Zachary Mayor David Amrhein visited the Zachary Rotary Club on Thursday, Feb. 21, as did the guest speaker, the Honorable Judge Mike McDonald, who was also the guest of Rotarian Mack Lea. McDonald was sworn that same afternoon at 3 p.m.

Judge McDonald, 66, is a Republican from Baton Rouge who ran for re-election last fall to serve another term as a judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeal.

He has held that position since 2003. “I have been honored to serve as a judge for the past 26 years. The law and our Constitution have guided my rulings and will continue to do so as long as the voters allow me to serve them on the Court of Appeal,” Judge McDonald said.

Before his election to the Court of Appeal, Judge McDonald spent 16 years presiding over criminal and civil cases on the 19th Judicial District Court.

During his visit to the Zachary Rotary Club last week, he explained that the First Circuit Court of Appeal hears some cases that are unique, and all law suits filed against the state or a state agency must be tried in the 19th Judicial District Court, and all of those cases are appealed to the First Circuit.

The Louisiana Supreme Court hears appeals from the five courts of appeal, which is comprised of many district courts within the parishes.

For instance, the First Circuit is divided into three districts, and each district elects four judges.

East Baton Rouge Parish comprises District 2. The four judges elected to it are John Michael Guidry, J. Michael McDonald, Duke Welch and Toni Higginbotham.