A state appellate choose from Tangipahoa Parish introduced Wednesday she intends to run for a vacant seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court docket.

Decide Blair Downing Edwards, a Republican who sits on the First Circuit Court docket of Enchantment, mentioned she’s going to enter a particular election to interchange Affiliate Justice Will Crain, who was just lately confirmed as a federal choose, in District 1.

In 2024, Edwards was elected to the First Circuit with out opposition after holding a judgeship on the twenty first Judicial District Court docket, which covers Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes, since 2008. She was the courtroom’s solely juvenile choose throughout that stretch and labored as public defender within the twenty first District earlier than her election to the bench.

Edwards is a graduate of Nicholls State College in accounting and earned her legislation diploma from Loyola College in New Orleans.

“I’m operating for the Louisiana Supreme Court docket as a result of our state deserves justices who’re unbiased, rooted in conservative ideas, and powerful sufficient to face their floor when it issues most,” Edwards mentioned in an announcement. “I’ve by no means wavered in my perception that the Structure and the legislation — not politics or strain — should information each choice.”

She is the spouse of former five-term Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards and sister-in-law of former Gov. John Bel Edwards, each Democrats.

“My dad and mom and grandparents raised me to be a robust conservative, even whereas surrounded by of us with opposing views — even household — and I’ve by no means misplaced my bearings,” Blair Edwards mentioned. “Some name it cussed; I name it spine. I stand my floor, purpose straight and maintain a humorousness about it …”

District 1 for the Louisiana Supreme Court docket consists of all of Livingston, Tangipahoa, St. Washington, St. Tammany and St. Bernard parishes and the easternmost part of Orleans Parish.

Qualifying for candidates within the particular election is occurring on an emergency timeline. Gov. Jeff Landry issued a proclamation to offer candidates till Jan. 30 to gather 150 signatures from voters within the district.  The identical guidelines apply for a emptiness on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Schooling created when President Donald Trump picked Paul Hollis to run the U.S. Mint.

If a registrar validates the signatures, the candidates can formally qualify Feb. 11-13 to be on the poll for the closed social gathering main on Might 16. A celebration runoff, if wanted, is about for June 27, with the overall main on Nov. 3.