The Louisiana Supreme Court announces the appointment of new members of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission.
This standing commission, which consists of judges from all levels of the state judiciary, is tasked with identifying technology needs, establishing goals for implementation, devising best practices, and suggesting necessary rule changes and steps toward implementing articulated technology goals for the judiciary. Louisiana Supreme Court Justice-elect John Michael Guidry will serve as the newly-appointed Chair of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission.
The following members have been appointed to the Technology Commission for terms of service which began on September 10, 2024, and will conclude on September 9, 2026:
LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION MEMBERS
Louisiana Supreme Court: Justice-elect John Michael Guidry (Chair)
Louisiana Courts of Appeal: Judge Wilber Stiles, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Karen Herman, 4th Circuit Court of
Appeal
Louisiana District Courts: Judge John LeBlanc, 17th JDC Ret.
Judge Nghana Lewis, 40th JDC
Judge Suzanne de Mahy, 16th JDC
Judge Ellen Hazeur, Orleans Civil District Court
Judge Laurie Hulin, 15th JDC
Judge Cody Martin, 23rd JDC
Louisiana Juvenile Courts: Judge Amanda Calogero, Jefferson Juvenile Court
Louisiana Family Courts: Judge Pamela Baker, East Baton Rouge Family Court
Louisiana City Courts: Judge Douglas Saloom, Lafayette City Court Judge Shaunn Caillier-Harden, Opelousas City
Court
Justice of the Peace: JP Beau Bowman, St. Bernard Parish District C
“The Supreme Court Technology Commission continues to productively work towards researching and utilizing existing and emerging technology to develop a more advanced and user friendly court system in Louisiana,” said Chief Justice John L. Weimer. “The Justices and I not only look forward to working with Justice-elect Guidry on the Supreme Court bench, but also appreciate his willingness to serve as Chair of the Commission for this term to help expand access to justice through innovative technology.”
Louisiana Supreme Court Justice-elect John Michael Guidry, who will take office on the Supreme Court bench January 1, 2025, earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in 1983, and his juris doctor degree with cum laude honors from the Southern University Law Center. Judge Guidry formerly served as a legislative assistant and as the assistant clerk of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He was an assistant parish attorney for the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge. Judge Guidry is a former commissioner of the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission and the Greater Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Commission. Since 1988, Judge Guidry has served as an adjunct professor at the Southern University Law Center and as a Southern University Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy adjunct professor. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1991 and to the Louisiana State Senate in 1993. In 1997, he was first elected as a First Circuit Court of Appeal judge and became the 15th Chief Judge and the first African American Chief Judge of this court in 2023.
The Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission has advanced Louisiana through innovation in the courts. Technological improvements include website rebuilding and uniform court website enhancements that unify online access to courts, legislation and rule changes allowing for virtual access to court processes, online forms platform that assists self-represented litigants, disaster recovery assistance that assists courts during weather events, cyber security, and technology training for judges.
Most recently, the Commission was instrumental in the passing of HB 969/Act 463 of the 2024 Regular Legislative Session, which sets forth provisions for holding remote proceedings and allows the court to require in person attendance in certain circumstances. Based on the passage of this provision, the Technology Commission is working on a publication setting forth guidelines for Preferred Remote Proceedings.
Additionally, the Commission is working on finalizing for judges Guidelines for Usage of Generative AI. This manual aims to develop guidelines for the permissive uses of GenAI and encourages continued training of judges on its uses and pitfalls.
Information on the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission is available at www.geauxtocourt.com.
Louisiana Supreme Court Mission: To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.