OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) – Ledricka Johnson Thierry has made history again.
The former state representative was elected the first woman to serve as a judge in the 27th judicial district, 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’s seat with 71% of the vote in the November 3rd election. The landslide victory was a humble moment, she said.
“For the young women who came behind me, I didn’t even see the importance of this tremendous development because they felt she did it, so can I,” said Thierry. “(It was) very gratifying to know that I was the person who broke the glass, and I inspire someone else to do the same.”
VARIOUS EXPERIENCES PRESSED THIERRY TO RUN FOR OPEN SEAT
Thierry will take over the retirement seat from Judge Alonzo Harris, who was Thierry’s mock trials coach in high school and for whom she later worked.
The 42-year-old wants to develop programs to help children, veterans and people with mental health problems.
“I will make sure that justice is fair and legal and fair,” Thierry said. “I want the community to feel like you have someone you can trust and who will continue to implement new ideas and programs.”
When Thierry found out that Harris was retiring, she knew she had to run for the vacancy. The next judge has to be someone who has a diverse understanding of the law and recognizes the complexity of the community, she said.
Your background in education; her experiences as mother, business owner and legislator; and her work as a real estate, family, personal injury and criminal law attorney made her a good candidate for judge, she said.
“You have to be a very diverse judge in some ways when it comes to legal issues, and our communities are very unique,” said Thierry. “With the culture here, it’s important that you are connected to your community so that you understand that there are times when you need to be firm, but there are times when you need to be compassionate.
“To understand when to do these things, I think it is important that you have a connection with your community and that suits me.”
BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Thierry grew up in Lebeau, Louisiana. She attended Southern University for her bachelor and law degrees. After graduation, she practiced law in Baton Rouge before returning to St. Landry Parish in 2005, where her 82-year-old parents live and where she and her husband raise their three children.
She felt driven to give back to her community after being hit by a military bus when she was 17 and 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 was so committed to the service,” she said. “I felt blessed that God spared my life.”
Thierry volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and AmeriCorps. She established the first free tax preparation and filing service in St. Landry Parish to help people in poverty with their state and federal taxes.
Thierry has also led autism awareness efforts, inspired by her 12 year old daughter who has autism. She organizes a giveaway for school supplies. She is a member of the parish office of the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit in Opelousas.
“It’s important that we try to come back and give something back to the place that gave us our foundation,” she said.
“It was a journey”: Winning the election came with challenges
It wasn’t easy to get to the polls.
Thierry issued signs announcing her 2018 election campaign, even though the election didn’t take place until 2020.
During the campaign, Thierry, her husband, daughter and mother tested positive for COVID-19, making it impossible for her to advertise for all of August and part of September. She left five loved ones to die from COVID-19 complications.
On the day of the election, Thierry and her family started work at 3 a.m. When the results came in, she was exhausted but satisfied.
“Although it has been a journey for my family and supporters, I cannot thank them enough for simply trusting me and supporting me,” she said. “Without your support, your prayers and your help, I would not have made it to this place.”
Thierry is sworn in on December 16.