--- title: "Kimya Holmes | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kimya-holmes-judge-louisiana-42nd-judicial-district-court-criminal-court-section-d-la" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Kimya Holmes Louisiana 42nd Judicial District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Louisiana 42nd 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 - Seeking re-election in 2026 for her Section D seat, facing a contest against fellow judge Simone Levine following a reduction in the number of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court judges from twelve to nine. - Senior Staff Attorney · Capital Defense Project of Louisiana · 2020 - Criminal Defense Attorney / Staff Attorney · Capital Defense Project of Louisiana / Capital Defender Project of Southern Louisiana / Southeast Louisiana Capital Defense Project · 2020 - Ad Hoc Judge · Orleans Parish Criminal District Court · Served as ad hoc judge prior to election per Big Easy Magazine 2020 overview lines 81-83 - Prosecutor · District Attorney's Office (Orleans Parish) - Holmes later held the role of a senior staff attorney with the Capital Defense Project of Southeast Louisiana - She has also served on the Federal Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Eastern District of Louisiana and taught at the National College for Capital Voir Dire ### Education - Southern University Law Center in, after completing her undergraduate degree at the University of New Orleans — J.D. (2000) - Bachelor's — University of New Orleans — - 'Holmes received her undergraduate degree from the University of New Orleans' lines 151-153 - J.D. — Southern University Law Center — Law; - 'J.D. from the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge' lines 153-155 ### Additional information - Since taking the bench, she has presided over more than 100 jury trials, including more criminal jury trials than any other judge in Louisiana in 2024 and 2025. - Judge, Section D · Orleans Parish Criminal District Court · 2021-01-01 · 2026-12-31 · Assumed office Jan 1 2021 per lines 6-7; term ends Dec 31 2026; won Nov 3 2020 primary 60.7% vs Graham Bosworth per lines 69-89 - Her first term has been noted for a demanding caseload, measured rulings, and active engagement in the community, including founding the Krewe of Themis and serving as Queen of the Krewe of Freret in 2024 - Elected to the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court in 2020 and assumed office on January 1, 2021. - Judge Kimya Holmes graduated from Eleanor McMain Magnet School in 1992 - representing indigent clients facing first-degree murder charges and qualifying as First Chair in capital cases. - Judge Holmes has faced public scrutiny regarding a property transfer from her then-fiancé, accountant Arthur Allen, who pleaded guilty to federal COVID-relief fraud. - She presides over Section D, which includes a high-risk, high-need Drug Court program and maintains one of the lowest jail populations in the court. - She is active in civic and professional organizations, including the Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans Bar Association, and the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters. ## 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/kimya-holmes/) - [Official roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/kimya-holmes/) - [Louisiana Judiciary public directory official judicial roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/kimya-holmes/) - [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/kimya-holmes-judge-louisiana-42nd-judicial-district-court-criminal-court-section-d-la) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kimya-holmes-judge-louisiana-42nd-judicial-district-court-criminal-court-section-d-la", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kimya-holmes-judge-louisiana-42nd-judicial-district-court-criminal-court-section-d-la", "name": "Kimya Holmes | KnowJudges", "description": "Kimya Holmes, Louisiana 42nd 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.