Jason M. Verdigets, 39
District court judge, 23rd Judicial District
Every day at work for Jason Verdigets is an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. It’s something not many can say about their jobs, and it’s the reason Verdigets loves his work. As district court judge of the 23rd Judicial District, he presides over cases in Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes. Before he was elected judge in 2014, Verdigets had a successful career as a felony prosecutor and was awarded state Drug Prosecutor of the Year in 2012. When he’s not on the bench, Verdigets spends time volunteering at mock trials, speaking at local schools and coaching youth sports.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- First jury trial win.
- Awarded State Drug Prosecutor of the Year 2012.
- Being elected judge, of course.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
I’m active in St. Theresa Knights of Columbus and East Ascension Rotary Club. I volunteer at all area schools district wide (Ascension, Assumption and St. James), speak at 4-H events, conduct mock trials and mock interviews, attend career days and read to Head Start and Pre-K. I am a member of the 23rd Judicial District Bar Association, the Baton Rouge Bar Association and Louisiana State Bar Association. I’m also a member of the Supreme Court Historical Society, American Judges Association, 5th Circuit Judges Association, 1st Circuit Judges Association and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
To Kill A Mockingbird.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I was in grade school. My brother was reading To Kill a Mockingbird for a school project and then gave it to me to read. He thought I might like it. Read it and said I am going to be a lawyer and never looked back.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
My uncle’s restaurant in New Orleans. Learned I hated washing dishes.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
Never really had any “strange” jobs but have definitely had a wide variety from working in a fireworks stand to a lifeguard at Blue Bayou to assistant manager at a video store to a sales clerk at stores in the mall and others.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
French Market Bistro. Everything!
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Personally, my children. Professionally, all of my degrees and licenses, from high school, college, law school and bar license.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
If I have time, I like to get a run/workout in.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
It’s fulfilling when I run into people I prosecuted and people I have presided over as judge, who were having difficulties in their life and have thanked me for being fair and treating them with respect and have said I helped turn their lives around.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA MOMENT?”
First jury trial. I had the usual butterflies but wasn’t overly nervous and really enjoyed it. It was a rush of sorts. That’s when I knew I wanted to be in the courtroom.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Attention to detail makes all the difference.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Be prepared!
WHAT ABOUT YOUR JOB WOULD SHOCK CUSTOMERS OR CLIENTS IF THEY KNEW ABOUT IT?
I wouldn’t know where to even begin!
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
I can’t reveal what I have under the robe! Just kidding. Usually business casual.
WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
I truly do love my job. Every day I get to feel like I am making a difference in people’s lives and in the community. No part I hate, but family court day is difficult at times because of the subject matter.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
That I cared.
MAC OR PC?
Mac.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
I am on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, but unfortunately I cannot be as active since being elected for obvious reasons.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Send many more texts than emails.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
Can’t stand if it gets under 50%.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
None, hate having any unread messages.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Spotify.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Cell phone.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Cell phone.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
6 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
At home.
THE SAYING GOES: ‘BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.’ SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU ‘BEING’ TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
Volunteering as much as I can at area schools so that kids can truly get an idea of what the courts and the overall justice system is really about.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP”?
When a night out was home by 10:00 or a meal with no kids was a treat.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
I am a beach bum. We usually go to 30A so anywhere in that area is a great time for me.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
Star Wars Millennium Falcon.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Batman was always my favorite, and he doesn’t have a superpower. So I guess I just wish I could be super rich and super cool like Batman.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
J, JV, Verdi, Skip.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
I’m not, except when it comes to the Saints.
FAVORITE DRINK?
Water.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
Hard to say a favorite, but Modest Mouse, Drake and Silversun Pickups are dominating the playlist right now.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Really hard to say, big movie buff. Love old cheesy horror films. Some at the top are Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Predator, Aliens, Terminator, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Christopher Nolan Batman Trilogy.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
I would like to think Ryan Gosling, but let’s face it, it would probably be Larry David or some other bald guy.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Have more confidence.
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE
Getting elected district judge.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
Due to the population growth and the growing dockets, I feel the Ascension courthouse needs updating on security, technology and space to be more efficient. A courthouse is so vital to a community, and the public deserves to have the best courthouse possible. I hope to find solutions in fixing these problems in the coming years.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Political divisiveness and our poor use of social media.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
That people really can learn from their mistakes and shortcomings and change for the better. I see it all the time.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
No one is going to hand you anything so go out there and get it.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes, no other place I would rather be.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?
Continued economic growth. When people have good jobs, it eliminates most other potential problems.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
- Travel through Italy and Asia
- Attend the Olympics
- Skydive
