--- title: "Rebecca F. Doherty | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rebecca-f-doherty-888" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Rebecca F. Doherty U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana - State: Louisiana - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 1991-present - Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana - 2017 to 2020 - The first woman appointed as a federal judge in that district and was among the youngest to take the federal bench at the time She assumed senior status on June 5, 2017, and retired on May 1, 2020 - Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana - 1991 to 2017 ### Education - Louisiana State University Law Center — Law; citing FJC — J.D. (1981) - Northwestern State University — citing FJC — B.A. (1973) ### Additional information - Federal Vacancy Count 6/28/2017 - On June 27, 1991, she was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to a newly created seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. - Nominated by President George H.W. Bush on June 27, 1991 to new seat created by 104 Stat. - 5089; confirmed Oct 31, 1991; commission Nov 5, 1991. - Private practice, Lafayette, LA, 1981-1991 - Private practice — Lafayette, Louisiana - 1981 to 1991 - She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1973 and a Master of Arts in 1975 from Northwestern State University of Louisiana, followed by a Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1981, where she graduated at the top of her class Before joining the federal bench, Doherty practiced law privately in Lafayette, Louisiana, from 1981 to 1991. - Date of birth: 1952-01-01 - Succeeded by Robert R. Summerhays. - Birth place: Fort Worth, TX ## 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.courtlistener.com/person/888/rebecca-f-doherty/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/888/rebecca-f-doherty/) - [U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/888/rebecca-f-doherty/) - [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/888/rebecca-f-doherty/) - [Doherty, Rebecca F. | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/doherty-rebecca-f) - [Wikidata: Rebecca F. Doherty](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7301734) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://www.fjc.gov/node/888) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_F._Doherty) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/district-court-contacts) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Federal_Vacancy_Count_6/28/2017&) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://ballotpedia.org/Rebecca_F._Doherty) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/888/rebecca-f-doherty/) - [Doherty, Rebecca F. | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/doherty-rebecca-f) - [Wikidata: Rebecca F. Doherty](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7301734) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rebecca-f-doherty-888", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rebecca-f-doherty-888", "name": "Rebecca F. Doherty | KnowJudges", "description": "Rebecca F. Doherty, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rebecca-f-doherty-888#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rebecca-f-doherty-888#judge", "name": "Rebecca F. 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