31st International President of Phi Beta Sigma Seeks Judge's Seat in the City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Arthur R. Thomas, Esq., 31st International President of Phi Beta Sigma, and with 32 years of exemplary legal and trial experience, is a candidate for the position of City Court Judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the April 4, 2009 election.
Thomas, of Baton Rouge, is the General Partner of Arthur R. Thomas and Associates. Previously he has served as a member of Johnson, Taylor & Thomas Law Firm, as a Staff Attorney of the LA Attorney General, and is well known for his law firm's involvement as lead counsel in the Clark vs. Edwards Judicial law which resulted in the election of more than 70 African American Judges in the State of Louisiana, and as co-counsels for the NAACP in the landmark school desegregation case in East Baton Rouge Parish, settled in July 2004.
According to Thomas, "[Baton Rouge] needs a City Court Judge who is competent, who has judicial experience; and who will not need on-the-job-training." Thomas is that man. He has 25 years of outstanding leadership experience as well as 4 years of judicial experience as a hearings and appeals judge, and a lifetime commitment to quality community service.
While president of Sigma, Thomas states that his focus was in (8) major areas: increased communication and technological innovations; the streamlining of quality and efficient membership services; fiscal management; the unification of the Fraternity's national programs and projects; development of focused programs for the Sigma Beta Club; and the development of additional recruitment tools through the assistance and leadership of collegiate members.
An active and committed Sigma for more than 37 years, Thomas received his B.A. in Political Science from Southern University in 1973 and his J.D. from Southern University Law Center in 1976. He has also served as President of the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, President of the Southern University Law Center Alumni Association, Board Chairman of Capital Area Legal Services Corporation, Renaissance Development Corporation and La Capital Fund, and Legal Counsel for Phi Beta Sigma, the National Pan Hellenic Council and for the Greater Baton Rouge Pan Hellenic Council.
Thomas is a well-known and popular activist and has been the recipient of numerous awards for his commitment to community, justice, and equality, including the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund Community Service Award, The African American Male Image Award and the Capitol High School CEO Employer of the Year Award.
