Clint Smith announces run for traffic court

By Christopher Tidmore
Contributing Writer

There debenture loan are many reasons why a lawyer puts his or her life on hold to run for a judgeship. In Clint Smith’s case, it was a near death experience.

“Losing my kidneys at age 45 was one of the most challenging experiences of my life,” the local attorney explained. “No one could have told me I would lose my kidneys at age 45. I was a healthy, strong, hard-charging attorney, except like many African Americans I had this little (okay, big) problem with high blood pressure.”

“High blood pressure led me to receiving my first kidney transplant in 2004. On December 11, 2012 I received a second kidney after almost two years of challenging dialysis. Thanks to the living kidney donations of my heroes, my payday loan online houston sister-in-law, Allison Sutton and Morehouse College classmate, the Honorable David Watkins, today I am now able to live a full and active life with no restrictions. My blood pressure is under control and my kidney function is very good. It allowed me to return to a lifelong dream of becoming a judge and return fully to my community service missions.”

Speaking before a standing-room only crowd of over 100 supporters packed into Coaxum Enterprises on Wednesday, July 10th, Clint Smith announced his candidacy for Orleans Parish Traffic Court. The seat he seeks becomes vacant upon the retirement of Judge Ronald Sholes at the end of July, with an election slated for October 19.

Smith, has served on the bench previously as a judge pro tempore for Traffic Court, and as an ad hoc judge in juvenile court.

He is a graduate of Tulane Law School and was a judicial law clerk for the late Justice Revius Ortique Jr.

He told those attending his announcement, “The people of New Orleans deserve a court that works for them, and I will make sure the court is fair, efficient, and convenient. I have seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t, and you have also. I have already been to many events, talked to people about what they’d like to see done differently, and I look forward to spending the next several months in conversation with people all across our city, in every community and neighborhood, about how to make traffic court serve them better.”

This article originally published in the July 22, 2013 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.