Louisiana Supreme Court issued the following announcement on Dec. 17.
The Louisiana Supreme Court appointed retired Opelousas City Court Judge Vanessa Harris as judge pro tempore of Division A, Lafayette City Court, for the period of December 17, 2021 through February 28, 2022, subject to the completion of any unfinished business.
Retired Judge Harris earned her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Southern University in 1985 and her juris doctorate from Southern University Law Center in 1988. She began her career practicing with the Harris & Harris Law Firm in 1988 and served as an assistant district attorney in St. Landry Parish from 1988-2008. She made history in 2009 when she was elected Opelousas City Court Judge, becoming the first female and first African American to serve on that bench. She served as judge of Opelousas City Court until her retirement in December 2020. Judge Harris is married to Mr. Senic Batiste and is the mother of three daughters.
Original source can be found here.