Two Approaches to Justice: Highlights from the WBOK Judicial Candidate Forum

The recent judicial candidate forum hosted by WBOK 1230 AM brought into sharp focus a key race for the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court bench between incumbent Judge Camille Buras (Section H) and Judge Leon Roché (Section E).

 

Against the backdrop of broader discussions about court structure and judicial efficiency in Orleans Parish, both candidates detailed their judicial philosophies, courtroom track records, and approaches to managing criminal dockets.

Bench Experience and Judicial Philosophies

Throughout the forum, both candidates underscored their backgrounds to illustrate how they approach administering justice in Orleans Parish:

 

  • Judge Camille Buras highlighted her 28-year career on the Criminal District Court bench, pointing to her long-standing service as chair of the court’s Technology Committee and president of the 4th and 5th Circuit Judges Association. Buras emphasized stability, docket predictability, and maintaining order, noting that her section operates smoothly without frequent courtroom conflicts or contempt rulings.
  • Judge Leon Roché, who took the bench in 2023 after 15 years as a public defender and criminal defense attorney, presented a philosophy centered on safeguarding constitutional rights, preventing wrongful convictions, and expanding access to courtroom proceedings. Roché highlighted his lived experience in criminal defense as critical to ensuring fair proceedings for all litigants.

Case Management & Operational Efficiency

Managing court dockets efficiently was a central theme of the discussion, with both candidates pointing to metrics to demonstrate their effectiveness:

 

  • Judge Buras cited performance evaluations from the Metropolitan Crime Commission (MCC), noting her section’s median case processing time of 161 days—substantially faster than the court-wide average. She detailed her practice of conferring directly with prosecutors and defense counsel every 30 to 45 days to resolve pre-trial issues promptly.
  • Judge Roché emphasized rankings placing his division among the top four in judicial efficiency court-wide and maintaining one of the lowest numbers of open felony cases. Roché explained his policy of setting firm trial schedules to maintain steady movement while ensuring defense counsel receives appropriate time to review evidence.

Pre-Trial Release, Bail, and System Reform

The candidates offered distinct perspectives on pre-trial detention, money bail, and broader system reforms:

 

  • Judge Roché voiced strong criticism of cash bail reliance, arguing that financial resources do not dictate a defendant’s risk to public safety. He advocated for risk-assessment models similar to the federal court system and highlighted his practice of keeping continuous live Zoom video feeds running in his courtroom to maximize public transparency.
  • Judge Buras detailed her approach to conducting individual bond assessments at arraignment using pre-trial services risk assessments under federal consent decree guidelines. She emphasized leveraging community-based alternatives, treatment programs, and supervised probation, drawing on her 12 years of experience as a Drug Court judge.

Voter Information Resources

For complete details on judicial elections, candidate listings, and local voter resources in Louisiana:

 

  • Check registration status and official polling resources via the Louisiana Secretary of State Portal.
  • View nonpartisan election coverage and candidate profiles on Ballotpedia’s Louisiana Portal.
  • Learn more about local voter education initiatives through the League of Women Voters of Louisiana.

Here’s the link to  watch the full forum on  You Tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS0-6o4V-To&t=3675s