--- title: "Valerie Gotch Garrett | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-gotch-garrett-judge-louisiana-15th-judicial-district-court-section-1-division-b-la" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Valerie Gotch Garrett Louisiana 15th Judicial District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Louisiana 15th 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 - Judge, Louisiana 15th Judicial District Court - 2020 to 2026 - Attorney / Solo Practitioner — Valerie Gotch Garrett, A Professional Law Corporation - Lafayette, LA - Public Defender — 15th Judicial District - Federal Public Defender — Federal Public Defender Office - handled capital, felony, juvenile, and misdemeanor cases - District Judge for Division B of the 15th Judicial District Court of Louisiana, serving Lafayette, Acadia, and Vermilion Parishes on a rotating basis ### Education - Bachelor's — University of Southwest Louisiana — upper elementary education and public relations & interpersonal communication - Southern University Law Center — Law — J.D. ### Additional information - Term Ends 2026. - Unsuccessful candidate for Louisiana 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal 3rd District in 2022 primary (32.8% - 8,411 votes) losing to Ledricka Johnson Thierry (67.2%). - Elected to bench in 2020. - Unsuccessful candidate for 15th Judicial District in 2014 primary (23.7% vs Mark Allen Babineaux and Michelle Meaux Breaux). - Lafayette Airport Commissioner — Lafayette Airport Commission - Judge Garrett has over 27 years of legal practice in Acadiana - Party D. - Lafayette Parish seat. - Oversees veterans-focused drug court (per Acadiana News First) and Division B Adult Therapeutic Drug Court F.I.S.T. (Focused Intervention through Sanctions and Treatment). - handling criminal defense, family law, personal injury, and general practice areas ## 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/valerie-gotch-garrett/) - [Official roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/valerie-gotch-garrett/) - [Louisiana Judiciary public directory official judicial roster](https://www.louisianajudiciary.com/judges/valerie-gotch-garrett/) - [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/valerie-gotch-garrett-judge-louisiana-15th-judicial-district-court-section-1-division-b-la) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://ballotpedia.org/Valerie_Gotch_Garrett) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://fifteenthjdc.squarespace.com/s/ReportByJDCId) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-gotch-garrett-judge-louisiana-15th-judicial-district-court-section-1-division-b-la", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-gotch-garrett-judge-louisiana-15th-judicial-district-court-section-1-division-b-la", "name": "Valerie Gotch Garrett | KnowJudges", "description": "Valerie Gotch Garrett, Louisiana 15th 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.