A chapter of parish political history was closed as another began at Ville Platte Friday when Judge J. Cleveland Fruge, who for a quarter century occupied the 13th Judicial District bench, was formerly replaced by Judge Joe R. Vidrine, newly elected to the office vacated by Judge Fruge in his ascendency to the bench of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
When Vidrine was elected to the 13th Judicial District bench at the Democratic primary election July 23, the district had been without its own judge for three weeks. Judge Fruge had assumed the Circuit Court duties on July 1st.
While he would normally have not taken office until December, Judge Vidrine received his commission from Governor Jimmie Davis following a meeting of the Evangeline Parish Democratic Executive Committee Friday morning.
The committee declared Joe R. Vidrine the Democratic nominee for Judge of the 13th District; Roy Aguillard the nominee for School Board, Ward One; and Hampton P. Dupre, nominee for School Board, Ward Four. Aguillard and Dupre, since no vacancy exists in the offices to which they were elected, will not take over until after the general election in November.
The Committee moved to fill two vacancies within its own ranks caused by the death of the late Gilbert Aucoin and the resignation of Judge Joe Vidrine. The new members of the Committee, who assume the duties of office immediately are Elin Pitre and Loris Vidrine.
Judge Vidrine, following the taking of the oath of office, said he would formally open the fall term of the 13th District Court on September 1st. As of August 8, he said, he would assume the routine functions required of the bench.
Judge Vidrine is sworn; two added to parish committee
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