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{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name= Roy Louis Brun
|name=Roy Louis Brun
|office=[[Judge]] of the 1st Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish, [[Louisiana]]
|office=[[Judge]] of the 1st Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish, [[Louisiana]]
|term_start=January 1997
|term_start=January 1997
|term_end=February 1, 2014
|office2=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br>Caddo Parish (District 5 in [[Shreveport]])
|office2=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br>Caddo Parish (District 5 in [[Shreveport]])
|term_start2=1988
|term_start2=1988
|term_end2=1997
|term_end2=January 1997
|preceded2=[[B. F. O'Neal, Jr.]]
|preceded2=[[B. F. O'Neal, Jr.]]
|succeeded2=Leo Wayne Waddell
|succeeded2=[[Wayne Waddell]]
|birth_date=January 15, 1953
|birth_date=January 15, 1953
|birth_place=[[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]], USA
|birth_place=[[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]], USA
LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center}}
LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center}}
'''Roy Louis Brun''' (born January 15, 1953) is a 1st Judicial District Court [[judge]] in [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], who was earlier a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative from 1988 to 1997. Brun was considered to have been one of the more [[conservative]] members of the legislature during his nine years of service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2020.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024 (Caddo Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=May 15, 2020}}</ref>
'''Roy Louis Brun''' (born January 15, 1953) is the administrator of the 1st Judicial District Court in [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], who was earlier a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative from 1988 to 1997. Brun was considered to have been one of the more [[conservative]] members of the legislature during his nine years of service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2020.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024 (Caddo Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=May 15, 2020}}</ref> He was a court judge until 2014, when he resigned to become court administrator.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Roy_Brun|title=Roy Brun|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref>
==Background==
==Background==
In 1975, at the age of twenty-two, Brun ran unsuccessfully for state senator. At twenty-three and still in law school, Brun was one of the youngest delegates to the 1976 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in the Kemper Arena in [[Kansas City]], [[Missouri]]. Like the majority of the Louisiana delegatees, Brun was committed to the insurgent challenge of former [[Governor]] [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]]. When Reagan's intraparty rival, [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford|Gerald R. Ford, Jr.]], narrowly won the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] nomination, Brun with little enthusiasm at the time agreed to support the party ticket. In 1984, Brun was a Louisiana elector for Reagan and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]].
In 1975, at the age of twenty-two, Brun ran unsuccessfully for state senator. At twenty-three and still in law school, Brun was one of the youngest delegates to the 1976 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in the Kemper Arena in [[Kansas City]], [[Missouri]]. Like the majority of the Louisiana delegatees, Brun was committed to the insurgent challenge of former [[Governor]] [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]]. When Reagan's intraparty rival, [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford|Gerald R. Ford, Jr.]], narrowly won the [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] nomination, Brun with little enthusiasm at the time agreed to support the party ticket. In 1984, Brun was a Louisiana elector for Reagan and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[George Herbert Walker Bush]].
Louisiana's key Republican leader, then [[U.S. Representative]] [[David C. Treen]], then of Jefferson Parishin [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]], supported Ford, though he had voted for Reagan at the 1968 convention]] held in Miami Beach, [[Florida]]. Treen had been unable to convince many of his fellow Louisiana delegates of the merits of a Ford nomination. Brun told ''The Shreveport Times,'' his hometown newspaper, after Ford's nomination that he would support the "dumb collectivist," meaning Ford, rather than the "smart collectivist," referring to Ford'ssuccessful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] challenger, former [[Georgia]] Governor [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>''The Shreveport Times,'' August 20, 1976.</ref>
Louisiana's key Republican leader, then [[U.S. Representative]] [[David C. Treen]], then of Jefferson Parishin [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]], supported Ford, though he had voted for Reagan at the 1968 convention held in Miami Beach, [[Florida]]. Treen had been unable to convince many of his fellow Louisiana delegates of the merits of a Ford nomination. Brun told ''The Shreveport Times,'' his hometown newspaper, after Ford's nomination that he would support the "dumb collectivist," meaning Ford, rather than the "smart collectivist," referring to Ford'ssuccessful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] challenger, former [[Georgia]] Governor [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>''The Shreveport Times,'' August 20, 1976.</ref>
In 1978, Brun, the head of the Republican ballot security program, reported alleged vote-buying in Louisiana's 4th congressional district race between Republican [[Jimmy Wilson]] of Vivian in north Caddo Parish and the Democrat Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leach, then of Leesville in Vernon Parish. Leach defeated Wilson by 266 disputed votes in that race to succeed the retiring Democrat [[Joe Waggonner]]. In 1979, Brun uncovered a problem with seals on voting machines in Opelousas in St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana during the gubernatorial election. The serial numbers on the seals did not correspond with the tallies on the seals when the polls closed the Saturday night of the election, in which the Republican David Treen defeated the Democrat [[Louis Lambert]].<ref>''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' December 10–11, 1979.</ref>
In 1978, Brun, the head of the Republican ballot security program, reported alleged vote-buying in Louisiana's 4th congressional district race between Republican [[Jimmy Wilson]] of Vivian in north Caddo Parish and the Democrat [[Buddy Leach|Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leach, Jr.]], then of Leesville in Vernon Parish. Leach defeated Wilson by 266 disputed votes in that race to succeed the retiring Democrat [[Joe Waggonner]]. In 1979, Brun uncovered a problem with seals on voting machines in Opelousas in St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana during the gubernatorial election. The serial numbers on the seals did not correspond with the tallies on the seals when the polls closed the Saturday night of the election, in which the Republican David Treen defeated the Democrat [[Louis Lambert]].<ref>''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' December 10–11, 1979.</ref>
Representative Brun introduced legislation called the "Justifiable Murder of an AIDS Carrier" bill. The legislation, had it been approved, would have made the killing of an AIDS carrier fall under "justifiable homicide" if a person had to fight off an attacker that he knew was carrying the deadly virus or even believed that the assailant was infected by the virus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/louisiana/LEGAL/1995/house.bill.290-action.alert-04.28.95|title=ATTENTION! House Bill 290|publisher=Qrd.org|date=April 18, 1995|accessdate=May 15, 2020}}</ref>
Representative Brun introduced legislation called the "Justifiable Murder of an AIDS Carrier" bill. The legislation, had it been approved, would have made the killing of an AIDS carrier fall under "justifiable homicide" if a person had to fight off an attacker that he knew was carrying the deadly virus or even believed that the assailant was infected by the virus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/louisiana/LEGAL/1995/house.bill.290-action.alert-04.28.95|title=ATTENTION! House Bill 290|publisher=Qrd.org|date=April 18, 1995|accessdate=May 15, 2020}}</ref>
Brun worked with Democratic Representative [[Everett Doerge]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] to repeal the Louisiana forced heirship law.<ref>''[[Minden Press-Herald]], December 16, 1993, p. 1.</ref>
In 1993, Brun worked with Democratic Representative [[Everett Doerge]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] to repeal the Louisiana forced heirship law.<ref>''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' December 16, 1993, p. 1.</ref>
In 1996, as his legislative career was winding down, Brun argued for raising the Louisiana speed limit to 70 miles per hour, comparable to the limits in much of neighboring [[Texas]]. That same year, he also worked in the unsuccessful presidential nomination bid waged by [[U.S. Senator]] [[Phil Gramm]] of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.questia.com/library/1G1-56832644/caucus-port-mortem-arrogance-cost-gramm-buchanan|author=Ralph Z. Hallow|title=Caucus Port-Mortem: Arrogance Cost Gramm: Buchanan Didn't Take Right for Granted|publisher=Questia.com|date=February 7, 1996|accessdate=May 15, 2020}}</ref>Gramm had been in a Democrat in 1976, when he ran unsuccessfully in the party primary election against U.S. Senator [[Lloyd Bentsen]] at the time Brun was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. In 1983, however, Gramm switched to Republican affiliation.
In 1996, as his legislative career was winding down, Brun argued for raising the Louisiana speed limit to 70 miles per hour, comparable to the limits in much of neighboring [[Texas]]. That same year, he also worked in the unsuccessful presidential nomination bid waged by [[U.S. Senator]] [[Phil Gramm]] of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.questia.com/library/1G1-56832644/caucus-port-mortem-arrogance-cost-gramm-buchanan|author=Ralph Z. Hallow|title=Caucus Port-Mortem: Arrogance Cost Gramm: Buchanan Didn't Take Right for Granted|publisher=Questia.com|date=February 7, 1996|accessdate=May 15, 2020}}</ref>Gramm had been in a Democrat in 1976, when he ran unsuccessfully in the party primary election against U.S. Senator [[Lloyd Bentsen]] at the time Brun was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. In 1983, however, Gramm switched to Republican affiliation.
In 1996, Brun was elected to the first of his six-year terms as a state district judge. He was reelected in 2002 and 2008. He resigned his legislative seat in 1997. He was succeeded by a fellow Republican, Leo Wayne Waddell, who won a general election contest over another Republican, Judy Gayle Dawson Boykin (born 1952), a member of the Caddo Parish School Board and a visible figure in the [[Religious Right]] in Shreveport, outspoken in support of [[school prayer]], traditional values, and opposition to [[abortion]], [[evolution]], and [[homosexual]] preferences.
In 1996, Brun was elected to the first of his six-year terms as a state district judge. He was reelected in 2002 and 2008. He resigned his legislative seat in 1997. He was succeeded by a fellow Republican, Leo Wayne Waddell, who won a general election contest over another Republican, Judy Gayle Dawson Boykin (born 1952), a member of the Caddo Parish School Board and a visible figure in the [[Religious Right]] in Shreveport, outspoken in support of [[school prayer]], traditional values, and opposition to [[abortion]], [[evolution]], and [[homosexual]] preferences.
==Judge Brun and the truck stop==
==Judge Brun and the truck stop==
The Caddo commission denied a zoning variance for construction of the truck stop after the residents objected. Brun overturned the commission’s decision in a lawsuit quietly filed by the owner of the land at the proposed site. Judge Brun declared that the commission decision was "arbitrary and capricious." <ref name=stimes/>
The Caddo commission denied a zoning variance for construction of the truck stop after the residents objected. Brun overturned the commission’s decision in a lawsuit quietly filed by the owner of the land at the proposed site. Judge Brun declared that the commission decision was "arbitrary and capricious." <ref name=stimes/>
Mike Johnson, the attorney for the citizens objecting to the truck stop, said, "The commission’s finding was legitimate and based directly upon the testimony and evidence presented by the citizens. The commission understood that the proposed operation would be a detriment to the surrounding area and place the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of this community at risk."<ref name=stimes/> Area residents gathered nearly 1,300 signatures to express their concerns about the truck stop. The zoning board of appeals board had approved the project by means of a special use zoning exception for the developer, Bob Horn. The commission then voted 7-5 to deny the zoning exception.<ref name=stimes/>
[[Mike Johnson]], later a state representative and since 2017 the [[U.S. Representative]] for Louisiana's 4th congressional district, was the attorney for the citizens objecting to the truck stop. Jhnson said, "The commission’s finding was legitimate and based directly upon the testimony and evidence presented by the citizens. The commission understood that the proposed operation would be a detriment to the surrounding area and place the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of this community at risk."<ref name=stimes/> Area residents gathered nearly 1,300 signatures to express their concerns about the truck stop. The zoning board of appeals board had approved the project by means of a special use zoning exception for the developer, Bob Horn. The commission then voted 7-5 to deny the zoning exception.<ref name=stimes/>
Unbeknown to the residents, a lawsuit was filed thereafter to challenge the commission’s decision. The residents first became aware of the lawsuit after Judge Brun ruled in the case on April 15, 2005. The commission voted not to appeal the ruling.<ref name=stimes/> Opponents contended that a truck stop and [[casino]] would imperil nearby neighborhoods, businesses, churches, and schools by decreasing property values, increasing noise levels, and placing at risk young drivers and schoolchildren who stand at bus stops and ride bicycles along south Youree Drive.<ref name=stimes/>
Unbeknown to the residents, a lawsuit was filed thereafter to challenge the commission’s decision. The residents first became aware of the lawsuit after Judge Brun ruled in the case on April 15, 2005. The commission voted not to appeal the ruling.<ref name=stimes/> Opponents contended that a truck stop and [[casino]] would imperil nearby neighborhoods, businesses, churches, and schools by decreasing property values, increasing noise levels, and placing at risk young drivers and schoolchildren who stand at bus stops and ride bicycles along south Youree Drive.<ref name=stimes/>
In 2006, the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that the Caddo Parish Commission was within its legal rights to override the zoning board decision that would have allowed the truck stop.
In 2006, the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that the Caddo Parish Commission was within its legal rights to override the zoning board decision that would have allowed the truck stop. Attorney Mike Johnson said that "When lawmakers have to choose between protecting a casino and bar or protecting our children and the community, the latter should be given the priority." The circuit court hence delivered a stinging rebuke to Judge Brun, who perceived the matter as one of a legitimate business developing property.
Attorney Mike Johnson said that "When lawmakers have to choose between protecting a casino and bar or protecting our children and the community, the latter should be given the priority." The circuit court hence delivered a stinging rebuke to Judge Brun, who perceived the matter as one of a legitimate business developing property.
Approximately a year later, the zoning request for the truck stop was again brought before the Caddo Parish Commission. This time, the commissioners approved the request. The truck stop services vehicles in the Shreveport port area and sells some 300,000 gallons of fuel annually.
Approximately a year later, the zoning request for the truck stop was again brought before the Caddo Parish Commission. This time, the commissioners approved the request. The truck stop services vehicles in the Shreveport port area and sells some 300,000 gallons of fuel annually.
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