St. Charles Parish will hold a special election to fill Marino’s seat on Saturday, March 29.
As District 6 Justice of the Peace, John Marino Jr. performed marriage ceremonies, handled small claims cases, and dealt with landlord and tenant disputes. One of the most memorable moments of his career was officiating a marriage on a Mardi Gras float in the middle of a Metairie parade. The marriage was televised on the show “The Wedding Story.”
“It was amazing because when I said, ‘let us pray,’ the whole crowded quieted,” he said.
He remembers the time he married two FBI agents, and another wedding with a run-a-way groom. But the hardest part of the job, he said, was the evictions. One moment stands out – a mom, who was with her children, crying over an eviction.
“The landlord comes to you and the people are not paying usually,” Marino said. “And you have a hearing. It’s really hard around the holidays, and you have to tell people they have to get out of their place.”
Marino said he tried to rule with compassion.
“I try not to make it hard on people – they are people who want to live and have a happy life,” he said. “It’s hard but you have to follow Louisiana law, and you have to try to be compassionate at the same time.”
Sometimes the tenant and landlord came to an agreement so that no one was evicted.
“That was the part I liked a lot, when they could work something out,” he said. “What I liked about the career was trying to help people. I tried to be compassionate. I tried to be fair.”
Marino retired from his post as District 6 Justice of the Peace in January. He served 22 years, nearly four full terms in the position. The position served the communities of Montz, New Sarpy and Norco. Marino is also retired from his over 30-year career with Shell as a pipe fitter.
Marino, a graduate of Destrehan High School, has a family history of public service. His father, Johnny Marino Sr., served as St. Charles Parish Sheriff from 1984 through 1996. His brother, Lance, is the parish Clerk of Court and served on the Parish Council for eight years before being elected to his current position in 2011. John Marino Jr. lived in New Sarpy for 30 years before returning to his native Norco, where he was born and raised.
Watching his father in his career as sheriff, Marino learned that everybody needs their fair shot in life.
“My dad was somebody that you could go sit at his kitchen table if you had a problem and talk to him,” he said. “He had a welcoming type of spirit.”
Marino said in the court room he worked to keep disputes civil. His family always taught him to be honest and to treat everyone equally.
“It didn’t matter color, creed or anything like that,” he said. “Everybody was equal, and you treated everyone as nice as you could.”
Marino said he enjoyed his time as Justice of the Peace. But it was time to leave the job and tend to his home in Mississippi with his wife Brenda. The couple has three adult goats, four baby goats, a donkey and a miniature horse on their property. They are also taking care of their 15-year-old granddaughter.
“The human side of it is I had four friends die within two months,” he said of his decision to retire. “And they were my age. So, I said, ‘nah, I’m done. That’s enough.’”
St. Charles Parish will hold a special election to fill Marino’s seat on Saturday, March 29. Polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Parishioners will also vote on four Louisiana Constitutional Amendments. Early voting will be held on Saturday, March 15 and Monday, March 17-Saturday, March 22.
The last day to request an absentee by mail ballot is Tuesday, March 25.
