| Voter's Guide, 2020 Spring Elections, Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge
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| Position | District Judge, 19th Judicial District Court, ES 2, Div. M | | Name | Jennifer Michele Moisant | | Party Affiliation | Democrat | | Profession | Attorney | | Present Employer / position | Balfour Emonet Law | | Length of residence in Jurisdiction | 20 years | | List of educational institutions and degrees | University of New Orleans - 6/2000 graduate - Bachelor of Arts
Southern University Law Center - 5/2003 graduate - Juris Doctorate | | Prior elected and appointed positions | n/a | | Civic involvement and affiliations | Baton Rouge Bar Association 10/2003-present - I've held the position of Director-at-Large for 2 years.
Council on Aging - 5/2017 - present. - I was the chairperson from 5/2017-5/2019. I currently hold the position of treasurer. |
Questions specific to the position
| 1. How many years of trial experience do you have? How does that breakdown between civil and criminal court trials, and between jury and judge trials?
| I have been a practicing attorney for almost 17 years. Most of my practice has been in civil litigation and given the nature of my practice, I have significantly more bench trial experience. Overall, though, I have practiced in numerous areas of law and many of the surrounding Parishes.
Please be aware that the 19th Judicial District Court is a court of general jurisdiction. It is the custom of the sitting bench to assign a docket to the newly elected judge, civil or criminal. While it is likely that Division M will remain a criminal seat, it is possible, depending on the current bench's pleasure, that it could be a civil bench. And, in the future, as the person who is elected gains seniority on the bench, that person may choose to move to a civil bench or remain on a criminal bench. | | 2. What do you consider to be your greatest strength for this position?
| I think my experience and respect for the bench and the law set me apart. I understand the importance of the intersection between law and humanity. Justice is not one size fits all. You must take people as they are. I think the court's job, while applying the law as written, is to also understand the spirit of the law and look for ways to protect the community while assisting the criminal justice system in discouraging recidivism. Our goals are the same. Make Baton Rouge a safer place to live. I think my strength is that I am open to new ideas from both the legal community and the community at large on how to accomplish this. | | 3. What factors would you consider in granting and setting bail amounts and in granting (non-bail) sign out bonds for defendants? What do you believe is the primary consideration?
| All judges are required to consider the factors for the setting of bonds detailed in the Louisiana Criminal Code of Procedure article 334 which lists the 10 factors for consideration. Each situation is different, and the first thing I would consider in any situation is whether it's a crime against a person, property or a drug related offense? Crimes against the person would need additional consideration for protection not only of the public but the specific victim. Bonds are there to ensure protection of the public and the appearance of the defendant at trial. I think that can be accomplished without being extraordinarily punitive. Sign out bonds are extremely limited by law. They are meant to allow first time arrestees with no history of violence the opportunity to remain free while their case is pending. To the extent that they can be used, I think we should do so in order to alleviate the pretrial detainment for minor offenses which is causing the overcrowding currently being experienced in our Parish Prison. This would also assist in reducing the millions of dollars being spent by taxpayers to house pretrial defendants out of Parish. | | 4. What are your beliefs regarding alternative sentences for non-violent offenders, juveniles, or people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or drug addiction?
| I believe alternative sentencing is imperative for intersectional justice. Again, a person does not come into court with just the one issue they have been arrested for, they are multifaceted and should be assessed as such. Most criminal issues stem from a persons situation in life at that time. Fairness and equality for all those who appear in my court cannot happen if this is overlooked. One of the most important and difficult things for a judge to do is to sentence a person to any sort of incarceration. It affects not only that person but that person's family and community. It should be the goal of any judge to find a way to allow the Defendant the opportunity to repay his debt to society, but also to take the steps to necessary to address his mental health, addiction or environmental cause which has placed him before the court. | | 5. What are the biggest hurdles to achieving fairness for all defendants, regardless of their socioeconomic status, and how would you address those hurdles?
| Unfortunately socioeconomic status is one of the biggest determinates of adequate representation. Our public defender system is greatly overloaded and underfunded. As a judge I would take the time to assess a Defendant's indigent status in order to assure that those people who truly need the services of the public defender's office are served. Not adding to a system that is already overburdened would assist in moving my docket and allowing access to representation and justice for all.
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