Lane Pittard
| Robert Lane Pittard | |
 | |
| In office November 2017 – December 12, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey Stephen Cox (elevated to the Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Second District) |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Pending March 23 special election |
| Born | June 19, 1957 Minden Webster Parish Louisiana |
| Died | December 12, 2023 (aged 66) Benton, Bossier Parish |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Adelise Gallien Pittard |
| Children | Robert and Donald Pittard Parents: |
| Residence | Benton, Louisiana |
| Alma mater | Minden High School Northwestern State University |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Religion | United Methodist |
Robert Lane Pittard, known as Lane Pittard (June 19, 1957[1] – December 12, 2023), was a Republican judge for the District C seat of the Louisiana 26th Judicial District Court, based in Bossier and Webster parishes in the northwestern portion of his state. Judge Pittard was repected for his reputation of "standing up for victims and putting bad guys away."[2]
A native of Minden in Webster Parish, Pittard graduated from Minden High School and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He worked in business until 1992,[2] when he obtained his legal credentials from the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Until his election as judge, he was in private practice with the firm Pittard & Jacobs in Bossier City, Louisiana.[3] Pittard was also experienced in estate planning, probate issues, business and corporate law, and real estate and property law. For fourteen years, Pittard has been a highly successful prosecutor in the Bossier-Webster District Attorney's office. Pittard was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bossier City. He and his wife, Adelise, a retiree of the Bossier Parish School Board, have two sons and reside in Benton, the Bossier Parish seat of government.[4]
Pittard defeated fellow Republican Cynthia Leigh Carroll-Bridges, a resident of Bossier City who practices family law in Shreveport, in the special election held on October 14, 2017, for the vacant judgeship formerly held by Judge Jeffrey Stephen Cox (born February 1965), who sits on the Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit in Shreveport. He received 7,262 votes (60 percent) to Bridges' 4,886 (40 percent). In a turnout of just under 15 percent, Pittard won Bossier Parish with 58 percent of the ballots cast and Webster Parish with 63 percent.[5] He carried the backing of DA Schuyler Marvin, a Democrat-turned-Republican.
All six judges of the 26th Judicial District claim Republican affiliation.
He was a self-taught musician who mastered the harmonica, guitar, accordion, mandolin, keyboard, and vocals. He played in the Praise Band at his First United Methodist Church.[2] Judge Pittard died of an illness at his home on December 12, 2023. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Bossier Parish expressed his sympathy. "We are saddened by the tragic news of Judge Lane Pittard’s passing. He was a humble leader and a dedicated jurist who served our area honorably."[2]
A special election is scheduled for March 23, 2024, to fill Judge Pittard's unexpired term.
See also
- Parker Self, chief judge of the 26th Judicial District
References
- ↑ Robert Pittard. Mylife.com. Retrieved on July 31, 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Makenzie Boucher (December 14, 2023). Northwest Louisiana Judge Lane Pittard dies after illness. The Shreveport Times.
- ↑ Lane Pittard. Intelius.com. Retrieved on October 16, 2017.
- ↑ Pittard wins district judge seat. The Shreveport Times (October 14, 2017). Retrieved on October 16, 2017.
- ↑ Election Results (October 14, 2017). Retrieved on October 16, 2017.
