Success message
Error message
When Angel Harris first ran for Section L in 2020, she asked Orleans Parish to reimagine what Criminal District Court could look like. Her first term created the opportunity to begin translating that vision into the daily work of the courtroom through the fair administration of justice, careful consideration of the law, and consistent attention to the dignity of the people who appear before the court.
That work has also extended into the development of stronger reentry supports, collaboration with community partners and institutions, continued judicial education, and participation in broader conversations about person-centered approaches to the law. Judge Harris co-founded Rise After Release, a reentry program developed to support people returning home following resentencing related to nonunanimous jury convictions, and her judicial approach has received national recognition through opportunities to share her work with other judges and legal professionals.
Judge Harris presides over Section L with a commitment to fairness, careful consideration of the law, and impartiality. Judge Harris is a judge who treats everyone—defendants, victims, attorneys, and court staff—with dignity and respect.
Judge Harris’ years of criminal law experience, from public defense to civil rights advocacy, inform her judicial decisions and commitment to justice. Judge Harris’ intellectual curiosity ensures that she avails herself to the latest trainings and legal theories.
Judge Harris is the Co-Founder of the Rise After Release Reentry Program. Judge Harris upholds the highest standards of judicial conduct and ethics. She serves with professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to the fair administration of justice.
Judge Harris is committed to the promise that brought her to the bench: reimagining the criminal court system in ways that advance fairness, transparency, and justice. Judge Harris has been nationally recognized for her innovative judicial approach.
Judge Harris embraces a judicial philosophy centered on dignity, collaboration, and practical solutions. Listen as Judge Harris discusses one of the inspirations behind her judicial philosophy.
During her time on the bench, Angel has been nationally recognized for her innovative judicial approach. In 2024, Angel was invited to lead a training at the Reimagining the Norm: A Peer Convening for Judicial Changemakers conference due to the “person-centered” lens she employs from the bench.
The convening hosted by DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance brought judges from all over the country together to discuss therapeutic jurisprudence and build community. Judge Harris is also the Co-Founder of Rise After Release, a re-entry program created to address the resentencing of individuals convicted through nonunanimous jury verdicts. RAR is the first reentry program in the country to combine clinical support as well as peer navigators for its participants.