2025 Louisiana judicial elections
Judicial elections were held in the state of Louisiana to select several state and local judges in 2025. Judicial elections in the state are partisan.[1] A special primary election was scheduled for March 29, 2025, for one vacancy each on the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeals, but only one candidate contested each election. A runoff election would have taken place on May 3, 2025, in the even multiple candidates had filed and none had received a majority in the primary.
Supreme Court District 3 special election
March 29, 2025 (cancelled)
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A primary election to fill the third seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court was scheduled for March 29, 2025, with a general election to follow on May 3, 2025, in the event no candidate received a majority. The 3rd district was vacated by Republican James Genovese on August 4, 2024, after being selected to become president of the Northwestern State University.[2] Genovese was elected in 2016 with 50.91 percent of the vote in a two-way race against fellow Republican Marilyn Castle.[3]
Prior to the election, the Louisiana Supreme Court consisted of three Republicans, two Democrats, one without a party affiliation, and one vacancy.[4] Supreme Court justices serve 10-year terms.
Winner
Only one candidate, Republican Cade Cole, qualified for the ballot before the filing deadline, and won the seat by default.[5]
| Party | Candidate | Primary March 29, 2025 |
General May 3, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cade Cole | Unopposed | Not held | |||
| Republican hold | ||||||
Court of Appeals First Circuit special election
March 29, 2025 (cancelled)
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A primary election to fill the second district, subdistrict two, division D seat of the Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal was scheduled for March 29, 2025, with a general election to follow on May 3, 2025, in the event no candidate received a majority. The district is located entirely within East Baton Rouge Parish. The seat was vacated by Democrat John Guidry on December 31, 2024, after being elected Justice of the Supreme Court from the 2nd District.[6] Guidry won this appeals court seat in 2020 unopposed.
Appeals judges serve 10-year terms.
Winner
Only one candidate, Democrat Wilson E. Fields, qualified for the ballot before the filing deadline, and won the seat by default. Fields, chief judge of the 19th Judicial District Court, is the brother of U.S. representative Cleo Fields.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Primary March 29, 2025 |
General May 3, 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Wilson E. Fields | Unopposed | Not held | |||
| Democratic hold | ||||||
References
- ^ "Judicial election methods by state". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ "Louisiana Supreme Court justice vacancy (August 2024)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ "James Genovese". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ "Louisiana Supreme Court". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ Johnson, Amanda (January 31, 2025). "New La. Supreme Court justice, Calcasieu judges elected". KPLC 7. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ "Louisiana intermediate appellate court elections, 2025". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ Bruce, Matt (January 31, 2025). "Judges win elections unopposed for Baton Rouge seats on First Circuit appeals court, 19th JDC". The Advocate. Retrieved February 4, 2025.