Changes

==Legal career==

==Legal career==

A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Nerren won his judgeship in 2012 to succeed the retiring [[Bruce olin]], 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 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>​