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