The Honorable Jules D. Edwards III was elected vice chair of the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana. In 2007, Edwards retired as colonel of the Louisiana National Guard and was recognized as the best staff judge advocate in the U.S. He has previously served as chief judge of the 15th Judicial District Court and a drug court judge. He also has worked as an indigent defender attorney, assistant district attorney, counsel to the Louisiana Senate's Select Committee on Crime and Drugs, and a partner at Edwards and Edwards Law Offices.