J. Lomax Jordan
Encyclopedia
J. Lomax Jordan, Jr., known as Max Jordan (born May 17, 1952), is a Lafayette
attorney
who was a Republican
member of the Louisiana State Senate
from 1992–2000. He was unseated for the District 23 seat (parts of Lafayette and Acadia parishes) in the 1999 nonpartisan blanket primary by then State Representative
Michael John "Mike" Michot
, also a Republican.
Jordan was born in Pine Bluff
, Jefferson County
in southern Arkansas
, to Mr. and Mrs. J. Lomax Jordan, Sr. He graduated from Lafayette High School
in 1970 and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
(then the University of Southwestern Louisiana) in 1974. He was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Thereafter, he procured his law
degree from Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge. He worked in various research positions for both the State Senate and the Louisiana Legislative Council in the latter 1970s, prior to the establishment of his law firm in 1979. Jordan was an assistant district attorney
from 1981–1982. In his private practice, he specializes in Personal Injury and Accident cases and Criminal Defense Law.
Jordan unseated Democratic
state Senator Allen Ray Bares
(1936–2008); pronounced BAH REZ) in the 1991 general election
. Bares had been first elected to the Senate in 1979, when he was challenged by among others, the equally prolife William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr.
, later the conservative Republican mayor
of Lafayette. Bares, who also served in the state House from 1972–1980, won again in 1983 and 1987.
In 1991, Bares authored a controversial measure which would have outlawed most abortions in Louisiana. The legislature approved the bill, but it was vetoed by Democrat-turned Republican Governor
Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer, III
, on the grounds that it went beyond the scope of the United States Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade
. Feminist groups such as the National Organization for Women
, subsequently headed by the Louisiana native Kim Gandy
, formerly of Bossier City
, targeted Bares and a prolife House member, Democrat Carl Newton Gunter, Jr., of Rapides Parish for defeat. The controversy worked to Jordan's advantage though he too took the prolife position. In the end, Bares and Gunter were defeated in what Louisiana feminists hailed as a great success.
Bares led in the primary with 13,409 votes (40 percent), but Jordan ran second with 9,313 (28 percent). Two other Republicans, Carl W. Tritschler (born February 16, 1964) and Max A. Menard received 6,713 (20 percent) and 3,921 (12 percent), respectively. The three Republican candidates, in what was otherwise a heavily Democratic year in Louisiana politics, polled a combined 60 percent in the state Senate primary. In the runoff, technically the general election on November 16, Jordan received 22,224 (60 percent) to Bares' 14,730 (again 40 percent).
Jordan won reelection outright in the 1995 primary. He received 20,629 votes (61 percent) to 10,823 (32 percent) for Democrat Sidney B. Flynn and 2,242 (7 percent) for "No Party" Charles Olivier.
In 1999, Michot, the son of a former state education superintendent, the businessman Louis J. Michot
, also of Lafayette, roundly defeated Jordan. Michot received 25,699 ballots (68 percent) to Jordan's 12,347 (32 percent).
Jordan worked in the Lafayette City Court indigent defender program from 1979-1981. He has served on the Indigent Defender Board of Lafayette, Acadia, and Vermilion parishes. He has served on the board of the following youth-oriented groups: Lafayette Juvenile and Young Adult Program, Acadiana Youth, Inc., Pollux House, Lafayette Children's Shelter, and the Lafayette Community Correctional Center.
Jordan is married to the former Cynthia Riley (born September 13, 1953). Jordan is Baptist
.
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who was a Republican
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 State Senate
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from 1992–2000. He was unseated for the District 23 seat (parts of Lafayette and Acadia parishes) in the 1999 nonpartisan blanket primary by then State Representative
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
Michael John "Mike" Michot
Michael J. Michot
Michael John "Mike" Michot is the departing senior Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate, having represented District 23 since the year 2000. He is the outgoing hairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Michot was unopposed for his third Senate term in the nonpartisan blanket primary...
, also a Republican.
Jordan was born in Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...
, Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Arkansas
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its population was 77,435 at the 2010 United States Census. It is included in the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area. Jefferson County's county seat and largest city is Pine Bluff...
in southern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, to Mr. and Mrs. J. Lomax Jordan, Sr. He graduated from Lafayette High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in 1970 and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
(then the University of Southwestern Louisiana) in 1974. He was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Thereafter, he procured his law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
degree from Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge. He worked in various research positions for both the State Senate and the Louisiana Legislative Council in the latter 1970s, prior to the establishment of his law firm in 1979. Jordan was an assistant district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
from 1981–1982. In his private practice, he specializes in Personal Injury and Accident cases and Criminal Defense Law.
Jordan unseated Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
state Senator Allen Ray Bares
Allen Bares
Allen Ray Bares, Sr. was a Lafayette lawyer who served as a conservative Democrat in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature between 1972 and 1992. He is particularly remembered for his strong support of the pro-life cause and the Boy Scouts of America...
(1936–2008); pronounced BAH REZ) in the 1991 general election
General 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...
. Bares had been first elected to the Senate in 1979, when he was challenged by among others, the equally prolife William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr.
Dud Lastrapes
William Dudley "Dud" Lastrapes, Jr. , is a Lafayette, businessman, who was the first Republican since Reconstruction to have been elected mayor of his city, the fourth largest in Louisiana, according to the 2000 census. Lastrapes was mayor for three terms, having served from 1980-1992. Previously,...
, later the conservative Republican mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Lafayette. Bares, who also served in the state House from 1972–1980, won again in 1983 and 1987.
In 1991, Bares authored a controversial measure which would have outlawed most abortions in Louisiana. The legislature approved the bill, but it was vetoed by Democrat-turned Republican Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer, III
Buddy Roemer
Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III is an American politician who served as the 52nd Governor of Louisiana, from 1988 to 1992. He was elected as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party on March 11, 1991...
, on the grounds that it went beyond the scope of the United States Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade, , was a controversial landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of abortion. The Court decided that a right to privacy under the due process clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution extends to a woman's decision to have an abortion,...
. Feminist groups such as the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
, subsequently headed by the Louisiana native Kim Gandy
Kim Gandy
Kim Gandy is an American feminist and was the president of the National Organization for Women from 2001 until 2009. In 2009 Gandy was a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government...
, formerly of Bossier City
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
, targeted Bares and a prolife House member, Democrat Carl Newton Gunter, Jr., of Rapides Parish for defeat. The controversy worked to Jordan's advantage though he too took the prolife position. In the end, Bares and Gunter were defeated in what Louisiana feminists hailed as a great success.
Bares led in the primary with 13,409 votes (40 percent), but Jordan ran second with 9,313 (28 percent). Two other Republicans, Carl W. Tritschler (born February 16, 1964) and Max A. Menard received 6,713 (20 percent) and 3,921 (12 percent), respectively. The three Republican candidates, in what was otherwise a heavily Democratic year in Louisiana politics, polled a combined 60 percent in the state Senate primary. In the runoff, technically the general election on November 16, Jordan received 22,224 (60 percent) to Bares' 14,730 (again 40 percent).
Jordan won reelection outright in the 1995 primary. He received 20,629 votes (61 percent) to 10,823 (32 percent) for Democrat Sidney B. Flynn and 2,242 (7 percent) for "No Party" Charles Olivier.
In 1999, Michot, the son of a former state education superintendent, the businessman Louis J. Michot
Louis J. Michot
Louis Joseph Michot, Jr. , is a prominent Lafayette, Louisiana, businessman, entrepreneur of the former Burger Chef restaurant chain, philanthropist, and a former Democratic state representative , member of the Louisiana Board of Education , and Louisiana State Education Superintendent...
, also of Lafayette, roundly defeated Jordan. Michot received 25,699 ballots (68 percent) to Jordan's 12,347 (32 percent).
Jordan worked in the Lafayette City Court indigent defender program from 1979-1981. He has served on the Indigent Defender Board of Lafayette, Acadia, and Vermilion parishes. He has served on the board of the following youth-oriented groups: Lafayette Juvenile and Young Adult Program, Acadiana Youth, Inc., Pollux House, Lafayette Children's Shelter, and the Lafayette Community Correctional Center.
Jordan is married to the former Cynthia Riley (born September 13, 1953). Jordan is Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
.