--- title: "Dale N. Atkins | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dale-n-atkins-judge-louisiana-4th-circuit-court-of-appeal-1st-district-division-f-la" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Dale N. Atkins Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal · Judge ## Profile - Court: Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal - 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 - Democratic judge serving on the 1st District, Division F of the Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal, with a term ending December 31, 2031 - Clerk of Civil District Court Orleans Parish — Civil District Court Orleans · start year: 1989 - The first woman to serve as a judge on the Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal - Her official Louisiana Judiciary profile lists her as a Democratic judge in the 1st District, with a registration of 26,864 Republican, 169,382 Democrat, and 67,547 Independent voters in the district ### Education - Southern Methodist University School of Law — Law — J.D. (1983) - Her academic qualifications include her J.D. at Southern Methodist University in 1983, then joined the New Orleans district attorney’s office, advancing to senior trial attorney. - University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame Scholar — B.A. (1980) ### Additional information - Louisiana Judiciary reports a term ending December 31, 2031 and an uncontested 2020 re-election after the elections were canceled. - court: Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal · role: Judge · start date: 2018 · notes: 1st District Division F, Democratic, term ends Dec 31 2031 - Re-election: In 2020, her re-election was decided in a special election after the primary and general election were canceled; she won outright without appearing on the ballot - Election to judgeship: Won a special election on March 24, 2018, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Madeleine M. Landrieu, defeating Robin D. Pittman with 58.34% of the vote - Dale N. Atkins serves on Louisiana’s Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, First District, having assumed office in 2018. - Her academic qualifications include a B.A. at Notre Dame in 1980 as a Notre Dame Scholar and received its Rev. - Listed professional memberships include the Louisiana and American bar associations, Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Louisiana Clerks of Court Association, Society of American Archivists and IACREOT. - A Celebration of Women describes her New Orleans upbringing and Xavier Prep education, and there she received the Mother Katherine Drexel outstanding senior award. - A. Leonard Collins Memorial Award. ## 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/dale-n-atkins/) - [Official roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/dale-n-atkins/) - [Louisiana Judiciary public directory official judicial roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/dale-n-atkins/) - [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/dale-n-atkins-judge-louisiana-4th-circuit-court-of-appeal-1st-district-division-f-la) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://acelebrationofwomenla.com/dale-n-atkins/) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://ballotready.org/people/dale-atkins) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dale-n-atkins-judge-louisiana-4th-circuit-court-of-appeal-1st-district-division-f-la", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dale-n-atkins-judge-louisiana-4th-circuit-court-of-appeal-1st-district-division-f-la", "name": "Dale N. 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