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John Wesley Patton v. Gary Westcott, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, et al.

IFP petition · Supreme Court of Louisiana, No. 2025-KH-00359 · judgment September 16, 2025


Certiorari denied · February 23, 2026

Question presented

Question Number One Could a Louisiana District Judge, namely, Steven C. Grefer, 24th Judicial District Court, in Division “J” in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana be considered to have been impartial after the Petitioner filed a Federal Civil Rights action naming the Judge as one of the Defendant’s? And the Judge continued to hear his own recusal motions and rule on the Petitioner’s application for post conviction relief? Was he impartial pursuant to the US Constitution? Question Number Two Could a Louisiana District Judge, namely, Steven C. Grefer, 24th Judicial District Court, in Division “J” be considered to be impartial on the rulings of the Petitioner’s Louisiana State post conviction application? When several of the Claims on the State Post Conviction were against the Judge? Possibly making the Judge a witness? Can a Judge hear his own claims? Question Number Three Can any Louisiana Citizen ever expect to receive a Fair Trial with the way Louisiana currently allows their District Attorney’s to hand pick the Judge’s assigned to their Criminal Cases? Through manipulation of Louisiana District Court Rules, Rule 14.0 Allotment of Cases? Question Number Four Did the Petitioner really receive a “Fair and Impartial” Louisiana District Judge? In pre trial motions? At trial? On his post conviction? ii.

Counsel of record

For petitioner
John W. Patton

For respondent
Darren Anthony Allemand
Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Proceedings

  1. Feb 23 2026
    Petition DENIED.
  2. Jan 29 2026
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
  3. Jan 22 2026
    Waiver of right of respondent Westcott, et al. to respond filed.
  4. Dec 10 2025
    Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due February 6, 2026)