The Judges of the City Court of Lafayette announced today that Donald W. Washington has been appointed as Temporary Marshal of the Court.
Washington finished his first day on the job Tuesday. Washington took his oath of office Tuesday morning, as he fills in for Marshal Brian Pope. Pope is serving a 30-day jail sentence for “contempt of court”. During that time, Washington will oversee the office’s administration and operations.
“There are simple things that have to be done that only the marshal can do–some things that have to be signed and things of that sort,” Washington said. “The court was concerned about that enough to reach out and see if they could find a temporary marshal.”
Under state law, the city marshal’s office must continue to operate despite the marshal’s absence. Washington will work with deputies to insure the duties of the office are carried out. Washington explained some of the duties would be the daily execution of the Court’s orders and arrest warrants. Also, the protection of the courthouse and citizens.
Washington says he is not being paid for this temporary job. However, he says he will perform the work expected of him by the city court and the public.
“There were some issues that the judges thought about in much more details than I,” Washington said. ” There are two judges in this court and they are the primary overseers of the court. They let the marshal know what they expected in terms of protecting the court and carrying out the lawful orders of the court.”
Washington is a lawyer who served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District for almost nine years.
The Court appointed Washington “to act as Temporary Marshal until such time as Marshal Pope is able to physically return to his duties as Marshal and Executive Officer of the City Court,” a release states.
“The judges of the court have determined that Marshal Brian Pope is temporarily absent and that the continued operation of the Marshal’s office is necessary to the efficient operation of the court,” said Judge Francie Bouillion, presiding judge of the court.
The operation of Lafayette City Court and the duties performed by the Lafayette City Marshal’s office must continue uninterrupted, a press release from the Court states. Those duties include the daily execution of the Court’s orders and arrest warrants, as well as courthouse security, the release states.
To guarantee the continued operation of the Marshal’s office in the absence of Marshal Pope, Louisiana law provides that a temporary Marshal be appointed by the judges. The temporary Marshal will be called upon to handle the administrative duties of Marshal Pope in his absence.
The Temporary Marshal, working with Chief Deputy Phil Conrad and other deputies, will supervise the day to day operation of the Marshal’s office.
Washington received his juris doctor degree from South Texas College of Law, and his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Mr. Washington is a partner in the law firm of Jones Walker LLP and practices from the firm’s Lafayette office. His practice encompasses complex civil and criminal litigation and the representation of corporations and individuals in internal and government investigations. He served as United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana from 2001 to early 2010. Washington has more than 20 years of experience as a trial attorney, litigator and counselor.
