Dear Governor Jindal,

I'm calling on you to stand up for justice in the case of Bobby Higginbotham, the former mayor of Waterproof, Louisiana. Higginbotham was persecuted by District Attorney James Paxton, who used his office to pursue a vendetta against the mayor, bringing Higginbotham up on trumped-up corruption charges and orchestrating his removal from office.

Mr. Higginbotham has repeatedly been subjected to unfair -- and in some cases unlawful -- treatment at the hands of Paxton and Judge John Crigler. First, the pair dismissed his attorney of choice on unfair grounds. When Higginbotham had trouble securing a new attorney, he was essentially forced to represent himself. Paxton manipulated the jury pool to ensure that Black residents were underrepresented. The final jury consisted of five white members and just one Black member in a parish where nearly 60% of residents are Black. Inexplicably, Higginbotham -- a homeowner and businessman who had no prior criminal record -- was declared a flight risk and denied bond after his conviction. He's been in prison since May 19, 2010.

Governor Jindal, I would like to believe that this standard of justice is far below your standards. I've asked Paxton to cease his unfair prosecution of Mr. Higginbotham. I now call on you to act in your capacity as moral leader of the state of Louisiana, and announce your intention to investigate the circumstances of Mr. Higginbotham's prosecution and ensure a just outcome. I also urge you to investigate the actions of District Attorney James Paxton.

Respectfully,

[Your name]