---
title: "Vanessa Guidry-Whipple | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/vanessa-guidry-whipple-7400"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Vanessa Guidry-Whipple

Louisiana Court of Appeal · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
- State: Louisiana
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1992-present
- Vanessa Guidry‐Whipple was the first woman elected to Louisiana’s 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, later becoming its first female Chief Judge, and retired in 2022 after 31 years of service
- Circuit Judge · First Circuit Court of Appeal · 1st District Div D · 1990 · 2022 · Chief Judge Jan 9 2013-2022
- She made history in 2013 as the first woman to serve as Chief Judge of the court

### Education

- Loyola University New Orleans College of Law — J.D. (1980)
- Guidry‐Whipple earned her B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans in 1980.
- B.A. — University of Louisiana at Lafayette

### Additional information

- Guidry‐Whipple did not seek re‐election in 2022 and retired when her term ended on December 31, 2022.
- Elections 2022 Vanessa Guidry-Whipple did not file to run for re-election.
- 2012 Guidry-Whipple was re-elected in 2012
- Before her judicial appointment, she practiced civil law for a decade, including as in‐house counsel for Antill Pipeline Co., and chaired the statewide Committee to Revise the Uniform Rules of the Louisiana Courts of Appeal in 1994
- Guidry‐Whipple was first elected to the Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in 1990
- First elected to the court in 1990 and was the first woman to serve on the court.
- Private practice · Houma with husband Keith Whipple · 1980 · 1990
- representing the 1st District.
- In her farewell, she thanked the citizens of the parishes in the First Circuit for their trust and for the opportunity to serve for 31 years
- Beyond the bench, she served on the Louisiana Judiciary Commission for two terms, chaired the committee, and was an ad hoc justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court.
- She also contributed to national judicial leadership roles, including the National Conference of Chief Judges of State Courts of Appeal and the National Association of Women Judges
- She was active in Loyola’s Moot Court Board and Appellate Advocacy Honors Program, and was inducted into the Blue Key National Honor Society

## 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/7400/vanessa-guidry-whipple/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7400/vanessa-guidry-whipple/)
- [Louisiana Court of Appeal current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7400/vanessa-guidry-whipple/)
- [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/7400/vanessa-guidry-whipple/)
- [Vanessa Guidry-Whipple - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Vanessa_Guidry-Whipple)

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