Changes

|term_end=1990​

|term_end=1990​

|preceded=R. Harmon Drew, Sr.​

|preceded=R. Harmon Drew, Sr.​

|succeeded=[[Eugene Eason]]​

|succeeded=Fulton Eugene Eason​

|office2=Division E [[Judge]], 26th Judicial District Court of Louisiana​

|office2=Division E [[Judge]], 26th Judicial District Court of Louisiana​

|term_start2=January 1, 1991​

|term_start2=January 1, 1991​

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​

'''Bruce Martin Bolin''' (born September 28, 1950) is a retired [[judge]] of the [[Louisiana]] 26th Judicial District and a former state representative. Bolin held court from 1991 to 2012 in the Division E judgeship<ref>"Bolin swaps House seat for judge's robe," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' January 2, 1991, p. 1.</ref> based in Benton and [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], the seats of government for Bossier and Webster parishes, respectively.​

'''Bruce Martin Bolin''' (born September 28, 1950) is a retired [[judge]] of the [[Louisiana]] 26th Judicial District and a former state representative. Bolin held court from 1991 to 2012 in the Division E judgeship<ref>"Bolin swaps House seat for judge's robe," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' January 2, 1991, p. 1.</ref> based in Benton and [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], the seats of government for Bossier and Webster parishes, respectively.​

 

==Background==​

==Background==​

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Early in his career, Bolin practiced law and served on the indigent defender board in Minden.​

Early in his career, Bolin practiced law and served on the indigent defender board in Minden.​

 

==Political career==​

==Political career==

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===As state representative===

===As state representative===

On November 7, 1978, Bolin ran in the [[special election]] for the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House vacated by Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995). A former Minden city judge, Drew was again elected to that post in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on September 16 and had therefore resigned his House seat. Bolin led the balloting over three opponents, including Achillea Gust "Ike" Kirkikis (1926–2004), a [[Greece|Greek]]-[[United States|American]] [[business]]man from Minden who also served for four terms on the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing council, was a past president of the Minden Beautification Council, and owned until 1981 Economy Butane and Propane Company.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref> Also in the race were outgoing Minden[[ Mayor]] [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and forester William H. "Bill" Zachry, Jr. (born June 10, 1943), the most politically [[conservative]] of the four candidates. Bolin led the field, with 5,580 votes (47.2 percent) to Kirkikis's 2,789 (23.6 percent), Patterson's 2,687 (22.7 percent), and Zachry's 773 (6.5 percent). Patterson's son, Ricky Patterson (1951–1978),<ref name=ssdi/> was shot to death on November 6, election-eve.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 7–8, 1978.</ref>​

On November 7, 1978, Bolin ran in the [[special election]] for the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House vacated by Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995). A former Minden city judge, Drew was again elected to that post in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on September 16 and had therefore resigned his House seat. Bolin led the balloting over three opponents, including Achillea Gust "Ike" Kirkikis (1926–2004), a [[Greece|Greek]]-[[United States|American]] [[business]]man from Minden who also served for four terms on the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing council, was a past president of the Minden Beautification Council, and owned until 1981 Economy Butane and Propane Company.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref> Also in the race were outgoing Minden[[ Mayor]] [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and forester William H. "Bill" Zachry, Jr. (born June 10, 1943), the most politically [[conservative]] of the four candidates. Bolin led the field, with 5,580 votes (47.2 percent) to Kirkikis's 2,789 (23.6 percent), Patterson's 2,687 (22.7 percent), and Zachry's 773 (6.5 percent). Patterson's son, Ricky Patterson (1951–1978),<ref name=ssdi/> was shot to death on November 6, election-eve.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 7–8, 1978.</ref>

 

In the runoff held on December 16, Bolin prevailed, 2,698 (59.5 percent) to Kirkikis' 1,833 (40.5 percent). He hence took office on January 1, 1979, for the fifteen months remaining in Drew's unexpired term.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 17, 1978.</ref>​

In the runoff held on December 16, Bolin prevailed, 2,698 (59.5 percent) to Kirkikis' 1,833 (40.5 percent). He hence took office on January 1, 1979, for the fifteen months remaining in Drew's unexpired term.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 17, 1978.</ref>​

 

Bolin's father had held the same House seat from 1940 to 1944. Bolin served as representative for  nearly a dozen years; he was unopposed for his last term in 1987. He resigned late in 1990, when he was elected to the state district judgeship. The senior Bolin had held that post too — from 1952 to 1960.<ref>[http://www.lasc.org/community_outreach/in_memoriam/bolin_james.asp bolin_james.asp<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

Bolin's father had held the same House seat from 1940 to 1944. Bolin served as representative for  nearly a dozen years; he was unopposed for his last term in 1987. He resigned late in 1990, when he was elected to the state district judgeship. The senior Bolin had held that post too — from 1952 to 1960.<ref>[http://www.lasc.org/community_outreach/in_memoriam/bolin_james.asp bolin_james.asp<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​ Bolin was elected to full House terms in 1979, 1983, and in 1987. In the 1983 campaign, [[U.S. Senator]] [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], [[U.S. Representative]]s  Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Huckaby and [[Buddy Roemer]], then House [[Speaker]] John Hainkel, Jr., and then state Representative and later state Senator Robert Roy Adley headlined a testimonial dinner and fundraiser for Bolin held at the Minden Civic Center and attended by some one thousand supporters though he had no opponent that year.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 28, 1983, p. 1.</ref>He ran unopposed as well in 1987, when he won his third full term which he did not complete.

 

Bolin was elected to full House terms in 1979, 1983, and in 1987. In the 1983 campaign, [[U.S. Senator]] [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], [[U.S. Representative]]s  Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Huckaby and [[Buddy Roemer]], then House [[Speaker]] John Hainkel, Jr., and then state Representative and later state Senator Robert Roy Adley headlined a testimonial dinner and fundraiser for Bolin held at the Minden Civic Center and attended by some one thousand supporters though he had no opponent that year.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 28, 1983, p. 1.</ref>He ran unopposed as well in 1987, when he won his third full term which he did not complete.​

In the House, Bolin voted 55 percent from 1979 to 1984 with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 1984 alone, LABI ranked him 32 percent favorable. He opposed efforts by [[organized labor]] to repeal the state [[right to work]] law.<ref>"State voting record disappoints LABI," ''Minden Press-Herald,', October 17, 1984, pp. 1, 16.</ref>

 

In the House, Bolin voted 55 percent from 1979 to 1984 with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 1984 alone, LABI ranked him 32 percent favorable. He opposed efforts by [[organized labor]] to repeal the state [[right to work]] law.<ref>"State voting record disappoints LABI," ''Minden Press-Herald,', October 17, 1984, pp. 1, 16.</ref>​

In the spring of 1984, Bolin was one of twenty-eight representatives who voted against a 1 percentage point increase in the state [[sales tax]], which was nevertheless pushed to passage by then [[governor of Louisiana|Governor]] [[Edwin Edwards]]. Bolin said that while he admired Edwards' gubernatorial leadership and ability to get legislation enacted, "I just thought it was an improper time to drop this additional load on the taxpayers."<ref>"Rep. Bolin weighed all the factors," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 30, 1984, p. 1</ref>​

In the spring of 1984, Bolin was one of twenty-eight representatives who voted against a 1 percentage point increase in the state [[sales tax]], which was nevertheless pushed to passage by then [[governor of Louisiana|Governor]] [[Edwin Edwards]]. Bolin said that while he admired Edwards' gubernatorial leadership and ability to get legislation enacted, "I just thought it was an improper time to drop this additional load on the taxpayers."<ref>"Rep. Bolin weighed all the factors," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 30, 1984, p. 1</ref>​

 

In 1984, Bolin was appointed by state House Speaker [[John Alario]], then a Democrat and later a [[Moderate Republican]], to chair the Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice. Prior to that time, he had chaired the House Judiciary Committee.<ref>"Bolin heading unit on criminal justice," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 20, 1984, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1984, Bolin was appointed by state House Speaker [[John Alario]], then a Democrat and later a [[Moderate Republican]], to chair the Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice. Prior to that time, he had chaired the House Judiciary Committee.<ref>"Bolin heading unit on criminal justice," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 20, 1984, p. 1.</ref>​

 

In 1988, Representative Bolin applauded Governor Buddy Roemer's early reform efforts: "the state can't be everything to everybody, and the new budget reflects that." Bolin also correctly predicted that Roemer would in time run for president, but that did not happen for another twenty-four years. Bolin said that Roemer "needs no political baggage" and that Louisiana "must be viewed as a progressive state" for Romer to accomplish  the goal of becoming president.<ref>"Bolin: Roemer's aspiration can only help state,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,', May 17, 1988, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1988, Representative Bolin applauded Governor Buddy Roemer's early reform efforts: "the state can't be everything to everybody, and the new budget reflects that." Bolin also correctly predicted that Roemer would in time run for president, but that did not happen for another twenty-four years. Bolin said that Roemer "needs no political baggage" and that Louisiana "must be viewed as a progressive state" for Romer to accomplish  the goal of becoming president.<ref>"Bolin: Roemer's aspiration can only help state,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 17, 1988, p. 1.</ref>​

 

In September 1984, Bolin ran for the office of Bossier-Webster Parish District Attorney,<ref>"Bolin is candidate for district attorney," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 12, 1984, p. 3.</ref> but he lost by 122 votes to the incumbent and fellow Democrat Henry Newton Brown, Jr., of [[Bossier City]]. The tally was 16,447 for Brown to 16,326 for Bolin.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', October 2, 1984, p. 1</ref> Bolin carried forty-one of the forty-eight precincts in Webster Parish but only two in Bossier Parish.<ref>"Bolin not ready to concede," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 1, 1984, p. 1.</ref> In that campaign, Bolin accused Brown of having dropped 230 charges against suspects, including some who were accused of [[murder]], [[rape]], [[narcotics]] violations, and driving while intoxicated.<ref>Bolin advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 12, 1984, p. 1B.</ref> Later during the decade [[CBS]]'s ''[[60 Minutes]]'' ran a story on Brown stressing the district attorney's aggressive prosecution of murder suspects.<ref>"Brown: 'People Should Pay for What They Do!,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 25, 1989, p. 1.</ref>​

In September 1984, Bolin ran for the office of Bossier-Webster Parish District Attorney,<ref>"Bolin is candidate for district attorney," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 12, 1984, p. 3.</ref> but he lost by 122 votes to the incumbent and fellow Democrat Henry Newton Brown, Jr., of [[Bossier City]]. The tally was 16,447 for Brown to 16,326 for Bolin.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', October 2, 1984, p. 1</ref> Bolin carried forty-one of the forty-eight precincts in Webster Parish but only two in Bossier Parish.<ref>"Bolin not ready to concede," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 1, 1984, p. 1.</ref> In that campaign, Bolin accused Brown of having dropped 230 charges against suspects, including some who were accused of [[murder]], [[rape]], [[narcotics]] violations, and driving while intoxicated.<ref>Bolin advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 12, 1984, p. 1B.</ref> Later during the decade [[CBS]]'s ''[[60 Minutes]]'' ran a story on Brown stressing the district attorney's aggressive prosecution of murder suspects.<ref>"Brown: 'People Should Pay for What They Do!,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 25, 1989, p. 1.</ref>

 

Bolin was elected judge of the 26th Judicial District court in 1990, when his runoff opponent, Randy Rowe of Bossier City, withdrew from the contest.<ref>"Bolin winner in 26th Judicial District Court race; Runoff opponent withdraws from race," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 17, 1990, p. 1.</ref> However, there was a delay in certification of Bolin as the winner of the election because of a challenge waged by advocates of single-member districts for judges, a practice which the [[United States Supreme Court]] has ruled is not required under the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].<ref>"Louisiana election headed for Supreme Court; Bolin's 26th Judicial District judgeship affected by challenge," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 19, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

Bolin was elected judge of the 26th Judicial District court in 1990, when his runoff opponent, Randy Rowe of Bossier City, withdrew from the contest.<ref>"Bolin winner in 26th Judicial District Court race; Runoff opponent withdraws from race," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 17, 1990, p. 1.</ref> However, there was a delay in certification of Bolin as the winner of the election because of a challenge waged by advocates of single-member districts for judges, a practice which the [[United States Supreme Court]] has ruled is not required under the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].<ref>"Louisiana election headed for Supreme Court; Bolin's 26th Judicial District judgeship affected by challenge," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 19, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

 

After Bolin became a judge, his state House seat temporarily reverted to a [[Republican Party|Republican]], [[Eugene Eason]] of Springhill in northern Webster Parish, who filled the remaining months of Bolin's term. Eason was actually the first Republican ever to seek the Webster Parish seat in the state House. Eason was promptlydefeated in the [[general election]] held on November 16, 1991 by another Democrat, educator [[Everett Doerge]] of Minden.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Legislative), November 16, 1991.</ref>​

After Bolin became a judge, his state House seat temporarily reverted to a [[Republican Party|Republican]], [[Eugene Eason]] of Springhill in northern Webster Parish, who filled the remaining months of Bolin's term. Eason was actually the first Republican ever to seek the Webster Parish seat in the state House. Eason was promptlydefeated in the [[general election]] held on November 16, 1991 by another Democrat, educator [[Everett Doerge]] of Minden.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Legislative), November 16, 1991.</ref>​

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