On Wednesday of this week, Justice William H. Burris took the oath of office as Associate Justice of the First Supreme Court District, Louisiana Supreme Court.
The First Judicial District includes portions of Orleans, Livingston, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Washington, and Tangipahoa Parishes.
A native of Franklinton, Justice Burris earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a juris doctor degree, magna cum laude, from Southern University Law Center. He was elected in the May 16 Republican primary, defeating Court of Appeals Judge Blair Edwards of Amite. No Democrat sought the judgeship, so Justice Burris was automatically elected.
Justice Burris has served in the House of Delegates for the Louisiana Bar Association. He was an Executive Board member of the Louisiana District Judges Association and has served as chair of the LDJA/DOC Joint Committee. He also served as President of the Franklinton Chamber of Commerce. Justice Burris, a graduate of Franklinton High School, is an ordained deacon at First Baptist Church in Franklinton.
He is married to Lacy Caine Burris, and they are the proud parents of two children. He succeeds former Associate Justice William J. Crain, who retired effective December 2025 after being appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Crain, like Burris, is a Washington Parish native.
First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Allison H. Penzato, who served as Supreme Court Justice pro tempore since December 2025, has returned to full service at the First Circuit Court of Appeal.
