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Representative Jackson served on the House Democratic Caucus and the Legislative Black Caucus. His ratings from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry ranged from 38 to 67 percent over the years he was a legislator. In 2012, the National Federation of Independent Business scored him 60 percent. In 2011 and 2013, the [[conservative]] [[Louisiana Family Forum]] judged him 44 and 63 percent, respectively. Louisiana [[Right to Life]] has rated him from 50 to 100 percent. Jackson ranked 58 percent from the Louisiana Association of Educators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/evaluations/93763/girod-jackson-iii#.VU0RJPlViko|title=Girod Jackson, III's Ratings and Evaluations|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=July 12, 2020}}</ref>​

Representative Jackson served on the House Democratic Caucus and the Legislative Black Caucus. His ratings from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry ranged from 38 to 67 percent over the years he was a legislator. In 2012, the National Federation of Independent Business scored him 60 percent. In 2011 and 2013, the [[conservative]] [[Louisiana Family Forum]] judged him 44 and 63 percent, respectively. Louisiana [[Right to Life]] has rated him from 50 to 100 percent. Jackson ranked 58 percent from the Louisiana Association of Educators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/evaluations/93763/girod-jackson-iii#.VU0RJPlViko|title=Girod Jackson, III's Ratings and Evaluations|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=July 12, 2020}}</ref>​

 

Jackson voted in 2013 against permanent concealed-carry permits but opposed making information on the permits a matter of the public record. In 2010, he voted against allowing weapons in churches. Jackson voted in 2013 for judicial pay increases and for removing the mandatory retirement age of judges. He voted to reduce the penalties for [[marijuana]] possession; the measure passed the House, 54-38.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/93763/girod-jackson-iii#.VU0SLPlViko|title=Girod Jackson, III's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=July 12, 2020}}</ref>​

Jackson voted in 2013 against permanent concealed-carry permits but opposed making information on the permits a matter of the public record. In 2010, he voted against allowing weapons in churches. Jackson voted in 2013 for judicial pay increases and for removing the mandatory retirement age of judges. He voted to reduce the penalties for [[marijuana]] possession; the measure passed the House, 54-38.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/93763/girod-jackson-iii#.VU0SLPlViko|title=Girod Jackson, III's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=July 12, 2020}}</ref>​

 

In 2012, Jackson co-sponsored [[parole]] eligibility for non-violent offenders. He voted to establish tax incentives to recruit a [[National Basketball Association]] team to Louisiana but opposed state income tax deductions to taxpayers donating to scholarship funds. He voted against the requirement that welfare recipients undergo periodic testing for use of [[narcotics]]. He opposed reducing the number of hours that polling stations remain open; Louisiana traditionally has had 14-hour election days. He voted to forbid telephone use while driving but earlier had agreed to the use of other hand-held devices while driving. He supported changes to the [[Tenure|teacher tenure]] law. In 2011, he supported a permanent [[cigarette]] tax and backed a failed bill which supporters said would curb [[bullying]] in public schools. He supported [[redistricting]] of the [[United States House of Representatives]] but did not vote on a similar bill for the [[Louisiana State Senate]].<ref name=votingrecords/>​

In 2012, Jackson co-sponsored [[parole]] eligibility for non-violent offenders. He voted to establish tax incentives to recruit a [[National Basketball Association]] team to Louisiana but opposed state income tax deductions to taxpayers donating to scholarship funds. He voted against the requirement that welfare recipients undergo periodic testing for use of [[narcotics]]. He opposed reducing the number of hours that polling stations remain open; Louisiana traditionally has had 14-hour election days. He voted to forbid telephone use while driving but earlier had agreed to the use of other hand-held devices while driving. He supported changes to the [[Tenure|teacher tenure]] law. In 2011, he supported a permanent [[cigarette]] tax and backed a failed bill which supporters said would curb [[bullying]] in public schools. He supported [[redistricting]] of the [[United States House of Representatives]] but did not vote on a similar bill for the state Senate.<ref name=votingrecords/>​

 

In 2012, Jackson re-introduced a proposal to increase the number of minority judges in the 24th Judicial District, which covers Jefferson Parish. He sought to add a third minority judge through House Bill 523. Though the session ended before he could obtained passage of the legislation., he persevered and the measure, as HB 767, passed both houses and was signed into law by Republican [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=​

In 2012, Jackson re-introduced a proposal to increase the number of minority judges in the 24th Judicial District, which covers Jefferson Parish. He sought to add a third minority judge through House Bill 523. Though the session ended before he could obtained passage of the legislation., he persevered and the measure, as HB 767, passed both houses and was signed into law by Republican [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=​

http://nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/06/gov_bobby_jindal_signs_plan_th.html|title=Gov. Bobby Jindal signs plan that could elect third African-American judge to 24th Judicial District|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 6, 2012|author=Paul Purpura|accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref>​

http://nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/06/gov_bobby_jindal_signs_plan_th.html|title=Gov. Bobby Jindal signs plan that could elect third African-American judge to 24th Judicial District|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 6, 2012|author=Paul Purpura|accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref>​

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Jackson was forced from the House  chamber after United States Attorney Dana Bonte charged him with two counts of willful failure to file federal income taxes and another count of making a fraudulent statement in his annual tax return. Jackson was alleged to have misrepresented on a federal tax return how much his company, Diversified Ventures, earned in the year 2006. Prosecutors said that the company made about $600,000 from contracts while Jackson and his wife listed $108,000. That discrepancy caused the Jacksons to avoid payment of nearly $80,000 in taxes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Girod_Jackson,_III|title=Girod Jackson, III|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=July 12, 2020}}</ref>

 

Jackson was forced from the House  chamber after United States Attorney Dana Bonte charged him with two counts of willful failure to file federal income taxes and another count of making a fraudulent statement in his annual tax return. Jackson was alleged to have misrepresented on a federal tax return how much his company, Diversified Ventures, earned in the year 2006. Prosecutors said that the company made about $600,000 from contracts while Jackson and his wife listed $108,000. That discrepancy caused the Jacksons to avoid payment of nearly $80,000 in taxes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Girod_Jackson,_III|title=Girod Jackson, III|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=July 12, 2020}}</ref>​

Jackson pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced by [[Judge]] Jane Margaret Triche-Milazzo of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, an appointee of [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]], to three months in prison, nine months of home detention, $97,374 in restitution, and thereafter a year of supervised release. The sentence was less severe than the guidelines for the crime, which stipulate twelve to eighteen months in prison. Judge Milazzo cited Jackson's military service in Operation Desert Storm, his family life, and the lack of a criminal history as mitigating factors in determining the punishment.<ref name=nola>{{cite web|url=http://nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/03/former_state_rep_girod_jackson_3.html|title=Former state Rep. Girod Jackson sentenced to three months in prison, nine months at home|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|author=Juliet Linderman|date=March 14, 2014|accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref>​

Jackson pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced by [[Judge]] Jane Margaret Triche-Milazzo of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, an appointee of [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]], to three months in prison, nine months of home detention, $97,374 in restitution, and thereafter a year of supervised release. The sentence was less severe than the guidelines for the crime, which stipulate twelve to eighteen months in prison. Judge Milazzo cited Jackson's military service in Operation Desert Storm, his family life, and the lack of a criminal history as mitigating factors in determining the punishment.<ref name=nola>{{cite web|url=http://nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/03/former_state_rep_girod_jackson_3.html|title=Former state Rep. Girod Jackson sentenced to three months in prison, nine months at home|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|author=Juliet Linderman|date=March 14, 2014|accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref>​

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Jackson served his sentence from April to July, 2014, at the Federal Correctional Institution in Oakdale  in Allen Parish, south of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]. Former [[U.S. Representative]] [[William J. Jefferson]] of [[Louisiana's 2nd congressional district]] served a 13-year sentence at the same institution for political corruption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/04/ex-legislator_girod_jackson_ii.html|title=Ex-Legislator Girod Jackson III reports to Oakdale prison for tax crimes|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=​April 23, 2015|author=Andrea Shaw|accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref>​

Jackson served his sentence from April to July, 2014, at the Federal Correctional Institution in Oakdale  in Allen Parish, south of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]. Former [[U.S. Representative]] [[William J. Jefferson]] of Louisiana's 2nd congressional district served a 13-year sentence at the same institution for political corruption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/04/ex-legislator_girod_jackson_ii.html|title=Ex-Legislator Girod Jackson III reports to Oakdale prison for tax crimes|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=​April 23, 2015|author=Andrea Shaw|accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref>​

==References==

==References==