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Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal
| Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal | |||
 | |||
| Court information | |||
| Judges: | 12 | ||
| Founded: | 1879 | ||
| Salary: | Associates: $182,007[1] | ||
| Judicial selection | |||
| Method: | Partisan election of judges | ||
| Term: | 10 years | ||
The Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal is one of the five circuit courts of appeal in Louisiana that handle appeals in criminal court cases. The fourth circuit's jurisdiction covers Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes.[2][3]
The courthouse is located in New Orleans, Louisiana.[2]
History
Louisiana's intermediate appellate courts were created by the 1879 Constitution.[4]
- Published opinions of the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal can be found here.
Judges
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
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2010 - Present |
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January 1, 2018 - Present |
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January 1, 2018 - Present |
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January 1, 2023 - Present |
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January 1, 2023 - Present |
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2012 - Present |
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2018 - Present |
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January 1, 2025 - Present |
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2010 - Present |
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2010 - Present |
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2004 - Present |
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January 1, 2023 - Present |
Salary
- See also: Louisiana court salaries and budgets
In 2025, the associate judges of the court received a salary of $182,007, according to the National Center for State Courts.[5]
Former judges
Former chief judges
- Charles Jones
- Joan Bernard Armstrong
- William H. Byrnes
- Robert J. Klees
- Denis A. Barry
- Patrick M. Schott
- James C. Gulotta
- William V. Redmann
- L. Julian Samuel
- Godfrey Z. Regan
- Richard T. McBride
- George Janvier
- William W. Westerfield
- Charles F. Claiborne
- Albert Estopinal
- Frank McGloin[6]
- Regina Bartholomew Woods
- James McKay
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Louisiana
The 53 justices on the Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal are elected in partisan elections. Justices serve 10-year terms and must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving on the court.[7]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- licensed to practice law in the state for at least ten years;
- a resident of the district representing for at least one year;
- under the age of 70 at the time of election (judges who turn 70 in office may serve until their term expires)[7][8]
Chief justice
The chief justice is the justice on the court with the most seniority. When he or she retires, the justice with the next most seniority becomes chief justice.[7]
Vacancies
Per Article V of the Louisiana Constitution, midterm vacancies are to be temporarily filled by the supreme court. Within one year of the opening, a special election (called by the governor, preferably on the date of a preexisting gubernatorial or congressional election) is to be held. If the supreme court has appointed a successor, that appointee may not run for the seat in the special election. The justice elected at the special election will serve the remainder of the unexpired term.[7][9][10][11]
Elections
See also: Louisiana intermediate appellate court elections, 2030
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 2nd District
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 3rd District
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal At large
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
See also: Louisiana intermediate appellate court elections, 2028
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
See also: Louisiana intermediate appellate court elections, 2024
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
General election
The general election scheduled for December 7, 2024, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 5, 2024, was canceled. Monique Morial (D) won election in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District without appearing on the ballot.
See also: Louisiana intermediate appellate court elections, 2022
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
General election
The general election scheduled for December 10, 2022, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 8, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Sandra Cabrina Jenkins (D) won election in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District without appearing on the ballot.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
General election
The general election scheduled for December 10, 2022, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 8, 2022, was canceled. Nakisha Ervin-Knott (D) won election in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District without appearing on the ballot.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
General election
The general election scheduled for December 10, 2022, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 8, 2022, was canceled. Rachael Johnson (D) won election in the special primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District without appearing on the ballot.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
General election
The general election scheduled for December 10, 2022, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 8, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Tiffany Gautier Chase (D) won election in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District without appearing on the ballot.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal At large
General election
The general election scheduled for December 10, 2022, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal At large
Karen K. Herman (D) won election outright against Joseph Cao (R) and Marie Williams (D) in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal At large on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Karen K. Herman (D) | 57.7 | 72,317 |
 | Joseph Cao (R) | 22.0 | 27,620 | |
 | Marie Williams (D) | 20.3 | 25,445 | |
| Total votes: 125,382 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Paul N. Sens (D)
See also: Louisiana intermediate appellate court elections, 2020
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
General election
The general election scheduled for December 5, 2020, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 3, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Rose Ledet (D) won election in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District without appearing on the ballot.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
General election
The general election scheduled for December 5, 2020, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 3, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Dale Atkins (D) won election in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District without appearing on the ballot.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 2nd District
General election
The general election scheduled for December 5, 2020, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 3, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Joy Cossich Lobrano (R) won election in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 2nd District without appearing on the ballot.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 3rd District
General election
The general election scheduled for December 5, 2020, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 3, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Daniel L. Dysart (Independent) won election in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 3rd District without appearing on the ballot.
Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal At large
General election
The general election scheduled for December 5, 2020, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
The primary scheduled for November 3, 2020, was canceled. Incumbent Roland L. Belsome (D) won election in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal At large without appearing on the ballot.
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
Special election
General election
No candidates for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District appeared on the ballot for the general election scheduled for March 24, 2018.
Nonpartisan primary
Special Nonpartisan primary election for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
Dale Atkins (D) won election outright against Robin D. Pittman (D) in the special primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dale Atkins (D) | 58.3 | 19,720 | |
| Robin D. Pittman (D) | 41.7 | 14,081 | ||
| Total votes: 33,801 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Regular election
General election
The general election scheduled for December 8, 2018, was canceled.
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District
Incumbent Paula Brown (D) won election outright in the primary for Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal 1st District on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Paula Brown (D) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Ethics
The Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct sets forth ethical guidelines and principles for the conduct of judges and judicial candidates in Louisiana. It consists of seven canons:
- Canon 1: A judge shall uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary
- Canon 2: A judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities
- Canon 3: A judge shall perform the duties of office impartially and diligently
- Canon 4: Quasi-Judicial Activities: A judge may engage in quasi-judicial activities to improve the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice
- Canon 5: Extra-Judicial Activities: A judge shall regulate extra-judicial activities to minimize the risk of conflict with judicial duties
- Canon 6: A judge may accept reasonable compensation and expenses for quasi-judicial and extra-judicial activities; a judge may not accept gifts, loans, bequests, benefits, favors or other things of value except under restricted circumstances; a judge must report compensation, gifts, loans, bequests, benefits, favors and other things in some circumstances
- Canon 7: A judge or judicial candidate shall refrain from inappropriate political and campaign activity[13]
The full text of the Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct can be found here.
Removal of judges
Judges in Louisiana may be removed in one of two ways:
- By the Louisiana Supreme Court after recommendation from the Louisiana Judiciary Commission[14]
- By a two-thirds vote of the Louisiana State Senate upon impeachment by the Louisiana House of Representatives
State profile
| Demographic data for Louisiana | ||
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 4,668,960 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 43,204 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 62.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 32.1% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 1.8% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 4.7% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 83.4% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 22.5% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $45,047 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 23.3% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Louisiana. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Louisiana
Louisiana voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More Louisiana coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Louisiana
- United States congressional delegations from Louisiana
- Public policy in Louisiana
- Endorsers in Louisiana
- Louisiana fact checks
- More...
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The salary of the chief judge may be higher than an associate judge.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 State of Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, "Court information," accessed September 4, 2015
- ↑ State of Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, "History," accessed September 19, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal, "History of the Court," accessed August 22, 2014
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "2025 Salaries and Rankings," accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑ State of Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, "Judicial Bio," accessed September 19, 2015
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Louisiana; Selection of Judges," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ NOLA.com, "Lawmakers fail to pass amendment eliminating mandatory retirement age of judges," archived March 9, 2016
- ↑ Louisiana Supreme Court, "Henry Julien v. The Honorable W. Fox McKeithan," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Louisiana Revised Statutes "RS 13:101.1," accessed July 13, 2016
- ↑ Leagle, "Marcelle v. DeCuir," September 21, 1995
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, "Judge Regina Bartholomew Woods to qualify for 4th Circuit election," July 19, 2016
- ↑ Louisiana Supreme Court, "Code of Judicial Conduct," accessed September 17, 2021
- ↑ Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, "Overview," accessed July 17, 2023
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana
State courts:
Louisiana Supreme Court • Louisiana Courts of Appeal • Louisiana District Courts • Louisiana City Courts • Louisiana Family Courts • Louisiana Justice of the Peace Courts • Louisiana Juvenile Courts • Louisiana Mayor’s Courts • Louisiana Municipal Courts • Louisiana Parish Courts • Louisiana Traffic Courts
State resources:
Courts in Louisiana • Louisiana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Louisiana
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