, the Senate Executive Committee, the select committees
14 on Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital
15 Outlay; and
16 WHEREAS, a leading advocate for juvenile justice and a vigorous proponent of drug
17 court reform, Senator Amedee penned legislation on the issues of criminal law, district
18 attorneys and courts, governmental ethics for public officials and employees, campaign
19 finance, agricultural issues, local government, transportation, and health care; and
20 WHEREAS, Jody served as chairman of the Southeast Louisiana DWI Task Force,
21 which conducted a special study in conjunction with the Louisiana District Attorneys
22 Association; and
23 WHEREAS, throughout his tenure, he has been articulate and knowledgeable in the
24 policies affecting the River Parishes; Jody Amedee was effective in securing needed
25 transportation funding to complete a southern route connecting the Mississippi River Bridge
26 at Vacherie with Thibodaux and local funding to procure the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center for
27 the parish of Ascension; and
28 WHEREAS, Jody Amedee holds affiliation with the National Association of Counsel
29 for Children, Louisiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Twenty-Third
30 Judicial District Bar Association, Louisiana District Attorneys Association, National District
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1 Attorneys Association, Ascension United Against Substance Abuse Committee, and the
2 National Institute for Trial Advocacy as a faculty member; and
3 WHEREAS, as a sportsman who enjoys hunting and fishing, Jody is a member of
4 Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, the National Wildlife Turkey Federation,
5 and the East Ascension Sportsman League; and
6 WHEREAS, although Jody Amedee is a committed public servant, he is first and
7 foremost a loving husband to his wife, Jancy, and the proud father of two daughters, Lexie
8 and Allie, and a son, Lee; and
9 WHEREAS, Jody Amedee has worn the mantle of community service for three
10 productive terms as senator and now looks forward to time dedicated to family; and
11 WHEREAS, Jody Amedee is a public figure of the highest caliber whose service to
12 the legislature has rated consistent reelection to office, and during this time, he has
13 conscientiously confronted those challenges affecting the citizens of his district with
14 assurance and candor; and
15 WHEREAS, as Senator Amedee prepares to return to the private sector, he deserves
16 heartfelt commendation for the extraordinary strides he has taken to improve the function
17 of state government while serving as a member of the Louisiana Legislature.
18 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
19 does hereby commend the Honorable Lee Joseph "Jody" Amedee III for his faithful public
20 service to this body and does hereby extend to him the best wishes of his colleagues for
21 continued success in his future endeavors.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
23 distinguished legislator, Senator Jody Amedee, Louisiana Senatorial District 18.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SR 158 Original 2015 Regular Session Alario
Commends Senator Jody Amedee on his years of distinguished public service.
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