In a statement released earlier today (Friday, Nov. 6), Appeal Court Judge Terri Love announced the end of her candidacy for Louisiana Supreme Court Justice, paving the way for Judge Piper Griffin to assume the seat being vacated the retiring Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson.
In a race that featured three veteran, Black female jurists, Judge Griffin and Judge Love finished first and second, respectively, in the Nov. 3 primary and were headed to a runoff in December. Judge Sandra Cabrina Jenkins finished third.
Judge Love’s statement read:
“I announcing today that after much prayerful reflection, I have withdrawn my candidacy for the Louisiana Supreme Court general election to be held December, 5, 2020. This year has brought many challenges to all of us as we adjust to living with Covid-19 and economic uncertainty. I feel it is in the best interest of my family, my supporters and the voters, that I make this decision.
I want to congratulate Judge Griffin and assure the people of Louisiana that I have every confidence that Judge Griffin will be a fine Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. I wish her all the best.
I am proud of the race we ran, and I am humbled by the outpouring of support I received from so many people. I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Louisiana as a Judge on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.”
Once again, I want to thank my family and supporters for their trust in me.”
Judge Griffin’s legal career spans more than 30 years, including the last 20 on Orleans Parish Civil District Court, where she previously served as Chief Judge of the Civil District Court and was the third most senior judge before resigning to pursue a seat on the state’s highest court.
Calling Judge Love “a friend” and characterizing her withdrawal from the race as “bittersweet”, Judge Griffin released the following in a statement:
“As we participated in forums to discuss our qualifications, I always said that all of the candidates were qualified to hold the position of the next Supreme Court Justice for the State of Louisiana. Each one of us brought a different, but still needed, expertise to the race.
During this campaign I often told my campaign volunteers and committee members, God can take you from A to Z in the blink of an eye. As your next Associate Justice for the Louisiana Supreme Court, I do not take the election process or the people involved for granted and because of the blessing that I am being given, I am even more determined to draw strength from the character traits my mother instilled in me – respect for each other as individuals, compassion, fairness, commitment, dedication, and just as important, giving back and offering help where it is needed.
These are the qualities I am prepared to bring to the Louisiana Supreme Court with hopes of building upon the legacies and just outcomes of Justice Revius Ortique and Chief Justice Bernette Johnson who currently holds the seat.”
Prior to being elected to the bench, Judge Griffin was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to fill a vacancy at the Civil District Court and also served as an Ad hoc judge on the Juvenile District Court. As a practicing attorney she handled complex litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Judge Griffin attended the Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law School, and received her Juris Doctor degree in 1987. She earned a bachelor’s degree In government in 1984 from the Univerity of Notre Dame.
A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Judge Griffin graduated from Xavier Prep High School.
