First woman to serve as judge in Louisiana judicial district

OPELOUSAS, La. — Ledricka Johnson Thierry made history again.

The former state representative was elected as the first woman to serve as a judge in the 27th Judicial District Court, which covers St. Landry Parish. In 2009, she was elected as the first woman to represent Louisiana House District 40, where she served until 2016.

Thierry beat LaDonte Murphy for the judge seat with 71% of the votes in the Nov. 3 election. The landslide win was a humbling moment, she said.

“For the young women coming behind me, I didn’t even realize the significance of this huge development because it inspires them to feel like, ‘She did it, I can do it as well,’” Thierry said. “(It was) very satisfying to know that I was the person that broke the glass on that and I’m inspiring somebody else to do the same thing.”

Diverse experience pushed Thierry to run for open seat

Thierry will take over the seat for retiring Judge Alonzo Harris, who was Thierry’s mock trial coach in high school and for whom she later was a clerk.

The 42-year-old wants to create programs geared toward helping children, veterans and those with mental health issues.

“I will ensure that justice is fair and legal and appropriate,” Thierry said. “I want the community to feel that you have someone that you can trust and who’s going to continue to implement new ideas and programs.”

When Thierry learned Harris was retiring, she knew she had to run for the open seat. The next judge needed to be someone who had a diverse legal understanding and who recognizes the complexities of the community, she said.

Her background in education; her experiences as a mother, a business owner and a lawmaker; and her work practicing real estate law, family law, personal injury and criminal law made her a good candidate for the judgeship, she said.

“You’ve got to be a very diverse judge in a sense when it comes to the legal subjects, as well as our communities are very unique,” Thierry said. “With the culture here, it’s important that you be connected to your community so that you can understand that there are times when you’re going to need to be firm on the bench, but there are times you’ve got to be compassionate.

“In order to understand when you need to do those things, I think it’s important that you have a connection with your community and that fits me.”

Giving back to the community

Thierry grew up in Lebeau, Louisiana. She attended Southern University for her undergraduate and law degrees. After graduation, she practiced law in Baton Rouge before returning in 2005 to St. Landry Parish, where her 82-year-old parents live and where she and her husband are raising their three children.

She has felt driven to give back to her community after being hit by a military bus at 17 while helping children cross the street. Thierry spent weeks in the hospital and it was a long recovery process.

“That was one of the reasons I’m so committed to service,” she said. “I felt blessed that God spared my life.”

Thierry has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and AmeriCorps. She established the first free tax preparation and filing service in St. Landry Parish to help those in poverty with their state and federal taxes.

Thierry has also led efforts for autism awareness, inspired by her 12-year-old daughter who has autism. She organizes a school supply giveaway. She serves on the parish board for Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Opelousas.

“It’s important for us to try to come back and give back to the place that has given us our foundation,” she said.

‘It’s been a journey': Winning the election came with challenges

Getting to the election wasn’t easy.

Thierry put out signs announcing her campaign run in 2018, even though the election wasn’t until 2020.

During the campaign, Thierry, her husband, her daughter and her mother tested positive for COVID-19, making it impossible for her to campaign for all of August and some of September. She’s had five loved ones die because of COVID-19 complications.

On the day of the election, Thierry and her family started working at 3 a.m. By the time the results rolled in, she was exhausted but pleased.

“Though it’s been a journey for my family and for my supporters, I can’t thank them enough for just trusting me and supporting me,” she said. “I wouldn’t have made it to this place without their support and their prayers and their help.”

Thierry will be sworn in Dec. 16.