Chris Hester, 33
Chief homicide prosecutor and Violent Crimes Unit section chief, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office
Being a criminal prosecutor is a demanding job, but Chris Hester is up to the task. As chief homicide prosecutor at the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office, Hester is in charge of securing convictions against Baton Rouge’s worst criminals. He’s also a section chief at the Violent Crimes Unit, a coalition of local and state law enforcement agencies that investigates the parish’s most heinous crimes. But Hester’s job isn’t all about locking people up. Sometimes, he can help people get back on the straight and narrow. “Every now and then we get to see people who have made serious mistakes really turn their lives around,” he says. “That is awesome.” Hester serves on the board at Baton Rouge Bridge Academy and he’s a member of the LSU Law Young Alumni Leadership Council.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- I am very proud to have been promoted to my current position at the Violent Crimes Unit. This position allows me to continue to handle difficult cases in court and also interact on a daily basis with detectives from various law enforcement agencies. I am honored that the District Attorney, Hillar Moore, selected me to do this job.
- In 2013, I prosecuted a double homicide case and secured a conviction resulting in two life sentences for the defendant. That was the first murder case I handled at trial as the lead prosecutor, and it helped me realize how much I enjoyed the work I get to do.
- Another accomplishment I am very proud of is prosecuting a forcible rape case involving a juvenile victim. Even though the case was a “cold case” where the incident was not reported for several years, we were able to obtain a conviction and help the victim put that part of her life behind her. We still keep in touch and she is doing well.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
Volunteer basketball coach for St. Aloysius, board chairman for Baton Rouge Bridge Academy, LSU Law Young Alumni Leadership Council, Alumni and Volunteer Corporation president for the Louisiana Beta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Baton Rouge Ancient Athlete Society.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch should be a role model for all attorneys. He followed his heart and fought for justice no matter what.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I always wanted to be a lawyer. My father is a lawyer and a retired judge, and I was always interested in what he was doing from a young age.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
When I was 15 I started assisting with junior tennis lessons after I was finished with my practice. It definitely taught me to be more patient.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Stroubes. The Tuesday lunch special is a pork cutlet that is fantastic.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Being a father to my son Hayden.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
I just take a few deep breaths and remember that I am prepared for the situation.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
After a difficult trial it is always great to see the victim or the victim’s family and know that I was able to help them through a traumatic time in their lives and hopefully bring them some closure.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
I make old fashioned to-do lists almost every day. I love checking the last thing off the list.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Be careful who you trust. Unfortunately, some people only look out for themselves.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
If I have to go to court I wear a jacket and tie, if not I am business casual.
WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
I love when I get to see that my work has had a positive impact on someone’s life. Sometimes that means trying a difficult case, but sometimes it is just taking a few extra minutes to try and help people who have found themselves in a terrible situation. Every now and then we get to see people who have made serious mistakes really turn their lives around. That is awesome. I hate having to speak to families after they have lost a loved one because of the senseless act of another person. That never gets easier.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
Just being told that they have confidence in my abilities and trust my judgment motivates me to do my best.
MAC OR PC?
PC.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
I am on Facebook, but I am not very active. I use Twitter to follow LSU sports, but that is about it.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Twenty-five texts and about 15 emails on an average day.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
I start getting nervous at 50%.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
Three.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Right now it is the Yahoo Fantasy Football App.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Smartphones. The world was a better place before so many of us spent most of the day looking down at a screen in our hand.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
6:45 is my plan. My infant son sometimes has a plan of his own, though.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Breakfast at home. Usually something small and a cup of coffee on weekdays, and on most weekends my wife, Emily, convinces me to go to Mary Lee for doughnuts.
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given and do my best to give back to the groups and people that have helped me become the person I am today. My hope is that I am “being” a role model for some and a positive influence for most of the people I come in contact with.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
When we bought our house in 2010, it really hit me that I was grown up for good.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
In college I was selected to travel to Greece and participate in a leadership development program called The Quest to Greece put on by my fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. I have never been to such a beautiful place with so much history that has been preserved.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
My parents gave me a very nice baseball glove before I really needed it. I still have the glove to this day.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Being able to read minds. Knowing what people around you are thinking or not thinking would be pretty useful.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
Hester. I am still in my wife’s phone by just my last name.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
My son, Hayden. Every day is something new and exciting.
FAVORITE DRINK?
I drink mostly water during the day, but I love a good beer in the evening. Tin Roof Turnrow is a must try if you haven’t had it.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
Darius Rucker and Zac Brown Band are two of my favorites right now.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
This is a close call, but I have to go with Pulp Fiction.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Unexpected kindness is one of the most powerful things in the world. Go out of your way to be kind and help people and I promise your life will be better for it.
PETS?
We have a dog named Watson. We were very creative with his name since we got him in Watson, Louisiana.
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
On Sept. 6, my wife gave birth to our son. Nothing will ever be the same as it was before and that is a great thing.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
I can’t imagine a bigger or more important challenge than being a new parent.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
I worry that we are losing our sense of personal accountability as a society. We are constantly expecting someone else to solve our problems instead of accepting responsibility and handling things ourselves.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Interacting with kids both as a board member at Bridge Academy and as a coach at St. Aloysius, I get to see the excitement and joy on their faces when they have success and accomplish their goals. I know that our future is bright as long as we continue challenging our kids to do their best.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Be honest, be kind and be prepared. If you do those three things you will be successful.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Absolutely. Why would I ever leave?
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
- Take my wife on a nice European vacation.
- Play the Old Course at St. Andrews.
- Hit a hole in one (hopefully at St. Andrews).
