Young has political, money history with Connick law firm
He faces Stephanie Hilferty in GOP runoff for PSC seat in June 27 election
Louisiana Public Service Commission candidate John Young has extensive ties to a Metairie-based law firm that plays a key role in Jefferson Parish and Louisiana politics.
Young faces state Representative Stephanie Hilferty in the Republican runoff election for the PSC District 1 seat in the June 27 election. Early voting runs through June 20.
Young was a longtime assistant Jefferson Parish attorney, and he worked with Paul D. Connick Jr., who has served as the parish district attorney since 1997. Connick also is a founding member and currently listed of counsel for Connick & Connick, which has represented Jefferson Parish numerous times.
In 2012, the law firm took in more than $514,000 in government contracts. That included $267,544 from Jefferson Parish. Young was parish president from 2010 to 2016.
Over the years, Young’s campaigns have donated to Paul D. Connick Jr., a Democrat, for his district attorney re-election campaigns. Those include a $1,000 donation in 2011 and a $2,500 donation in 2014 when Connick ran unopposed.
Also, Young’s campaigns have received donations from Connick & Connick. Those include $1,000 in 2009 and $5,000 in 2015. The law firm has donated to many Jefferson Parish leaders over the years. For example, four of the current Parish Council members have received donations from Connick & Connick.
William P. “Bill” Connick, who is managing member of Connick & Connick, served as campaign manager for Young’s campaigns for parish president and lieutenant governor.
According to a 2022 news story, Paul D. Connick Jr. is one of several Louisiana parish district attorneys who moonlight with law firms. In fact, 30 of Louisiana’s 42 district attorneys maintain a private practice, state reports from 2022 showed.
In that story, the Metropolitan Crime Commission said such arrangements “can present ethical questions” and that those DAs “must closely monitor their caseloads for conflicts of interest.”
“In Jefferson Parish, District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. has occasionally faced questions for the work that his Connick & Connick firm performs for the parish government,” the NOLA.com story states. “That firm’s prominence has contributed to Connick’s status as one of Jefferson Parish’s longest serving and most powerful elected officials. He was first elected in 1996 and has rarely faced a serious challenge to his re-election.
“His three-decade arrangement with the parish, which predates his first term as DA, has proven lucrative: Connick’s firm has received more than $3.3 million from the parish in just the past three years, records show.”
In that story, Connick said he doesn’t benefit from his firm’s Jefferson Parish work because the firm keeps that income separate from Connick’s portion of the firm’s earnings.
“But as 50% owner, Connick still shares in the firm’s profits,” the story says. “His disclosures do not require him to say exactly how much that amounts to, though the records show it’s at least $100,000 a year. His brother, Peter Connick, owns the other half of the firm.”
The story also said Connick was one of eight DAs who reported making more than $100,000 a year from their side practices. Connick also said he plays no role in his firm’s operations.
“No court appearances, no pleadings, no depositions, no interrogatories, nothing,” he told NOLA.com. “I don’t even have an office in the space occupied by the firm. Heck, I don’t even have a key to the office.”
Connick also said attorneys at the firm are required to ask all new clients if they’re involved in any matter he could have jurisdiction over as the parish DA. And if an existing client does become involved in a criminal matter, the firm notifies the DA office so it can decide whether Connick’s recusal is necessary.
Connick also noted that a 1999 state Ethics Board opinion said his firm’s work for Jefferson Parish poses no conflict with his position as DA.