Incumbent Judge Camille Buras, a Democrat, who has been on the bench for over 20 years has drawn a challenger for her Section H seat at Orleans Parish Criminal Court.
Judge Leon Roche, currently the judge presiding over Section I, is running against her.
The state legislature eliminated three seats at Orleans Parish Criminal Court during the 2026 Legislative Session, shrinking the court from 12 judges down to nine.
Roche’s seat was spared in the cuts, but he is giving up the Section I seat to run for Section H against the longest serving judge on the bench in Buras.
Roche also presided over the grand jury that indicted Attorney General Liz Murrill over the summer.
That indictment has since been dismissed.
Both judges attended the WDSUJ Hot Seat debate.
READ MORE:Judge Camille Buras & Judge Leon Roche talk court funding, Murrill indictment during WDSU Hot Seat
