--- title: "Nghana Lewis | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nghana-lewis-judge-louisiana-40th-judicial-district-court-section-1-division-b-la" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Nghana Lewis Louisiana 40th Judicial District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Louisiana 40th 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 - The Division B judge for the 40th Judicial District Court in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, serving since January 1, 2021 - In 2022, she created the Political Economy and Access to Justice Judicial Education Seminar (PEAJJES) to equip judges with academic frameworks for justice system reform - 40th Judicial District Court, Division B, Louisiana (St. John the Baptist Parish) — District Judge (from 2021; end not specified) - Nghana Lewis Gauff, LLC — Attorney (Sole Practitioner) (2008–2021) - Tulane University - English and Africana Studies — Associate Professor (tenured) (from 2005; end not specified) - Louisiana State University, Department of English — Assistant Professor (2001–2005) - 40th Judicial District Court, Division B (Judge Mary Hotard Becnel) — Law Clerk (dates not specified) - She has also maintained a private law practice in criminal defense, employment/labor law, and civil rights - Her research and teaching focus on Black literary and cultural studies, Black women’s health, hip hop culture, and criminal justice reform ### Education - PhD — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — 2001 — English (American literature since 1800) - Tulane University — English; magna cum laude — B.A. (1994) - MJud — Duke University School of Law — Judicial Studies - MA — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — English - Loyola University New Orleans College of Law — Law — J.D. ### Additional information - In progress, began 2023 - In 2021, Lewis launched The Literacy Clinic, a court-based program providing literacy education for adults and youth in Louisiana’s criminal and juvenile systems. - Elected on November 4, 2020, and assumed office on January 1, 2021. - St. John the Baptist Parish — Public Defender (dates not specified). - She is also pursuing a Master of Judicial Studies at Duke University School of Law - Before joining the bench, Lewis was a tenured associate professor in English and Africana Studies at Tulane University, with additional affiliations in Tulane’s School of Law and Department of Psychology. ## 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/nghana-lewis/) - [Official roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/nghana-lewis/) - [Louisiana Judiciary public directory official judicial roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/nghana-lewis/) - [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) - [Wikidata: Nghana Lewis](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123761919) - [LA Batch 11 supplied biography research source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nghana_Lewis) - [Wikidata: Nghana Lewis](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123761919) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nghana-lewis-judge-louisiana-40th-judicial-district-court-section-1-division-b-la", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/nghana-lewis-judge-louisiana-40th-judicial-district-court-section-1-division-b-la", "name": "Nghana Lewis | KnowJudges", "description": "Nghana Lewis, Louisiana 40th 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.