--- title: "Brenda Bedsole Ricks | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brenda-bedsole-ricks-judge-louisiana-21st-judicial-district-court-division-e-la" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Brenda Bedsole Ricks Louisiana 21st Judicial District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Louisiana 21st Judicial District Court - State: Louisiana - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Private Practice Attorney — Own law practice - Amite · end year: 1996 - court: Louisiana 21st Judicial District Court · role: Judge - Division E · start date: 1996-11-05 · notes: Division E (slug division-e -> Division E) - Judicial service: First elected to the bench in 1996; held the role of Chief Judge of the 21st Judicial District; helped establish Veterans Court and Mental Health Court - Assistant District Attorney — 21st Judicial District Court - The Division E judge of Louisiana’s 21st Judicial District Court, serving Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa Parishes, with a career spanning over three decades in law and public service ### Education - Southern University Law Center — Law — J.D. (1984) - Southeastern Louisiana College — B.A. ### Additional information - First elected Nov 5, 1996 - first woman elected in district since 1950s (Fannie Burch). - Re-elected 2014 and 2020, term expires Dec 31, 2026 (header Term Ends 2026 matches body). - Inducted Southern University Law Center Hall of Fame 2013. - Legislative staff attorney — Louisiana State Senate - Contract Attorney — DCFS - City Attorney — Town of Roseland - Chief Judge noted in LLA audits. - Additional studies: Georgetown University / Fund for American Studies; 3-time graduate National Judicial College and graduate of first Louisiana Supreme Court Judicial Leadership Institute. - Ricks donates copies of The United States Constitution and Fascinating Facts About It to schools and organizations, and is active in the 21st Judicial District Bar Association and other professional groups ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### electronic or photographic presentation of evidence Scope: statewide Louisiana trial judges may authorize electronic or photographic means for presenting evidence, preserving the record, counsel use, or judicial-administration purposes. Evidence excerpt: A trial judge may authorize ... the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### broadcast recording photography Scope: statewide Louisiana judges generally prohibit broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing courtroom proceedings unless a Canon 3A(9) exception applies. Evidence excerpt: a judge shall prohibit broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### appellate extended media coverage Scope: statewide Louisiana appellate courts may permit extended media coverage in public appellate proceedings, subject to the authority of the court and presiding judge or panel. Evidence excerpt: An appellate court may permit broadcasting, televising, recording, and taking photographs of public judicial proceedings [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/brenda-bedsole-ricks/) - [Official roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/brenda-bedsole-ricks/) - [Louisiana Judiciary public directory official judicial roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/brenda-bedsole-ricks/) - [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brenda-bedsole-ricks-judge-louisiana-21st-judicial-district-court-division-e-la) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://nebula.wsimg.com/cd3ace9e72e94356b01b4755bf4f7dd3?AccessKeyId=FBE749F7FA21F7640867&disposition=0&alloworigin=1) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://www.Ballotready.Org/people/brenda-bedsole-ricks) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brenda-bedsole-ricks-judge-louisiana-21st-judicial-district-court-division-e-la", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brenda-bedsole-ricks-judge-louisiana-21st-judicial-district-court-division-e-la", "name": "Brenda Bedsole Ricks | KnowJudges", "description": "Brenda Bedsole Ricks, Louisiana 21st Judicial District Court. 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Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC). Collected 2026-07-26.