Honorable Mitchell Theriot, former business administration professor at Nicholls, began his new career as an appellate court judge when he was sworn in on Jan. 23 in the Powell Hall Auditorium.
Theriot, from Lafourche Parish, was elected to the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals, District 1, Division B, on Dec. 8, receiving 53.1 percent of the vote, defeating his opponent William Dupont. He takes the place of retired Judge Edward “Jimmy” Gaidry.
“I’ve always had an interest to serve as a judge,” Theriot said. “Ever since law school it has been a goal of mine. When Judge Gaidry announced his retirement, I started inquiring about [the position] and received great feedback and decided to run.”
Although Theriot described his victory to be one of elation, the road to his victory was not an easy one.
“The campaign was grueling,” Theriot explained. “There was such a large area to cover. I would go from the Raceland-Thibodaux area, all the way to Franklin and St. Mary Parish and north to the New Roads Area. It’s very time-consuming and for eight months it was just non-stop campaigning from early morning to late at night.  In the meantime, I was still teaching and practicing law.”
During his 16-year teaching career at Nicholls, Theriot taught business law classes such as Business Administration 221: Legal Environment of Business and Business Administration 324: Commercial Law. Both classes were intertwined with his new position as an appellate court judge since he taught the principles and philosophy of the court system.  
Theriot is also a 1985 Nicholls alumni with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration. He also is a 1988 graduate of Loyola University College of Law. Along with teaching and practicing law at his private office for 25 years, Theriot also served in the Louisiana House of Representatives for eight years, beginning in 1992.  
Throughout his campaign, Theriot said his current and past students were a great support system. He “has no doubt in his mind” that his time spent teaching and developing relationships with his students was a key factor in his victory.
“Making my rounds through the campaign trail, I would run into students from every parish,” Theriot said. “It was amazing hearing people tell me that I taught them back in 1999 or 2003. That personal relationship with people throughout the parishes that they have extended to their families is very important.”
Since the courthouse is located in Baton Rouge, Theriot currently works from the satellite office of former Judge Gaidry in Houma. He hopes to eventually establish his own satellite office in the Raceland area. Theriot will serve a 10-year term until the next election held in 2022, in which he can decide to run for re-election.
Just as Judge Theriot followed his dream of becoming a judge, he encourages all students looking to run for office to keep pursuing their dream.
“Don’t be deterred,” Theriot said. “Keep focused on what it is you want to achieve. Keep your options open and do not close any doors and meet as many people as you can throughout your career whether socially or through business. Remember when you are campaigning that every vote counts.”