Votes have already begun to be cast in East Baton Rouge Parish this past weekend for two candidates running for an open judge’s seat at the parish Family Court.
The candidates, Democrat Caulette “Twin” Jackson-Guillard and Republican Joseph Cataldie, are both attorneys who’ve practiced family law for more than 15 years.
Both said that personal experiences as clients in family court motivated them to enter the field and now to seek the judgeship.
Joseph Cataldie, photo provided courtesy of the Joseph Cataldie camapign.
Cataldie said in addition to being a staff attorney for a family court judge and representing families with the Prendergast Law Firm, he’s a single dad and co-parent to his daughter.
“I have seen it from the inside and the outside from every angle that one possibly can,” Cataldie said.
Caulette “Twin” Jackson Guillard, photo provided courtesy of the Jackson Guillard campaign.
Jackson-Guillard said her path to a family court judgeship began when she was 10-years-old and decided she wanted to pursue that kind of law. Now she has 20 years of experience.
“I experienced dysfunction growing up,” Jackson-Guillard said. “I know what it feels like when families struggle, when stability is uncertain, and when children are caught in the middle. That experience didn’t break me, it shaped me. It gave me purpose.”
She said her personal experiences let her see firsthand how decisions impact real people—especially children.
Jackson-Guillard ran for a similar seat in 2023, losing to Judge Kyle Russ.
This is Cataldie’s first campaign. He said he decided the judgeship was the next step in his career after 16 years representing families with Prendergast.
He said his style as an attorney is to provide calm to families during the “most challenging times of their lives.” He hopes to bring that same demeanor to the families that come before him as a judge.
“I feel like I’ve progressed to a level as an attorney where the next logical step is to try to take that ability that I’ve honed in myself and apply it as a judge,” Cataldie said. “I think (that calmness) is almost better suited for the bench.”
Jackson Guillard said she hopes to bring mutual respect to the families who come before her and help them move forward.
“I also believe in encouraging early resolution when appropriate, through mediation that’s available on the 4th floor every Tuesday and problem-solving, so families can avoid prolonged conflict,” Jackson-Guillard said, “especially when children are involved.”
Early voting ends May 9, with the race to be decided during the May 16 election.
Source link