RUSTON, La. — After 34 years in the legal profession, Ruston City Judge candidate Add Goff believes some of the most important lessons he would bring to the bench were learned outside the courtroom.
“Knowing the law is essential,” Goff said. “But being a good judge requires more than knowing the law. It requires maturity, patience, compassion, sound judgment, and the wisdom to understand how your decisions affect people’s lives—these kinds of things only come with age.”
Born and raised in Ruston, Goff has spent nearly six decades in the community he now hopes to serve as City Judge.
Long before he became an attorney, Goff earned the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment that helped shape his understanding of leadership, preparedness, personal responsibility, and service to others.
“Scouting taught me early in life that leadership isn’t about having a title. It’s about accepting responsibility, being prepared, doing what’s right even when it’s difficult, and helping others,” Goff said. “Those are lessons I’ve tried to carry with me throughout my life.”
His grandfather and father practiced law in Ruston, and Goff joined the family firm in 1993 after beginning his career as a research attorney for the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Over the next 33 years, he represented people facing some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives. His practice has included criminal law, complex civil litigation, estate planning, and helping veterans and elderly clients and their families navigate difficult legal and financial decisions.
“Over the years, I’ve sat across the table from people who were frightened, angry, grieving, or facing decisions they never imagined having to make,” Goff said. “Those experiences teach you that every case involves real people, real problems, and real consequences.”
Life Experience Brings Perspective
Goff believes that maturity and wisdom come not only from professional experience, but also from facing life’s challenges.
“I’m nearly 60 years old. I’ve experienced life’s joys and disappointments. I’ve lost my father, and I’ve fought cancer myself. Those experiences have a way of changing your perspective. You learn that life is precious, that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, and that everyone you meet may be carrying burdens you know nothing about.”
Goff says those lessons have helped shape the way he approaches people and difficult decisions.
“When you’ve faced your own mortality, you begin to see things differently. You learn patience. You learn humility. You learn to listen more carefully and to appreciate what really matters.”
He believes that perspective is especially important for a judge.
“People often come into court on one of the worst days of their lives,” Goff said. “Some have made serious mistakes. Others find themselves in difficult circumstances through no fault of their own. A judge must apply the law fairly and consistently, but should never lose sight of the human beings standing before him.”
For Goff, maturity means understanding that fairness and compassion can exist alongside accountability, and that wisdom sometimes comes from the hardest experiences life puts us through.
A Lifetime of Service to Lincoln Parish
For Goff, service to the community did not begin with a political campaign.
The commitment to service that began in Scouting decades ago and continued throughout his adult life. He has served as president of the Ruston Kiwanis Club, Ruston Jaycees, and Christian Community Action, and on the board of Louisiana Med Camps.
As a VA-accredited attorney, he has worked to assist wartime veterans. He has also volunteered with local organizations addressing hunger and helping families in need.
“Service has always been an important part of my life,” Goff said. “I’ve been fortunate to build a career and raise a family in this community. Running for judge is another opportunity to give something back to the place that has given so much to me.”
Goff has also served as a Hearing Committee Chair for the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, presiding over evidentiary proceedings for a 20-parish region, ruling on objections, evaluating testimony, and making recommendations concerning attorney discipline.
He says that experience reinforced the importance of fairness, preparation, and the responsibility that comes with making decisions affecting others.
Accountability and Opportunity
Goff believes the City Court can play an important role in helping people make better decisions, particularly young people and first-time offenders.
“My faith teaches me that there must be consequences for our actions,” Goff said. “But it also teaches me that we should never give up on people who are genuinely willing to put in the work to turn their lives around.”
Goff has discussed exploring mentoring opportunities for eligible probationers and other lawful approaches that combine accountability with an opportunity to get back on track.
“We have to have accountability, but we also have to have opportunity,” Goff said “The goal should be to see fewer people return to court, not simply to process the same people through the system again and again.”
Goff says that philosophy is consistent with the lessons he first learned as an Eagle Scout: people should be held responsible for their actions, but they should also be encouraged to improve themselves and contribute positively to their community.
Why Run for Judge Now?
Goff says his decision to seek the judgeship is rooted in a desire to devote this stage of his career to public service.
“After more than three decades of practicing law, I’m not looking for another job to add to my schedule. I’m looking for an opportunity to use everything I’ve learned—professionally and personally—to serve the people of Lincoln Parish.”
If elected, Goff has committed to closing his private law practice and making the judgeship his only professional responsibility.
“I believe experience gives you knowledge, life gives you perspective, and service teaches you humility,” Goff said. “I would bring all three to the bench, along with the preparation and work ethic that have guided me throughout my career.”
Over his 34-year legal career, Goff has handled an extraordinary range of cases, from relatively simple matters to complex litigation, and from misdemeanors to serious felonies. He has practiced in courts across the country, including more than three decades of practice in Ruston City Court. Yet Goff believes that being a good judge requires more than an impressive legal résumé:
“People deserve a judge who understands the law, understands the community, and understands that every person who enters that courtroom deserves to be heard and treated fairly. That’s the kind of judge I intend to be.”
Paid for by Add Goff’s campaign.
The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.
