The biggest local scandal involving an elected official got even bigger last Thursday, Dec.19.
The legal community was stunned last month when hearing of a very serious shooting in the home of city judge Lee Irvin. An ex-girl friend used a key to access Irvin’s residence on Nov. 21. She discovered the judge in bed with a much younger woman.
The ex-girlfriend attempted to commit suicide. She blew off part of her face and mouth.
The younger lady in bed with the judge had pending criminal misdemeanor charges in Irvin’s court that afternoon. Irvin later recused himself from this case.
Supreme Court Justice Scott Crichton quickly appointed a temporary judge for Irvin’s cases “as needed” for a month.
The Shreveport Police Department has an open investigation on Irvin to determine if the lover received preferential treatment in city court. SPD Chief Ben Raymond confirmed last week that the public integrity issue may have involved criminal activity.
Gossip in the legal community has run rampant over this love triangle and the tragedy for all involved, including the justice system. And there is street talk that this may have been a practice of Irvin — dating women who had pending criminal charges in his court.
Many observers did not expect to see Irvin back on the bench — period. But that all changed on Thursday, Dec. 19. That afternoon, Judge Irvin was presiding over a criminal docket in Shreveport City Court.
Irvin is the chief judge of Shreveport city court, and, thus, he has the latitude to move his dockets to one of the other three city judges. Most members of the legal community were shocked that Irvin chose to preside over any court proceedings, much less a criminal court.
There is not doubt that the public perception of wrongdoing outweighs whatever SPD investigation will reveal. And many in the community are extremely concerned that Irvin is still a judge on the public payroll.
Readers of The Inquisitor are invited to send in their thoughts on the Irvin saga to Liz@theinquisitor.com. All comments will be published, and also sent to the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Judiciary Commission.
This Article was published in the December 27th issue of The Inquisitor.