On April 4, 2020, a special election will held to fill an unexpired term in Division M of the 19th Judicial District Court. Early voting: March 21, 2020- March 28, 2020. This seat was formally held by Judge Beau Higginbotham who elected to run in the southeastern portion of the parish to fill the vacancy created upon Judge Lou Daniels’ retirement. This was a lateral move and Judge Higginbotham remains a judge. He ousted challenger Joe Prokof on October 12, 2019.
About Me:
A servant of Christ: I am a member of Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church and a faithful servant of the Lord who utilizes biblical principles as the framework for my life. At a young age, it was instilled in me that we have a great burden and responsibility to help our fellow man and to whom much is given, much is required.
A Devoted Wife and Mother: Married to Internal Medicine Physician, Dr. Jonathan Roberts, MD, graduate of LSU Lab School, Southern University, LSU Medical School, Tulane University and Emory University. Also mother to one daughter, Tiffany-Elle, age 10. She loves drawing, sketching and painting.
Our family focuses on serving God and using our blessings to bless the lives of others. We also spend family time enjoying SU, LSU and Saints football, maintaining healthy lifestyles, and traveling. My husband and I, currently co-host a weekly radio show, “Medical Minutes with Dr. Roberts” on WQTQ 106.1 FM. He and myself (in the capacity of a registered nurse) discuss health related topics that have a significant impact on Louisiana citizens, with an emphasis on acute and chronic conditions affecting the African American community.
Military:
I served in the U.S. Army for over 13 years and had the unique ability to experience basic training twice; first as an enlisted soldier and later as a Nurse Corp Officer. I am honored to have been commissioned directly from the President of the U.S. My awards include: the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, and many others.
Education and Legal Career:
I earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing (2001) and has worked in an array of settings such as: staff clinician, agency, travel and Army Nurse.
Later, I attended Southern University Law Center full time while contemporaneously working as a RN in Hammond and serving in the 4010th U.S. Army Hospital in New Orleans. I earned a Juris Doctorate in 2005, in the brink of Hurricane Katrina where I served as a volunteer disaster recovery nurse. During this timeframe, I also taught medical assistant students basic human anatomy and physiology.
I opened a full service law office practice in 2006 and since that time have handled hundreds of criminal, civil, probate and family cases.
Division M presides as a criminal court. I have garnered knowledge, skill and training through the representation of defendants within the jurisdiction of this court by litigating major felonies such as: second degree murder, aggravated battery, second degree battery, armed robbery, home invasion, attempted first degree murder, drug possession and distribution, and the list goes on. I have spent my entire legal career helping the less fortunate in South Louisiana navigate through the judicial system.
In 2008, I was scholarship recipient of the highly esteemed National Criminal Defense College for trial lawyers. The program’s mission is to promote justice by delivering the highest standard of trial skills training to criminal defense attorneys across the U.S., to ensure that people accused of crimes are represented by client-centered, trial-focused, and zealous counsel.
I was empowered to transform the criminal legal system to ensure due process of law, effective assistance of counsel, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, and equal protection of law for all people.
I am no stranger to hard work and am ready to serve our community as your next Judge of Division M of the 19th Judicial District Court.
Positions/Issues:
Judicial Philosophy: Follow the law as written and uphold my oath with the highest degree of integrity.
Criminal Law: Drug addiction and crimes committed by violent offenders have affected many families and torn the fabric of our communities. We need judges that recognize the need for aggressive treatment and supervision of drug abusers. At the same time, we need to punish those who are repeatedly breaking laws.
The use of Drug Courts and Veteran Courts will allow us to continue to help those who help themselves. We also need to use methods of sentencing that allow teenagers and young adult first offenders the opportunity to clear their criminal record, if they change their path.
Treat all with respect: I will never forget the years I spent in private practice. I know what it is like to have to make pay roll, to deal with clients, busy schedules, and opposing attorneys. I vow to treat all attorneys, clerks, deputies, staff, plaintiffs and defendants with the same dignity and respect that I wish to be treated. We all have a job to do and I will not waste time grandstanding or with unneeded questioning of parties. I will be fair, efficient and organized.
Organizational Memberships: American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, Louisiana State Nursing Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Jack & Jill of America, Inc., and Junior League of Baton Rouge.