Term Ends: 2026
Party: D
The Honorable Gail Horne Ray took the oath of office for the Division G seat of the 19th Judicial District Court on January 12, 2023. She presides over Criminal Section II.
Judge Ray received her elementary and secondary education in the Birmingham, Alabama public schools system. She later attended the University of Alabama where she graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. While at the University, Judge Ray was the Charter President of the Lambda Zeta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Judge Ray later earned the Juris Doctorate from LSU’s Law Center in 1977 and was admitted to the Louisiana Bar on April 28, 1978.
As an attorney, Judge Ray practiced law for over 44 years. She is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Louis A. Martinet Society and the Baton Rouge Bar Association. She is also a former Professor at the Southern University Law Center, a former Assistant Public Defender and a former member of the East Baton Rouge Public Defender Board.
Prior to being elected District Court Judge, Judge Ray was elected to two terms on the Democratic State Central Committee.
Judge Ray’s service to the community is illustrated by her work with the Southern University 6th Man Club, the J. K. Haynes Charter School Board, the Baton Rouge Delta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, the Urban Elders and the NAACP (Silver Life Member). For her service, Judge Ray has received the Justice for Youth Award from the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana and the President’s Award from the Baton Rouge NAACP. The Judge is a member of the Allen Chapel AME Church.