Bernadette D'Souza
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Bernadette D'Souza (born 1954; née Gomes) was elected to be the first Family court Judge on the Civil District Court in Orleans Parish.[1] She is also the first female Indian-American judge in the state of Louisiana.[2] D'Souza was born in Goa, India where she received a degree in Psychology from the University of Mumbai.[3] She married Dr. Terrance D'Souza in 1978 and immigrated to the United States where they started their family. In 1989, Bernadette went back to school where entering Tulane University School of Law.[4] After law school, she worked for the New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation in the domestic violence unit and then became the managing attorney at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services.[5] After 18 years of working in public interest law, D'Souza was elected to the inaugural family court judgeship in the Civil District Court for the Parish of New Orleans as a part of a special election.[6] She was re-elected for this seat in both 2014 and 2020. In 2021, Bernadette was elected the Chief Judge of Orleans Parish Civil District Court.[7] She continues to be an active member of her community, advocating for victims of domestic violence.[8]
Bernadette D'Souza | |
---|---|
Born | 1954 Goa, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Citizenship | American |
Education | University of Mumbai (BA) Psychology, 1976 Tulane University School of Law (JD), 1992 |
Occupation | Judge on the civil district court in orleans parish |
Years active | 2012–present |
Predecessor | Judge Herbert Cade |
Political party | Democratic |
Website | https://www.orleanscivildistrictcourt.org/judge-dsouza |