Louisiana Supreme Court Observes Women’s History Month - Press Release

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Louisiana Supreme Court Observes Women’s History Month 
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<div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2026 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Kevin Litten<br />504-310-2592</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 25, 2026</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Observes Women&rsquo;s History Month</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, La. - </strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court is recognizing Women&rsquo;s History Month by honoring the women who serve across Louisiana&rsquo;s judiciary and by celebrating the many pioneers whose leadership opened doors for future generations.</p><p>In contrast to the early years of the judiciary, women now serve in vital leadership roles at every level of the Judicial Branch &mdash; as judges, clerks of court, and judicial administrators &mdash; helping ensure that Louisiana&rsquo;s courts reflect the communities they serve.</p><p>There are 2 women serving on the Supreme Court: Justice Piper D. Griffin and Justice Pro Tempore Alison H. Penzato. Across the state, 22 women serve on the Courts of Appeal, 64 serve on District Courts, 18 serve on City Courts and 7 serve on Juvenile Courts. There are 38 women serving as chief judges in courts throughout Louisiana.</p><p>&ldquo;Each year, we are encouraged to see more women serving across Louisiana&rsquo;s judiciary,&rdquo; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer said. &ldquo;Their service builds on the work of the trailblazing women who came before them: Women whose dedication and courage made today&rsquo;s opportunities possible. As we recognize Women&rsquo;s History Month, we are honoring our past and investing in our future, ensuring we can continue improving the diversity of our courts for generations to come.&rdquo;</p><p>Every level of Louisiana&rsquo;s judiciary has been shaped by historic firsts for women, including:</p><ul><li><strong>Dana M. Douglas</strong>, the first African American female to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth District (2022). </li><li><strong>Veronica Wicker</strong>, the first female appointed to serve in a U.S. District Court in Louisiana, the Eastern District of Louisiana (1979).</li><li><strong>Rebecca F. Doherty</strong>, the first female U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana (1991).</li><li><strong>Edith Brown Clement</strong>, the first female Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, and first female judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans (both 2001).</li><li><strong>Shelly D. Dick</strong>, the first female U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana (2013). </li><li><strong>Catherine D. &ldquo;Kitty&rdquo; Kimball</strong>, the first female to serve as an Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court (1992) and as the first female Chief Justice (2009).</li><li><strong>Bernette Joshua Johnson</strong>, the first female to serve on the Civil District Court of New Orleans (1984), elected by peers as Chief Judge (1994), the first African American female to serve as Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court (1994), and the first African-American Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court (2013).</li><li><strong>Jeanette Theriot Knoll</strong>, the first woman elected to an appellate court in Louisiana, the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal (1982).</li><li><strong>Fannie Burch</strong>, the first female elected as a district court judge in Louisiana (21st Judicial District, 1954).</li><li><strong>Anna Veters Levy</strong>, the first female elected judge in Louisiana (Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, 1940).</li><li><strong>Joan Bernard Armstrong</strong>, the first African American female to serve as a judge in Louisiana (Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, 1974) and the first woman to serve as Chief Judge of an appellate court, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal (2003).</li><li><strong>Veronica Odinet Koclanes</strong>, the first female to serve as Clerk of Court, Louisiana Supreme Court (2021)</li><li><strong>Sandra A. Vujnovich</strong>, the first female to serve as Judicial Administrator, Louisiana Supreme Court (2014)
</li></ul><p>Associate Justice Piper D. Griffin, the fourth woman to serve on the Louisiana Supreme Court, said that this Women&rsquo;s History Month provides a reminder that the work of empowering women across Louisiana must continue.</p><p>&ldquo;When we champion women across every role in the judiciary, we will strengthen Louisiana&rsquo;s courts and ensure that justice is fair, inclusive, and truly representative of the people we serve,&rdquo; Justice Griffin said.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission</strong>: To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist, Community Relations, Kevin Litten at <a href="mailto:klitten@lasc.org">klitten@lasc.org</a>.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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