NAME: Gerard J. Hansen
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: http://www.friendstoelectjudgehansen.com
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Judge Gerard J. Hansen
Magistrate Section
2700 Tulane Ave.
New Orleans, La. 70119
Phone:(504) 658 - 9350 (office)
(504) 881 - 0584 (campaign headquarters)
PARTY: Democrat
PROFESSION: Magistrate Judge, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
PRESENT EMPLOYER / POSITION: Magistrate Judge, Orleans Parish Criminal
District Court
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Doctorate of Laws - 1964
APPLICABLE TRAINING: CLE for Judges, Alumni Judicial College, Four Years -
Magistrate Commissioner.
CIVIC EXPERIENCE: Board Member, Louisiana Ass'n of Drug Court
Professionals, Board Member, Nat'l Ass'n of Drug Court Professionals,
Knights of Columbus, Big Easy Kiwanis, Victims Against Crime, Community
Outreach, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement Domestic Violence
Advisory Board
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Democratic State Central Committee, City Attorney's Office, Ad Hoc Judge for Traffic and Municipal Court, Founder - Alliance for Good Government
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS: Alliance for Good Government
1. What is the depth of your experience in Criminal District Court?
I have served as the Magistrate Judge of the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court since 1978. In 1974, I was appointed as commissioner in the Magistrate Section and served in that capacity for four years before my election.
During my tenure I have handled roughly 17,000 arrestees per year for bond setting in felony and misdemeanor first appearances. In addition, I conduct preliminary hearings and numerous weekly judge trials in felony and misdemeanor cases as well as review arrest and search warrants for my signature. I handle extradition hearings and appeal from municipal and traffic court.
Furthermore, I preside over Magistrate Drug Treatment Court and serve as Chairman of the Committee of Drug Court Judges for Criminal District Court. I have developed and implemented the first Domestic Violence Monitoring Court and the first Electronic Monitoring Enforcement Court in the state.
I was Chief Judge from 2001-2002 and currently serve on the Justice Facility Master Plan Committee for the 41st Judicial District Court.
2. Have you ever been subject to a disciplinary sanction by the Louisiana State Bar Association? If yes, please explain.
I have never been subject to disciplinary action by the Bar Association or by the Judiciary Commission.
3. Do you think the office of the Court Magistrate should continue to be an elected position or should it become a civil service position?
I am the Elected Judge of the Magistrate Section of Criminal District Court. There is no question this office should remain an elected position. Magistrate Court consists of one elected judge and four appointed commissioners. The commissioners conduct Magistrate Court in the evenings and on weekends. This court is open 24 hours per day, seven days a week with 17,000 arrestees coming before the court on an annual basis. As a sitting judge, I am part of the Court En Banc and participate in many aspects of the judicial process. As previously mentioned, I not only handle magistrate duties, but as an elected judge I conduct Drug Treatment Court, Domestic Violence Monitoring Court and Electronic Monitoring Enforcement Court. As Magistrate Judge I remain engaged in the programs and issues of the court as well serve on many of the committees forming the criminal justice system of the future.
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