community At Tulane, she earned her law degree magna cum laude, along with her mediation certification. She was a recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship, and the CALI award in Negotiable Instruments. While in law school, she clerked for Judge Fredericka Wicker, who she considers to be a role model, on the Louisiana Court of Appeal, 5th Circuit. Lewis also completed an externship on domestic violence at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services with Judge Bernadette D’Souza’s law office, prior to D’Souza’s election. The organization provides “free, civil legal aid to low-income people in six offices, across 22 parishes throughout southeast Louisiana.” Lewis has been in private practice with Wall, Bullington and Cook, LLC, where she is now a partner. Having practiced “in over 20 parishes, different courthouses,” she said “the difference of having a judge who is prepared and knows what is going on, researches the issues and makes a legally based decision… is the difference between having access to justice, or not.” The First City Court handles personal injury cases that are less than $25,000, small claims below $5,000 and evictions under $3,000. For a lot of people, that court is the only access they have to the court system, she said. Many are not well-represented, and because they live “paycheck to paycheck,” being able to put food on the table or keep a roof over their heads is a big deal. She wants to bring a pro bono volunteer me-
diation process to New Orleans, working with the Access to Justice Commission on a program similar to one in the Baton Rouge Family Court and Baton Rouge City Court. “As Judge, I would identify cases that would benefit from this program, and assist in implementing this pilot mediation program in Orleans Parish,” she said. Often, the process provides “an avenue for people to resolve a dispute in ways a court just can’t.” A judge “can do A or B,” but a mediation can scrap that as the only options and come up with a different resolution. She noted studies that say 90 percent of those who go through mediation “feel it is better than going through a trial.” With volunteer attorneys and law students, “the court could provide — at no cost to the parties — an independent third party who is well versed in the law to aid them in finding a mutually agreed upon solution to their conflict.” She also wants to tackle the “crippling burden” of an eviction rate double the national average. In communities of color, “1 in 4 people will deal with an eviction in three years, compared to 1 in 24 for predominantly white areas,” she said. “I will thoroughly review cases and offer people all the information they need, along with a clear, easily accessible, and streamlined process.” As judge, she wants to “implement programs people can use” and “give people the opportunity to resolve their life’s biggest problems.”
Happy Passover to my friends and supporters in the Jewish community
Judge Sidney H. Cates, IV Orleans Civil District Court Division C
Bruce Pearl program in Mobile postponed The Mobile Area Jewish Federation has postponed its April 28 Annual Campaign kickoff featuring Auburn Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl, “until the directive banning gatherings of 10 or more people has been lifted.” Pearl was to speak about antisemitism, and the event was to be hosted by Aaron Fruh at Cottage Hill Baptist Church. According to the Federation, “Coach Pearl is very passionate about the subject of the disturbing rise of antisemitism, and coming to Mobile to discuss it with us.” The evening was also to include a “Meet the Coach” reception beforehand for the first 100 to make a reservation. A new date will be set when possible. The MAJF also cancelled its May 3 Israel Independence Day celebration because of the group gathering ban.
The Latest News… www.sjlmag.com April 2020 • Southern Jewish Life
49