Former Slidell City Court Ad Hoc Judge and Judge Pro Tempore, appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2004, Richard A. “Rick” Swartz has announced his candidacy for judge, Division C, of the 22nd Judicial District Court, which encompasses all of Washington and St. Tammany parishes.

“I was honored and humbled at being named Judge Pro Tempore for Slidell City Court,” said Swartz. “I believe that experience combined with my broad based legal experience has prepared me to take the next step in serving the people of Washington and St. Tammany parishes as an honest and impartial district judge.”

Swartz was born in 1954, the oldest of four children, to Richard Swartz Sr. and Thelma Fox Swartz. The family settled permanently in Louisiana in 1970, and Swartz graduated from Abramson High School then moved to Slidell in 1972.

Swartz

A pre-law major at UNO, he was selected for early entrance into LSU Law School.

He married the former Charmaine Bracamontes in 1975 and graduated and passed the bar in 1978. The young family man and student supported his family and education by loading and unloading trucks for McLean Trucking.

Swartz set up a general law practice in Slidell 28 years ago and has his offices located in the same building today.

He has been a working attorney in the 22nd JDC for that entire time, handling thousands of cases as an assistant district attorney and in his own practice.

Swartz served as an assistant district attorney in St. Tammany Parish for nearly five years, prosecuting cases with a 99 percent conviction rate.

Through the years, Swartz has been a business law instructor at Delgado Community College, a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates representing the 22nd JDC, a charter member of the 22nd JDC Inns of Court and a member of the Slidell, Covington and Washington Parish Bar Associations. The judges of the 22nd JDC appointed him to serve as chairman of the St. Tammany Notarial Commission, and he was elected to serve on the Republican State Central Committee.

Aside from his professional responsibility, Swartz is active in his community.

He was named Slidell Citizen of the Year in 1990 and has served as president of the Slidell and United Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis Club and St. Tammany LSU Alumni Group.

He has worked with the youths in the community as a little league coach, Key Club advisor and Mock Trial advisor. The St. Tammany Parish Council also appointed him to serve on the St. Tammany Parish Planning Commission.

“My record shows that I understand the law, procedure and many facets of our judicial system,” he said. “I have worked my way up, learning and teaching along the way. I am committed to continuing the 22nd Judicial District’s excellent record for fair and swift trials. My peers support my candidacy and I will be your advocate for justice.”