The Opelousas Imperial Mardi Gras Association is pleased to announce who will reign over our 2023 Mardi Gras Festivities as Queen Lily IV, Judge Ledricka Johnson Thierry.
After seventeen years of practicing law, Honorable Judge Ledricka Johnson Thierry was elected on November 8, 2022 as Appellate Court Judge, having taken the oath of office, and sworn in by Louisiana Supreme Justice James “Jimmy” Genovese, on January 1, 2023 at 12:01 AM. A native of Lebeau, LA, Judge Thierry graduated from North Central High School. Judge Thierry received her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, with a concentration in English, from Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA, and in 2003, she acquired her Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center. Always exhibiting great qualities of leadership and professionalism, by the age of 24 she was admitted to practice law in the State of Louisiana, and in 2004, she opened her law office, in which she has practiced Personal Injury, Family Law, and Criminal Law. In her law practice, she also served as one of the attorneys for the St. Landry Parish Indigent Board.
Her long history of public service has included serving 6 years in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2009 to 2016. The first woman ever elected to serve as a State Representative for District 40. While in the Legislature, she served as the Vice Chair of House Insurance, and served on the Appropriations/Budget Committee, Criminal Justice Committee, and Legislative Audit Advisory Council. She was also the only legislator to be appointed by the governor to the Louisiana Healthcare Council.
The same year she was elected to the Louisiana Legislature, she started her independent insurance agency, selling personal and commercial lines of insurance – property, casualty, health, and life insurance. Earlier, through partnership with the IRS, Judge Thierry established a free tax preparation service for the residents of St. Landry Parish. Since its inception in 2005, over five million dollars has been returned to the local community in tax refunds. For her 15 years of successful free-tax service, serving in the capacity of site coordinator, she has received honors, including a public service award from the U.S. Department of Treasury.
In 2016, inspired by her 10-year-old daughter Madison, who has autism, Judge Thierry opened her third business, Madison Health Center, which helps children ages 5 to 17 with mental health challenges.
In 2020, Judge Thierry made history once again when she was elected as the first woman to serve as District Judge in St. Landry Parish.
When she is not in the courtroom in her official capacity, Judge Thierry does public speaking and presentations, as she is frequently asked to speak on financial literacy, asset building, and numerous other topics, offering her unique motivational perspective based on her abundance of knowledge, experience, and public service.
For all her good works as an attorney and legislator, Judge Thierry has received numerous awards; including being featured on CNN News. Judge Thierry also contributes, either financially or in services, to many organizations; and she is also an active member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church. Judge Thierry is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, Louisiana District Judges Association, and the Louisiana Judicial Council/NBA. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.
Judge Thierry is married to Travis Thierry and they have three children: Madison, Carter, and Liam.
Queen Lily IV would like to invite everyone to our Fourth Opelousas Imperial Mardi Gras Ball, February 4, 2023, as “Imperial Goes To The Movies”. Individual Tickets, Tables, and Sponsorships can be purchased by contacting Robbie Sebastien at (337) 948-4367. Limited space available.
