HLS 23RS-2779 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 178
BY REPRESENTATIVES SEABAUGH, BAGLEY, GLOVER, JENKINS, MCCORMICK,
PHELPS, AND PRESSLY
COMMENDATIONS: Commends the Honorable David Matlock, chief judge of the
Juvenile Court for Caddo Parish, on the occasion of his retirement
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend the Honorable David Matlock, chief judge of the Juvenile Court for Caddo
3 Parish, on the occasion of his retirement.
4 WHEREAS, the Honorable David Matlock was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and
5graduated from C.E. Byrd High School as a National Merit Scholar; he completed his
6undergraduate studies at Louisiana State University in Shreveport and earned a juris
7doctorate from Baylor University in 1981; he also received the highest score on the Texas
8State Bar Exam in 1981;
9 WHEREAS, Chief Judge Matlock's legal experience includes serving as an adjunct
10instructor of jurisprudence and juvenile justice at Louisiana State University in Shreveport,
11partner and director at Blanchard, Walker, O'Quin & Roberts, partner at Hargrove, Guyton,
12Ramey & Barlow, and lawyer at Clark, Thomas, Winters & Shapiro in Austin, Texas; he has
13been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court; he was elected to serve
14as a judge in the Juvenile Court for Caddo Parish in 1994, and he has served as chief judge
15of the court since 1999; and
16 WHEREAS, the Juvenile Court for Caddo Parish is one of four special juvenile
17courts in Louisiana with exclusive original juvenile jurisdiction; the court hears cases
18regarding juvenile delinquency, Family in Need of Services cases concerning ungovernable
19children, truants, and runaways, and Children in Need of Care cases where a child has been
20abused, neglected, or abandoned; and
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HR NO. 178
1 WHEREAS, Chief Judge Matlock always tried to balance the welfare of children
2with an acute concern for public safety in his decisions; and
3 WHEREAS, during Chief Judge Matlock's tenure, the juvenile court had the state's
4first Juvenile Drug Court, Family Drug Court, Juvenile Mental Health Court, and Truancy
5Court; he also oversaw the development of the state's first Sex Trafficking Community
6Response Team and Specialized Victims Intensive Unit; and
7 WHEREAS, Chief Judge Matlock has been recognized on numerous occasions for
8his commitment to Louisiana's youth; his honors include the Volunteers for Youth Justice
9Hero of the Year Award in 2019, Louisiana CASA Judge of the Year in 2005 and 2019,
10Volunteers for Youth Justice Shining Star Legal Advocate in 2008, and the Together We
11Can, Catherine Lafleur Legal Advocacy Award in 2020; and
12 WHEREAS, in addition to his incredible professional career, Chief Judge Matlock
13is a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church, where he has served as a Sunday School teacher,
14deacon, and member of the board of directors; he was also a member of the Caddo Parish
15School Board from 1990 until 1994, and he has been a Rutherford House Advisory Board
16member since 1994; and
17 WHEREAS, the Honorable David Matlock is retiring, effective June 1, 2023, after
18twenty-four years of dedicated service as chief judge of the Juvenile Court for Caddo Parish;
19he is most deserving of the highest recognition for his commitment to the welfare of the
20youth across both Caddo Parish and the state of Louisiana.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
22Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Caddo Parish Juvenile Court Chief Judge
23David Matlock on the occasion of his retirement and does hereby extend sincerest wishes
24that he prosper in his retirement and all of his endeavors.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 178 Original 2023 Regular Session Seabaugh
Commends Caddo Parish Juvenile Court Chief Judge David Matlock on the occasion of his
retirement.
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