Judges, officials take oath at Courthouse

Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball administered the oath of office to five local and area judges, the district attorney as well as new Iberville Parish tax assessor.

The ceremony was held Monday night at the Iberville Parish Courthouse.

Judges taking the oath were Port Allen City Court Judge William T. Kleinpeter, Plaquemine City Court Judge Michael M. Distefano, and 18th Judicial District Court judges J. Robin Free, William C. Dupont and Alvin Batiste Jr.

Kimball swore in the fourth district judge, James J. Best, in ceremonies last week.

Kimball will make history next week when she will be sworn in as the first woman chief justice of the state’s highest court.

J. Randall "Randy" Sexton took over the assessor’s office from James H. “Jimmy” Dupont, who retired after nine terms in the office.

Sexton, a Grosse Tete resident, had previously served three terms on the Iberville Parish Council as a representative of District 11.

District Attorney Richard J. “Ricky” Ward took took the oath for his fourth six-year term during the ceremony Monday night.

Plaquemine City officials took the oath of office Tuesday night in a ceremony after Post/South deadline. Pictures from the Plaquemine city ceremony will be featured in next week’s edition of Post/South.