Since he announced his candidacy for Shreveport City Court Judge in the first week of March 2014, attorney Brian Barber hasn’t drawn a single announced opponent.

That may be because a sizable number of Shreveport’s, and Bossier City’s, legal community members are listed (in about a nine-point font because they are so numerous) on Barber’s first campaign fundraiser invitation as supporters. And the list isn’t limited to attorneys; members of law enforcement and the medical community, as well as other professionals, friends and family are counted among his supporters.

That’s a rarity and speaks well of the candidate who would like to replace retiring Chief Judge Bill Kelly on the Shreveport City Court bench.

Barber said he was asked to consider running for the City Court said. “I’ve prayed about it; I have the experience.”

While Barber serves as an assistant district attorney in the Caddo District Attorney’s Office, he previously had a successful 15-year private law practice, working primarily in the fields of probate and successions, real estate, oil and gas and medical review panels.

Barber’s 20 years of prosecutorial experience is extensive; he’s served as a prosecutor from the city court level, to state district court, appeals court and the state Supreme Court.

Moreover, he has experience at all levels of the federal court system (district, appellate, and the U.S. Supreme Court).

Just last year, he represented the Caddo District Attorney’s Office at the U.S. Supreme Court; the defendant’s writs were denied – the Caddo DA’s office prevailed in the matter before the court. Barber said judgeship by colleagues in the he has prosecuted cases in bench Cook Yancey-One Community Ad (FORUM)_Layout 1 5/5/14 3:25 PM Page 1 law profession, as well as friends trials before judges, and before both and family. “I’m ready to take my six-member and 12-member juries. experience to the next level,” Barber Those case have run the gamut from speeding tickets, to aggravated rape, to dope dealers, to homicide.

He’s also served as an assistant district attorney in DeSoto-Sabine parishes, as well as assistant city attorney for Shreveport. Active in his neighborhood associations and the Southern Hills Business Association, Barber also spends significant time coaching youth sports. He’s also served as a judge in the Caddo Parish Teen Court, and instructor for the Shreveport Police Academy. And, he’s a member of the NRA and Fraternal Order of Police, among several other organizations.

Barber and wife Becca have three children – Brian, Jr., Tractor and Bailey.

They are members of Ellerbe Baptist Church, where he’s a deacon and usher.

I asked Barber what makes a good judge – his response: “Hard work and be fair.”

Given the number of Barber’s supporters, it’s a safe bet that his hard work and fairness ethic and reputation have already secured him an unopposed candidacy for the seat on the Shreveport City Court bench.

Sometimes there’s just that one right candidate.