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March 12, 2003

Supreme Court to Come to the University of Louisiana at Monroe

The University of Louisiana at Monroe is holding a press conference Thursday at 3:30 p.m. to announce the Louisiana Supreme Court's decision to hear oral arguments at the University on April 7. The conference will be held in the Media Briefing Room on the 6th floor of the University Library. Associate Justice Chet D. Traylor of the Louisiana Supreme Court will be on hand as well as ULM President James Cofer.

On April 7, the Supreme Court will hold morning and afternoon sessions at ULM, where it will hear oral arguments on four pending cases. The visit to ULM is part of an ongoing effort by the court system to strengthen partnerships with educators at every level and to teach students about the day-to-day operations of Louisiana's courts. The goal is to provide area citizens with an opportunity to see the state's highest court at work, an opportunity they might not otherwise have.

Members of the community, particularly high school and college students, are invited to watch the court proceedings on the campus of ULM. This will be an outstanding opportunity for the community and for students from the region to learn about the workings of the state's highest court. Seating will be on a first-come, first- served basis.

Justice Traylor, elected from the Fourth Supreme Court District, took office on January 1, 1997. He was born in Columbia, La, graduated from Colombia High School, and received a bachelor of arts degree in government from Northeast Louisiana State University in 1969. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1974. Justice Traylor served as a judge of the Fifth Judicial District Court, Franklin, Richland, and West Carroll Parishes, from 1985 until his election to the Supreme Court.

Justice Traylor is a former Louisiana State Trooper, Investigator for the Louisiana Department of Justice Organized Crime and Racketering Unit and was later the legal advisor to the Louisiana State Police Narcotics, Detectives and Intelligence units. From 1975-82, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Franklin Parish.

Justice Traylor was a founding board member of the Winnsboro Economic Development Foundation and served as a board member of the Winnsboro's Lion's Club and of the Franklin Parish Mental Health Association. He was the first president of Winnsboro Ducks Unlimited and the founder of John Adams Chapter of Greenwings. He is a life member of the National Rifle Association and is a member of the Rocky Mountain Conservation Fund.

Justice Traylor served in the United States Army as a Military Police Investigator. He entered as a Private and was honorably discharged two years later as a Sergeant E-5. While attending Northeast Louisiana State University he was a Louisiana State Trooper, Troop F.

Justice Traylor is married to the former Peggy McDowell and is the father of Mary Therese, Leigh Ann, and Anna Marie Traylor and a member of the Methodist Church.

For more information about the Louisiana Supreme Court visit http://www.lasc.org.

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