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[[Louisiana State University]] Law Center​

[[Louisiana State University]] Law Center​

|occupation=[[Attorney]]​}}

|occupation=[[Attorney]]​}}

 

'''Michael Joe Nerren''', known as '''Mike Nerren''' (born May 28, 1963), is the Division E [[judge]] of the 26th Judicial District Court based in Bossier and Webster parishes in  northwestern [[Louisiana]].​

'''Michael Joe Nerren''', known as '''Mike Nerren''' (born May 28, 1963), is the Division E [[judge]] of the 26th Judicial District Court based in Bossier and Webster parishes in  northwestern [[Louisiana]].​

 

==Background==

==Background==

Nerren is the son of Fenely Smith, a former district chief for the fire department in [[Bossier City]], and  Connee Smith, a retired employee of the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Department. He graduated in 1981 from Haughton High School in Haughton in south Bossier Parish.<ref name=prosecutor/> Nerren received his undergraduate degree in 1989 from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and his [[Juris Doctorate]] in 1994, at the age of thirty-one, from the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in [[Baton Rouge]]. He is a former president of the Bossier Bar Association and Bossier Dixie Baseball.<ref>Biography of Mike Nerren, 26th Judicial District Court; material no longer on-line.</ref>​

Nerren is the son of Fenely Smith, a former district chief for the fire department in [[Bossier City]], and  Connee Smith, a retired employee of the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Department. He graduated in 1981 from Haughton High School in Haughton in south Bossier Parish.<ref name=prosecutor/> Nerren received his undergraduate degree in 1989 from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and his [[Juris Doctorate]] in 1994, at the age of thirty-one, from the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in [[Baton Rouge]]. He is a former president of the Bossier Bar Association and Bossier Dixie Baseball.<ref>Biography of Mike Nerren, 26th Judicial District Court; material no longer on-line.</ref>​

A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Nerren won his judgeship in 2012 to succeed the retiring Bruce Martin Bolin, a  [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] who held the judgeship from its creation in 1991 until his retirement in 2012. Bolin also formerly served in the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>"Bolin swaps House seat for judge's robe", ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 2, 1991, p. 1</ref> The court is based in Benton, the Bossier Parish seat of government.

A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Nerren won his judgeship in 2012 to succeed the retiring Bruce Martin Bolin, a  [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] who held the judgeship from its creation in 1991 until his retirement in 2012. Bolin also formerly served in the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>"Bolin swaps House seat for judge's robe", ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 2, 1991, p. 1</ref> The court is based in Benton, the Bossier Parish seat of government.

 

In that election, Nerren was opposed by two other Republicans, Whitley Robert "Whit" Graves (born October 1954) and John Bernard Slattery, Jr. (born July 1955), the city judge in Springhill in northern Webster Parish. No Democrat entered the competition. In previous years, no Republicans would likely have filed for the judgeship, but party fortunes began to reverse themselves in down-ballot races in Louisiana early in the 21st century.<ref>Bonnie Culverhouse, "Final candidate roster", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 20, 2012.</ref>  

In that election, Nerren was opposed by two other Republicans, Whitley Robert "Whit" Graves (born October 1954) and John Bernard Slattery, Jr. (born July 1955), the city judge in Springhill in northern Webster Parish. No Democrat entered the competition. In previous years, no Republicans would likely have filed for the judgeship, but party fortunes began to reverse themselves in down-ballot races in Louisiana early in the 21st century.<ref>Bonnie Culverhouse, "Final candidate roster", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 20, 2012.</ref>  

In the 2012 contest, Whit Graves cited his thirty-five years of experience as a state trooper, prosecutor, and private attorney. Nerren, with then eighteen years of legal experience, twelve as a prosecutor, noted that he had prevailed early in his career in a jury trial against Graves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/20283425/you-be-the-judge-whit-graves-or-mike-nerren-in-dist-26-race?clienttype=printable|title=You be the judge: Whit Graves or Mike Nerren in District 26 race|publisher=WAFB|location=[[Baton Rouge]], Louisiana|date=December 6, 2012|author=Jeff Ferrell|accessdate=June 10, 2017}}</ref>​

In the 2012 contest, Whit Graves cited his thirty-five years of experience as a state trooper, prosecutor, and private attorney. Nerren, with then eighteen years of legal experience, twelve as a prosecutor, noted that he had prevailed early in his career in a jury trial against Graves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/story/20283425/you-be-the-judge-whit-graves-or-mike-nerren-in-dist-26-race?clienttype=printable|title=You be the judge: Whit Graves or Mike Nerren in District 26 race|publisher=WAFB|location=[[Baton Rouge]], Louisiana|date=December 6, 2012|author=Jeff Ferrell|accessdate=June 10, 2017}}</ref>​

 

Nerren and Graves led the primary field on November 6, and Judge Slattery, who finished in third place, was eliminated from contention. Nerren then defeated Graves in the second round of balloting on December 8. The vote was 7,390 (53.5 percent) to 6,412 (46.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/12082012/12082012_MultiParish.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, December 8, 2012|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=December 8, 2012}}</ref>​

Nerren and Graves led the primary field on November 6, and Judge Slattery, who finished in third place, was eliminated from contention. Nerren then defeated Graves in the second round of balloting on December 8. The vote was 7,390 (53.5 percent) to 6,412 (46.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/12082012/12082012_MultiParish.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, December 8, 2012|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=December 8, 2012}}</ref>​

Judge Nerren was one of several Republicans unopposed in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on November 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2014/08/20/desoto-da-minden-mayor-candidates-qualify/14331543/|title=Final day of qualifying in DeSoto, Webster|author=Vickie Welborn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=August 22, 2014}}</ref>​

Judge Nerren was one of several Republicans unopposed in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on November 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2014/08/20/desoto-da-minden-mayor-candidates-qualify/14331543/|title=Final day of qualifying in DeSoto, Webster|author=Vickie Welborn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=August 22, 2014}}</ref>​

 

==References==

==References==

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{{reflist}}​

 

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[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​