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Madison Johnston, second from right, gets a hug from Ilisha Lucas, the clinical director of the 19th Judicial District Court's recovery court, during a graduation ceremony for the program Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, inside the 19th JDC Courthouse. Program Coordinator Cheryl Wyatt, center, and District Judge Will Jorden, left, who presides over the drug court program, look on moments after presenting Johnston with her certificate of completion.
BY MATT BRUCE | Staff writer Joshua Johnson, left, receives his certificate of completion from District Judge Will Jorden during a graduation ceremony for the 19th Judicial District Court's recovery court program Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, inside the 19th JDC Courthouse. BY MATT BRUCE | Staff writer Family, friends and supporters assembled inside the 19th Judicial District Courthouse on Friday, Nov.
15, 2024, to watch as 14 participants of the JDC's recovery court graduated the drug treatment program. BY MATT BRUCE | Staff writer Christopher Scaife, left, receives his certificate of completion from District Judge Will Jorden during a graduation ceremony for the 19th Judicial District Court's recovery court program Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, inside the 19th JDC Courthouse.
BY MATT BRUCE | Staff writer Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save An evolving spirit striving toward change is as delicate as a budding flower. Its roots need to be watered by inspiration, planted in new soils of support, and its petals need to bask in the rays of faith for the flower to flourish into full bloom. On Friday, nearly 100 people packed into a Baton Rouge courtroom to witness a bouquet of hope.
Fourteen recovering substance abusers shared their stories as they graduated from the 19th Judicial District Court’s intensive recovery court , a specialty court and diversionary program designed to heal addicts arrested on nonviolent felony drug offenses and help them ween themselves off drugs and alcohol. But sobriety is just the start. Graduates at Friday’s ceremony said the ultimate goal is a full-blown spiritual transformation.
Susie Brooks matter-of-factly said recovery court was a twist of divine providence that saved her life. She lost everything when she was robbed at gunpoint while selling drugs out of a trap house in September 2022. Thieves shot and killed her boyfriend, and a bullet fired at her went through an air conditioner and was stopped by the compressor.
When police came, they found drugs stashed in the home and arrested Brooks. She lost her children, her freedom, the love of her life and was strung out on a synthetic marijuana known as mojo. But she said recovery court unshackled her from the depths of her life and helped her rediscover who she was.
She was able to regain custody of her children, got a home and is working two jobs with 804 days of sobriety under her belt with no relapses. “I am living proof that recovery court works and if you really want it, it will work for you,” she said. Susie Brooks, left, receives her certificate of completion from District Judge Will Jorden during a graduation ceremony for the 19th Judicial District Court's recovery court program Friday, Nov.
15, 2024, inside the 19th JDC Courthouse. 'The journey to change' The Baton Rouge-based 19th JDC unveiled its drug court more than 20 years ago. Officials said Friday’s class was among the largest crop of graduates since the treatment initiative began — 14 participants also graduated in May.
As the graduates crossed the finish line, District Judge Will Jorden, who presides over the specialty court , advised them to resist the urge to fixate on their woes when they are in the thick of life. Instead, he told them to remain fixed on goals and the obstacles they already have overcome. “I’ve been trying to get you guys to understand from the beginning that it’s what we focus on most and put our energy into, that is what we’re actually going toward,” he said.
“We need to make sure we’re prioritizing what is good in our lives. We need to make sure that we’re prioritizing our asset thinking, not deficit thinking.” Graduates credited Jorden’s inspirational words at their weekly hearings as one of the sources to keep them encouraged.
Most said they leaned heavily on their faith in God to turn around their lives and wrestle from the grips of addiction. Others were buoyed by the love and support of family members. “The journey to change is not always easy,” Keldrick White said.
“Change takes time and effort plus consistency.” Quentilyn Septs got out of jail, landed a full-time job and managed to move into his own home while going through the steps of recovery. He was recognized as the graduate who demonstrated the strongest moral character, compassion and determination through the adversity of turning his life around.
Septs broke down as he shared his journey with friends, family and supporters during Friday’s ceremony. “I just want to give all glory to God,” he said, shedding tears of triumph. “I started to replace excuses with change.
Everything I always had an excuse for it. But I started to replace that with change.” Septs' sister told him her heart broke when he fell into a life of addiction, and she encouraged him to continue on his current path.
Rebecca Jarrell recalled the years of anguish she lived through and cried tears of joy for her brother Friday. “I was so angry at him and I took my hands off,” she told staff members. “But I’m so glad that you guys helped him, each and every one of you.
I just cannot say how proud I am, from what he came from.” Quentilyn Septs, left, receives his certificate of completion from District Judge Will Jorden during a graduation ceremony for the 19th Judicial District Court's recovery court program Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, inside the 19th JDC Courthouse.
More than passing drug tests For Madison Johnston, the journey to recovery was centered on family. Her loved ones supported her fully through the process, and several of them were there to bask in the occasion at Friday's ceremony. “This graduation celebrates you all overcoming one of the hardest battles in life,” her dad, Allen Johnston, told the graduates.
“The battle of struggle and addiction, which is obviously life and death. To say the stakes were high is an understatement. This milestone is about reclaiming freedom instead of facing imprisonment.
” Madison Johnston sprouted new buds of life to add to her close-knit family on the journey to recovery. She birthed a son while living at a faith-based halfway house in Jonesville. After she completed rehab at that facility, she enrolled in the Baton Rouge drug court program , where she met her husband.
The two recovering participants fell in love and had a daughter together. Johnston said she learned responsibility because program coordinators and Judge Jorden held her accountable for her actions. “At first I thought recovery court was only about staying sober and taking random drug tests,” she recalled.
“I quickly learned it was so much more. If (they) asked me to jump, I learned to ask not only how high, but how long and what direction I should stay off the ground. It was strict, but it helped me learn how to live a better life.
” Graduates celebrate after District Court Judge Will Jorden, center, officially declares them done with the 19th Judicial District recovery court and terminates their probation during a ceremony Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, inside the 19th Judicial District Courthouse..
