William J. “Will” Crain has announced his candidacy for District Judge to fill Division G of the 22nd Judicial District Court. Division “G”, covering all of St. Tammany and Washington parishes, is one of four seats being vacated by retirements from the 22nd JDC.

Crain has spent his entire 22-year professional career practicing law in the 22nd JDC and has handled cases of all types, with his primary focus being courtroom trial work.

“I have broad experience in the law that I feel has prepared me to perform this important job. I am committed to maintaining this court’s reputation for competence and independence,” said Crain.

Crain

Crain, 46, was born and raised in Washington Parish, where he graduated from Bogalusa High School in 1979. He earned his accounting and law degrees from LSU.

While attending LSU he worked as a legislative aide to the Louisiana State Budget Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

Upon completing law school in 1986, Crain joined the Jones Fussell law firm in Covington and became its lead trial lawyer and a partner in the firm where he continues to practice law today.

“As a lifelong resident of this district and having worked here my entire professional career, I feel I know and understand the quality of life issues and decisions that affect our communities every day. I know that a fair, impartial and efficient judiciary is critical to maintaining and improving our quality of life, and I am committed to those ideals,” Crain added.

Crain’s work has included successful judge and jury trials in both state and federal courts throughout Louisiana, representing clients of all backgrounds as both plaintiffs and defendants.

Crain, a Republican, has served the community as a board member of the Youth Services Bureau and coaching youth sports teams. He has been active in the Greater Covington Bar Association, having served as vice president and president. He has lectured at continuing legal education seminars for lawyers. He has served on committees of both the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Greater Covington Bar Association, including being a delegate to the House of Delegates, a member of the Intermediate Appellate Courts Liaison Committee for the state bar association, and the Bench/Bar Liaison Committee for the local bar association. Crain has also served as a member of the LSU Law School Alumni Trustees Board.

Crain is from a family that has lived on the Northshore for generations. He has been married for 23 years to Cheri Hackett Crain, and they have four children: William, Matthew, Michael and Elizabeth. He is a member of St. Timothy on the North Shore United Methodist Church in Mandeville, where he has served as an adult Sunday school teacher, on the Board of Trustees and on the Staff/Parish Relations committee.

The primary election is Oct. 4.