JUDGE WON'T TRY TO KEEP HIS SEAT

Bodenheimer's Trial In Drug, Conspiracy Case Is Next Month

State District Judge Ronald Bodenheimer, facing a September trial on federal
drug and conspiracy charges, will not seek re-election in the fall to the
24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish.

Political observers have speculated for weeks that Bodenheimer, who upset
then-state Rep. Jim Donelon in a special election in 1999, would not qualify
next week, in light of his troubles with federal prosecutors.

Bodenheimer's attorney, Davidson Ehle, confirmed Friday that his client will
not seek to prolong his judicial career. "Given the current events, it would
not be appropriate for Judge Bodenheimer to qualify for re-election," Ehle
said.

Since the judge's indictment last month, several Jefferson Parish lawyers
have tossed their hats into the ring and are expected to sign up for the
race when qualifying begins Wednesday. Bodenheimer, who is accused of
conspiring to plant the painkiller Oxycontin on a man who had complained
about the judge's eastern New Orleans marina, has been suspended from the
bench with pay.

Voters go to the polls Oct. 5 to elect judges for the 24th Judicial District
Court, the state 5th Circuit Court of Appeal and Jefferson Parish Juvenile
Court, as well as justices of the peace and constables.

Whether 24th District Judge Alan Green -- whose chambers, like
Bodenheimer's, were under secret surveillance by federal investigators and
who was seen on videotape accepting $5,000 in cash from an executive of Bail
Bonds Unlimited -- will run for another term remained unclear Friday. No one
has publicly announced opposition to Green, who has been neither arrested
nor indicted in the federal probe. He could not be reached for comment.

One possible challenger for Green is Gretna lawyer Lee Faulkner, who sat
temporarily in 2nd Parish Court several years ago. "But I will not make up
my mind until next week," Faulkner said Friday. "I honestly don't know at
this point what I'm going to do."

In a wide-reaching federal investigation of alleged corruption at the Gretna
courthouse, Green was listed in a subpoena issued to Bail Bonds Unlimited by
federal investigators, as was Judge Joan Benge. She said Friday that she
knows of no one planning to oppose her. The subpoena asked the bail bond
company to supply all records about any connections it may have had to
Bodenheimer, Green, Benge and others, including Judge Susan Chehardy of the
5th Circuit Court of Appeal.

As of Friday, only one other person had announced plans to challenge other
Jefferson Parish judges, although several incumbents said they will not be
able to relax until qualifying ends Aug. 23.

Kenner City Councilman Marc Johnson said he plans to qualify in Division P,
to oppose Chief Judge Melvin Zeno.

At least four lawyers said they will run for Bodenheimer's seat in Division
N, in what will be a wide-open election. Donelon and former Jefferson Parish
Criminal Magistrate Jeff Hand have formally announced their candidacies.
Debbie Villio, director of the Jefferson Parish Community Justice Agency and
a former prosecutor in Orleans, St. Tammany and Jefferson parishes, and
former Jefferson Parish prosecutor Hans Liljeberg also have said they will
run.