| Paul J. Carmouche | |
|---|---|
| District Attorney for Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA | |
| In office January 2, 1979 – January 1, 2009 |
|
| Succeeded by | Charles Scott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 23, 1943 Napoleonville, Assumption Parish |
| Spouse(s) | Marti Carmouche |
| Children | Marianna and Matthew |
| Residence | Shreveport, Caddo Parish |
| Alma mater | Nicholls State University (BA) Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, JD (1969) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Paul J. Carmouche (born June 23, 1943) is an American Lawyer who served as a five-term District Attorney for Caddo Parish, Louisiana from 1979 to 2009. Before his tenure as District Attorney, Carmouche graduated from Loyola University New Orleans Law School in 1969 and worked as an assistant in the District Attorney's office from 1974 to 1977. Carmouche was also a one time candidate for the United States House of Representatives, narrowly losing to Republican challenger John C. Fleming in 2008.
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Paul Carmouche was born and reared in Napoleonville, the seat of Assumption Parish in south Louisiana, where he attended public schools. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1969 from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law,[1] where he was President of the Law School student body.[2] He was admitted to the State Bar of Louisiana in 1969.[2]
Paul and his wife, Marti, live in Shreveport and are the parents of two children.
After graduating from law school, Carmouche joined a small civil law firm, and handled civil and criminal cases for four years, [2] before joining the Caddo Parish District Attorney's office in October 1973 as an Assistant District Attorney (ADA).[1] From the DA's office, he went on to serve as Chief Counsel Indigent Defender Office from 1977 to 1978.[2]
Carmouche was elected to the office of Caddo Parish District Attorney in the September 16, 1978 election at age 35, taking office on January 2, 1979.[1] The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecuting all felony and misdemeanor crimes in the parish,[1] which is the third most populous parish in Louisiana,[3] with a 2006-census estimated population of 253,118.[4] During Carmouche's tenure in the DA's office, new services added include a Pretrial Diversion Section, Victim/Witness Section, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Section, Child Support Division, Hot Check Section, White Collar Crimes Section, Sex Crimes Screening Unit and a Homicide Screening Unit; as well, making the office fully computerized with online information available to the public.[1]
Carmouche is a past president of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association, and is admitted to practice before the Federal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.[1]
In February 2008, Carmouche announced that he would not seek re-election as District Attorney.[5] On March 19, 2008, Carmouche announced that he would run for the Congressional seat vacated by retiring Republican Jim McCrery,[5] who held the seat since the spring of 1988.
On November 4, 2008, Carmouche procured the Democratic nomination in a runoff over the African American attorney Willie Banks, Jr., 93,093 (62 percent) to 57,078 (38 percent).[6][7]
On December 6, 2008, Carmouche lost the general election to Minden Physician John C. Fleming, who was the Republican nominee for the seat. Carmouche lost by a narrow 356 votes.