Piper Griffin
Democrat | Louisiana
Candidate Profile
Activist
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Piper Griffin
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
Justice, 7th Supreme Court Dist.
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Xavier Prep School, New Orleans, H S Diploma, 1980
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, B. A., 1984
Paul M. Hebert, LSU Law, Baton Rouge, J. D., 1987
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
St. Katharine Drexel School, Board Member, Past Board Pres, Crescent City Chapter, Links
Past President, Catholic Charities, Prior Board Member
Louisiana Bar Foundation, Past Bd Member & Curr. Educ. Comm, LJC/NBA (LA Black Judges Assoc
Past President & Secretary,, LJC Foundation/NBA, Secretary
Second Baptist Church 6th Dist, Trustee Board Member, YWCA
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Orleans Parish District Court Judge, 2001-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Orleans Parish District Court Judge, 1995
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (4)
Forum for Equality Louisiana
Greater New Orleans AFL-CIO
Independent Women’s Organization of Greater New Orleans
Voters Organized to Educate
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
AFL-CIO
Alliance for Good Government
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (2017)
League of Women Voters (2017)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
No Answer
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
No Answer
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The Judicial Canons suggest that judges not comment on issues or scenarios that may come before them as a judge. The Canons limit my ability to respond to this and other questions posed by this questionnaire. I apologize in advance.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
The U.S. Constitution and my state constitution should be interpreted as living documents, rather than using a strict constructionist or originalist approach in judicial decisions.
No Answer
There are times when American judges should alter U.S. case law in order to comply with foreign case law.
No Answer
Which current U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
Did not answer
What is the proper use of legislative history in interpreting statutory law?
Upholding the law is a foundational principal for all contentious judges. For me, that principal has been at the forefront of my decisions because I strongly believe that a judge is a steward of the law. My work as a trial judge for nearly 20 years has been one of applying the law to the facts and providing the jurors with the applicable law. I am committed and remain cognizant of a judge’s duty to avoid arbitrary application of the law such that the law does not lose its intended meaning. This basic tenet is important so that all lawyers and litigants will know and have confidence that the judicial process works. My nearly 20 years of experience as a trial judge has afforded me the opportunity and unique perspective of upholding the law by applying the rule of
What possibilities should a judge exhaust before departing from precedent?
The Judicial Canons suggest that judges not comment on issues or scenarios that may come before them as a judge. The Canons limit my ability to respond to this and other questions posed by this questionnaire. I apologize in advance.
How should a judge determine which rights are protected by the Constitution even though they are not specifically mentioned?
The Judicial Canons suggest that judges not comment on issues or scenarios that may come before them as a judge. The Canons limit my ability to respond to this and other questions posed by this questionnaire. I apologize in advance.
ABOUT YOU
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2012 Democratic Primary, 2012 General Election, 2014 Democratic Primary, 2014 General Election, 2016 Democratic Primary, 2016 General Election, 2018 Democratic Primary, 2018 General Election
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
No Answer
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
The Judicial Canons suggest that judges not comment on issues or scenarios that may come before them as a judge. The Canons limit my ability to respond to this and other questions posed by this questionnaire. I apologize in advance.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Xavier Preparatory School, 1980; College: University of Notre Dame, 1984; Law School: Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law School, 1987. During my almost 20 years on the bench I have presided over more than 3,000 bench and jury trials. I have also dealt with many cases appealed from the the various city administrative offices and I am especially adept in civil procedure. I have consistently presented on a host of topics including application of the law to cases and recent developments in civil law to judges and attorneys. I also believe my knowledge of Constitutional Law as demonstrated by my role as the prior Constitutional Law Examiner as well as my work as a member of the Law Institute will be helpful in my role as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
In what areas of law have you practiced?
Prior to taking the bench I primarily practiced as a civil attorney. Since becoming a Civil District Court Judge I have presided over civil trials.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Why should the voters choose you?
I want to continue to serve the community that nurtured and afforded me the opportunity to dispense justice. I truly believe that I am prepared to take on the role as Justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court. As our highest Court, we must have justices who not only can write opinions with a clear look to policy and the community we serve; but who also understand the administrative role of the Supreme Court. I am that candidate.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
My greatest strengths are a strong work ethic and my measured and balanced approach to handling cases as a judge. I am proud of my credentials as a jurist and a legal scholar. I am a frequent CLE speaker both for judges and lawyers, a former Constitutional Law Bar Examiner who serves on the bar exam testing committee and as a member of the Louisiana State Law Institute, I think my capabilities and credentials speak for themselves. I am dedicated to my community and believe that the inherent qualities, such as having an even temperament and good character, are innate to any effective jurist. I have gained a reputation among my peers and within the legal community as being fair, reasonable, and compassionate. I am proud to have been the recipient of the 2019 NBA Judicial Council Sarah J. Harper Humanitarian award; the Greater N.O. Louis A. Martinet Legal Society 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award; 2003 Ernest N. Morial Judicial Pacesetter Award. I am also proud of being a mentor.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
George Washington's comment that “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society” is still true today.
No Answer
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian. This is the basis of my spiritual beliefs and values.
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Bostock v. Clayton County, which justice’s opinion most closely aligns with your opinion of whether the protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should be extended to the LGBTQ community?
Did not answer
What types of pro bono work have you done?
Prior to taking the bench I volunteered with the Pro Bono Project and with the Juvenile Court Teen Court project.
