Orleans Criminal Court Judge Karen Herman, who has served on that bench for 13 years and presided as its Chief through the COVID pandemic and Hurricane Ida, announced her decision to seek the at-large Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal seat being vacated by Judge Jimmy McKay, who has retired from a long and distinguished career of service on the Criminal Court bench and the Court of Appeal, effective today. The primary election will be held on Tuesday, November 8, covering the parishes of Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines.

Judge Herman released the following statement:

Today, I have notified my fellow Judges here in Criminal Court, and now announce to the public my intention to run for the at-large Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal seat. It has been an honor to serve for 13 years as a Criminal Court judge and in the past two years, to lead our court system as Chief Judge through the extremely difficult circumstances of Covid-19 and Hurricane Ida.  It was not an easy venture, but the cooperation of all criminal justice agencies, together with my fellow judges, promoted service to the public through unprecedented challenges.

Since taking the Criminal Court bench in January 2009, I have worked diligently to fairly and impartially protect the interests of defendants, the State, victim’s families and the community at large. I have presided over the district’s only Mental Health Court, assisting the most vulnerable clients from all 12 sections of Criminal Court to ensure their safety and well-being, as well as those surrounding them. I additionally presided over a Drug Court for 10 years, committing extra time to assist clients who have spiraled into drug addiction and ensuring they attain employment and stable housing. I am so proud to see the many success stories that have graduated out of both Specialty Courts. 

Since my admission to practice in 1994, I have always viewed it as my responsibility to try to give back to the legal profession. My service as Executive Director of CourtWatch NOLA, a non-profit agency dedicated to highlighting transparency and efficiency in the criminal justice system; my career as a prosecutor with the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, where I successfully tried over 100 cases, including 24 homicides; and the numerous experiences I have  had in the civil arena, working on two large commercial fraud cases, or through academic, bar association, and judicial conference efforts and activities, have prepared me to seek this new position. 

I have been honored to Chair the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Diversity Committee, serve as an adjunct professor for Tulane’s Trial Advocacy Course, be a volunteer mentor for the Tulane Moot Court Program, as well as provide professional education seminars and lectures on ethics, professional behavior, needed legislation, and the utility of diversion programs to the Louisiana Judicial College, the Louisiana State Bar Association, and the New Orleans Bar Association.

Now I seek to take my experiences to better serve this community as Judge McKay retires. I ask the voters of Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines for this honor.