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Downs' uncle, [[J. Earl Downs]], was the public safety commissioner prior to 1963 in [[Shreveport]], where he served alongside [[Mayor]]s James Creswell Gardner, Sr. (1924-2010) and Clyde Edward Fant, Sr. (1905-1973).<ref>Elliott Stonecipher, "Shreveport History: In Support of the Spring Street Museum", February 4, 2012.</ref> He was unseated in the 1962 Democratic primary by George Wendell D'Artois, Sr. (1925-1977).

Downs' uncle, [[J. Earl Downs]], was the public safety commissioner prior to 1963 in [[Shreveport]], where he served alongside [[Mayor]]s James Creswell Gardner, Sr. (1924-2010) and Clyde Edward Fant, Sr. (1905-1973).<ref>Elliott Stonecipher, "Shreveport History: In Support of the Spring Street Museum", February 4, 2012.</ref> He was unseated in the 1962 Democratic primary by George Wendell D'Artois, Sr. (1925-1977).

==Legal career==​

==Legal career==

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Like his father and brother, Downs is a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] and a graduate of the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in [[Baton Rouge]].

Like his father, Downs is a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] and a graduate of the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in [[Baton Rouge]].

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ldaa.org/main/roster.php?page=9th|title=Louisiana District Attorneys Association|publisher=ldaa.org|accessdate=June 28, 2013}}</ref> Before his election as DA, Jam Downs had been an assistant district attorney. He is known for his interest in conservation, hunting, and enforcement of game laws. He was born in [[rural]] Cheneyville in south Rapides Parish but resides with his wife, the former Maureen Stewart, in a restored farmhouse nea Lecompte,  also in Rapides Parish.<ref name=jamdowns>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062258/http://www.lwaa.org/pdf/LGW_spring_2005%204.pdf|author=Rick Markway|title="The Prosecutor: District Attorney James Crawford 'Jam' Downs" |publisher=Lwaa.org |accessdate=June 27, 2013}}</ref>​

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ldaa.org/main/roster.php?page=9th|title=Louisiana District Attorneys Association|publisher=ldaa.org|accessdate=June 28, 2013}}</ref> Before his election as DA, Jam Downs had been an assistant district attorney. He is known for his interest in conservation, hunting, and enforcement of game laws. He was born in [[rural]] Cheneyville in south Rapides Parish but resides with his wife, the former Maureen Stewart, in a restored farmhouse nea Lecompte,  also in Rapides Parish.<ref name=jamdowns>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062258/http://www.lwaa.org/pdf/LGW_spring_2005%204.pdf|author=Rick Markway|title="The Prosecutor: District Attorney James Crawford 'Jam' Downs" |publisher=Lwaa.org |accessdate=June 27, 2013}}</ref>​

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"Jam" Downs is unrelated to the late John Harden Barnett Downs, known as Johnny Downs, a five-term member of the Alexandria City Council and the namesake of the Johnny Downs Sports Complex at 271 Vandenburg Drive in Alexandria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://otbelgard.com/pignut/pages/genealogy/f983.html|title=John Harden Barnett Downs|publisher=otbelgard.com|accessdate=July 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://plus.google.com/106880624859852578694/about?gl=us&hl=en|title=Johnny Downs Sports Complex|publisher=plus.google.com|accessdate=July 5, 2013}}</ref>​

"Jam" Downs is unrelated to the late John Harden Barnett Downs, known as Johnny Downs, a five-term member of the Alexandria City Council and the namesake of the Johnny Downs Sports Complex at 271 Vandenburg Drive in Alexandria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://otbelgard.com/pignut/pages/genealogy/f983.html|title=John Harden Barnett Downs|publisher=otbelgard.com|accessdate=July 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://plus.google.com/106880624859852578694/about?gl=us&hl=en|title=Johnny Downs Sports Complex|publisher=plus.google.com|accessdate=July 5, 2013}}</ref>​

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Three candidates ran in the [[[primary]] held on November 4, 2014, to choose a successor to Downs, who customarily ran without an opponent. One was then state Representative Christopher Lowell "Chris" Hazel, a [[Republican Party|Republican]] from Ball, Louisiana, and a former assistant DA under Downs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140429/NEWS01/304290022/Boyce-businessman-Grant-announces-run-Congress-Hazel-won-t-run-seat|title=Jeff Matthews, Boyce businessman Grant announces run for Congress; Hazel won't run for [U.S. House] seat, April 28, 2014|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 29, 2014}}</ref> Democrat Christopher J. Roy, Jr., a Democratic former state representative and a brother of Jacques Roy, the former mayor of Alexandria, also sought the position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140219/NEWS01/140219001/Chris-Roy-Jr-run-Rapides-Parish-district-attorney|title=Chris Roy Jr. to run for Rapides Parish district attorney, February 19, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 29, 2014}}</ref> However, the winner of the race to succeed Downs was Phillip Terrell, a former city judge in Pineville with decades of legal experience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140404/NEWS01/140404003/Phillip-Terrell-former-Pineville-judge-enters-race-Rapides-Parish-district-attorney|title=Phillip Terrell, former Pineville judge, enters race for Rapides Parish district attorney, April 4, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 29, 2014}}</ref

Three candidates ran in the [[[primary]] held on November 4, 2014, to choose a successor to Downs, who customarily ran without an opponent. One was then state Representative Christopher Lowell "Chris" Hazel, a [[Republican Party|Republican]] from Ball, Louisiana, and a former assistant DA under Downs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140429/NEWS01/304290022/Boyce-businessman-Grant-announces-run-Congress-Hazel-won-t-run-seat|title=Jeff Matthews, Boyce businessman Grant announces run for Congress; Hazel won't run for [U.S. House] seat, April 28, 2014|publisher=''Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 29, 2014}}</ref> Democrat Christopher J. Roy, Jr., a Democratic former state representative and a brother of Jacques Roy, the former mayor of Alexandria, also sought the position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140219/NEWS01/140219001/Chris-Roy-Jr-run-Rapides-Parish-district-attorney|title=Chris Roy Jr. to run for Rapides Parish district attorney, February 19, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 29, 2014}}</ref> However, the winner of the race to succeed Downs was Phillip Terrell, a former city judge in Pineville with decades of legal experience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140404/NEWS01/140404003/Phillip-Terrell-former-Pineville-judge-enters-race-Rapides-Parish-district-attorney|title=Phillip Terrell, former Pineville judge, enters race for Rapides Parish district attorney, April 4, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 29, 2014}}</ref>

Ultimately, Terrell defeated Hazel in a close runoff election on December 6 and succeeded Downs in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/12062014/12062014_40.html|title=Runoff election returns, December 6, 2014|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=December 8, 2014}}</ref> In 2018, Hazel won a special election for judge of the 9th Judicial District Court.​

Ultimately, Terrell defeated Hazel in a close runoff election on December 6 and succeeded Downs in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/12062014/12062014_40.html|title=Runoff election returns, December 6, 2014|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=December 8, 2014}}</ref> In 2018, Hazel won a special election for judge of the 9th Judicial District Court.​