Marcus R. Clark
Encyclopedia
Marcus R. Clark is a Republican
member of the Louisiana Supreme Court
from West Monroe
, Louisiana
, United States
, who won his current position in a special election held on October 17, 2009, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Republican Justice Chet D. Traylor
of Monroe, formerly of Winnsboro
in Franklin Parish
. In 2010, Traylor challenged U.S. Senator David Vitter
for re-nomination in the Republican closed primary.
in Calcasieu Parish
in southwestern Louisiana to Charles Gerald Clark and Hilda W. Clark (1922–2009). He graduated in 1974 from Sulphur High School
and was an Eagle Scout
in his youth. He received his undergraduate degree in 1978 from the University of Louisiana at Monroe
, then known as Northeast Louisiana University. Out of college, he served from 1978-1982 as a detective
for the Ouachita Parish
Sheriff's Department. He then entered Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge
, from which he received his Juris Doctor
degree in 1985. He returned to Monroe after law school and was an assistant district attorney from 1985–1996, when he was elected to the state district court. In 1990, Clark married Allyson Ayers, a neo-natal nurse; the couple has two children, Nicole and Cooper Clark.
, Clark prevailed, 26,828 (51.3 percent) to 25,424 (48.7 percent). Amman was elected without opposition early in 2010 to complete Clark's remaining term as district judge.
In his first term as a district judge, Clark was sanctioned by the state Supreme Court when his mounting caseload caused him to fall behind in processing cases. He attributes the problem to his secretary taking maternity leave and the illness of his daughter, Nicole. The court held that the delay in processing the cases was a result of disorganization. Clark was reelected to the district court without opposition in 2002 and 2008. The sanctions were used as an issue by his unsuccessful opponent, Jimmy Faircloth, in the 2009 special election for the Supreme Court. Clark has been an outspoken critic of "frivolous lawsuits" and maintains that he rejected attempts to abuse the court system while he served on the bench in Monroe.
, a former aide to Governor Bobby Jindal
, for a seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court. Clark and Faircloth evenly split the twenty parishes in the 4th District Supreme Court position. Clark prevailed, 28,521 (53 percent) to 25,495 (47 percent). Clark's strongest turnout was in his home base of Ouachita Parish, where he defeated Faircloth, 14,253-5,322. While Faircloth won his home base of Rapides Parish
, his turnout there was insufficient to overcome Clark's districtwide lead. Rapides Parish voted for Faircloth, 8,461-2,193.
The victorious Clark also won Caldwell
, East Carroll
, Franklin, Lincoln
, Madison
, Morehouse
, Richland
, Tensas
, and Union
parishes. Faircloth led in Concordia
, Bienville
, Catahoula
, Claiborne
, Grant
, Jackson
, La Salle
, Rapides, West Carroll
, and Winn
parishes.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Louisiana Supreme Court
Louisiana Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Louisiana is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orleans....
from West Monroe
West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who won his current position in a special election held on October 17, 2009, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Republican Justice Chet D. Traylor
Chet D. Traylor
Chet D. Traylor is a retired associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from Monroe, Louisiana, who was defeated in the Republican primary election on August 28, 2010, for the U.S. Senate seat held since 2005 by the incumbent David Vitter of New Orleans...
of Monroe, formerly of Winnsboro
Winnsboro, Louisiana
Winnsboro is a city in and the parish seat of Franklin Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of July 2009, the estimated city population was 4,377...
in Franklin Parish
Franklin Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,263 people, 7,754 households, and 5,706 families residing in the parish. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 8,623 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
. In 2010, Traylor challenged U.S. Senator David Vitter
David Vitter
David Vitter is the junior United States Senator from Louisiana and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served in the United States House of Representatives, representing the suburban Louisiana's 1st congressional district. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of...
for re-nomination in the Republican closed primary.
Early years and education
Clark was born in SulphurSulphur, Louisiana
Sulphur is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 22,512 at the 2000 census. Sulphur is a suburb of Lake Charles, and is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in Calcasieu Parish
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish[p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Charles. As of 2010, the parish population was 192,768...
in southwestern Louisiana to Charles Gerald Clark and Hilda W. Clark (1922–2009). He graduated in 1974 from Sulphur High School
Sulphur High School (Louisiana)
Sulphur High School is a 5A public high school located in Sulphur, Louisiana. The current principal is Mr. Keith Bonin. SHS has a Ninth Grade Campus which opened its doors in the 2005-2006 school year, and its principal is Mr. Chuck Hansen...
and was an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
in his youth. He received his undergraduate degree in 1978 from the University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
, then known as Northeast Louisiana University. Out of college, he served from 1978-1982 as a detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
for the Ouachita Parish
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
-National protected areas:* Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge* D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 147,250 people, 55,216 households, and 38,319 families residing in the parish. The population density was 241 people per square mile...
Sheriff's Department. He then entered Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, from which he received his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in 1985. He returned to Monroe after law school and was an assistant district attorney from 1985–1996, when he was elected to the state district court. In 1990, Clark married Allyson Ayers, a neo-natal nurse; the couple has two children, Nicole and Cooper Clark.
District court judge
Clark was initially elected as a Democrat to the district judgeship in 1996 to succeed the retiring Judge John Joyce. He narrowly defeated Frederic "Fred" Amman, a Democrat who was elected in 2007 as one of three Monroe municipal judges. In the primary held on September 21, 1996, Clark led Amman, 11,870 (33 percent) to 10,628 (29.5 percent). Two other Democrats received the remaining 37.6 percent of the ballots. In the November 5 general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, Clark prevailed, 26,828 (51.3 percent) to 25,424 (48.7 percent). Amman was elected without opposition early in 2010 to complete Clark's remaining term as district judge.
In his first term as a district judge, Clark was sanctioned by the state Supreme Court when his mounting caseload caused him to fall behind in processing cases. He attributes the problem to his secretary taking maternity leave and the illness of his daughter, Nicole. The court held that the delay in processing the cases was a result of disorganization. Clark was reelected to the district court without opposition in 2002 and 2008. The sanctions were used as an issue by his unsuccessful opponent, Jimmy Faircloth, in the 2009 special election for the Supreme Court. Clark has been an outspoken critic of "frivolous lawsuits" and maintains that he rejected attempts to abuse the court system while he served on the bench in Monroe.
Election to the Supreme Court
As the Division E state Fourth Judicial District Court judge in Ouachita Parish, Clark defeated fellow Republican attorney Jimmy Faircloth, Jr., of PinevillePineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
, a former aide to Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
, for a seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court. Clark and Faircloth evenly split the twenty parishes in the 4th District Supreme Court position. Clark prevailed, 28,521 (53 percent) to 25,495 (47 percent). Clark's strongest turnout was in his home base of Ouachita Parish, where he defeated Faircloth, 14,253-5,322. While Faircloth won his home base of Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish, Louisiana
-Military Installations:*Camp Beauregard *Esler Airfield *England Air Force Base *Camp Claiborne *Camp Livingston -Demographics:...
, his turnout there was insufficient to overcome Clark's districtwide lead. Rapides Parish voted for Faircloth, 8,461-2,193.
The victorious Clark also won Caldwell
Caldwell Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,560 people, 3,941 households, and 2,817 families residing in the parish. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 5,035 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
, East Carroll
East Carroll Parish, Louisiana
East Carroll Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Providence and as of 2010, the population was 7,759.-Law and government:In the 2004 presidential race, East Carroll gave the George W. Bush - Richard B...
, Franklin, Lincoln
Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Lincoln Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Ruston. In 2004, its population was estimated to be 42,382...
, Madison
Madison Parish, Louisiana
-National protected areas:* Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge * Vicksburg National Military Park -Demographics:-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S...
, Morehouse
Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
Morehouse Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Bastrop. In 2000, the parish population was 31,021....
, Richland
Richland Parish, Louisiana
Richland Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Rayville. As of 2010, the population was 20,725.-History:...
, Tensas
Tensas Parish, Louisiana
Tensas Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is St. Joseph. In 2010, the population of Tensas Parish was 5,252; it is the least-populous of all sixty-four parishes....
, and Union
Union Parish, Louisiana
Union Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Farmerville....
parishes. Faircloth led in Concordia
Concordia Parish, Louisiana
Concordia Parish borders the Mississippi River in eastern Louisiana. The parish seat is Vidalia. As of 2000, the population was 20,247. It is part of the Natchez, MS–LA Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Prehistory:...
, Bienville
Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Bienville Parish is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Arcadia and as of the 2000 census, the population is 15,752....
, Catahoula
Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Catahoula Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Harrisonburg, located on the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern boundary of the parish. In 2000, the population of the parish was 10,920.-Prehistory:...
, Claiborne
Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
Claiborne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Homer and as of 2000, the population is 16,851.-History:The parish is named for the first Louisiana governor, William C. C. Claiborne....
, Grant
Grant Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 18,698 people, 7,073 households, and 5,276 families residing in the parish. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 8,531 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, Jackson
Jackson Parish, Louisiana
Jackson Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish was formed in 1845 from parts of Claiborne, Ouachita, and Union Parishes. In 2010, its population was 16,274. The parish seat is Jonesboro...
, La Salle
La Salle Parish, Louisiana
La Salle Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of 2000, the population was 14,282. The parish seat is Jena.-Geography:The parish has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
, Rapides, West Carroll
West Carroll Parish, Louisiana
West Carroll Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Oak Grove and as of 2000, the population was 12,314.-History:...
, and Winn
Winn Parish, Louisiana
Winn Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Winnfield. In 2000, its population was 16,894.The parish has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
parishes.