Keith Gates at a glance
- Current role
- City or Parish Court Judge
- Court
- Winnfield City Court
- Current assignment
- Winnfield City Court
- Jurisdiction
- Louisiana · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Keith Gates
City or Parish Court Judge · Winnfield City Court
Biography
Professional career
- He also co-founded the Cause of Action Institute in Washington, D.C., litigating before federal agencies and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Since 2021, Gates has held the role of Judge of the Winnfield City Court, presiding over civil, misdemeanor, and juvenile cases.
- Law Clerk at Louisiana Supreme Court
- Private Practice Attorney at Gates Law Firm
- Early in his career, he clerked for Justice Jeffrey P. Victory at the Louisiana Supreme Court and practiced law in Lafayette
Education
- Louisiana State University — J.D. and B.C.L., 2007
- Northwestern State University — B.S., Business Administration, 2004
Additional information
- City Attorney at City of Winnfield (until 2020).
- City Prosecutor at City of Winnfield (2014-2020).
- Keith Gates, born in 1982 in Natchitoches, Louisiana, is a highly accomplished legal professional and public servant.
- Co-Founder and Senior Attorney at Cause of Action.
- Recognized for fiscal responsibility, operating within budget constraints, and emphasizes transparency and community engagement in his judicial and legal work In addition to his judicial role, Gates teaches law courses at Northwestern State University in the Pre-Law Program, sharing his expertise with aspiring legal professionals.
- handling civil litigation including personal injury and wrongful death cases.
- His judicial duties include conducting arraignments, pleas, trials, sentencing, probation reviews, and acting as committing magistrate in felony cases.
- He is also deeply involved in Masonic leadership, holding statewide offices, including Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, and has received the 33° in Freemasonry.
- Graduated magna cum laude.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Exhibits
Statewide
Louisiana trial judges may authorize electronic or photographic means for presenting evidence, preserving the record, counsel use, or judicial-administration purposes.
A trial judge may authorize ... the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidenceLouisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9) ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Louisiana judges generally prohibit broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing courtroom proceedings unless a Canon 3A(9) exception applies.
a judge shall prohibit broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroomLouisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9) ↗
Appellate Extended Media Coverage
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.
An appellate court may permit broadcasting, televising, recording, and taking photographs of public judicial proceedingsLouisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9) ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)
Winnfield City Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. 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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 29, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 29, 2026.
Louisiana Supreme Court official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 29, 2026
View Louisiana Supreme Court official judicial roster ↗Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9) ↗LA Batch 12 supplied biography research source
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 3, 2026
View LA Batch 12 supplied biography research source ↗LA Batch 12 supplied biography research source
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 3, 2026
View LA Batch 12 supplied biography research source ↗