On this page
Judicial Elections
Louisiana Supreme Court Elections 2026
Louisiana Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan elections to 10-year terms and must run again to keep their seats.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Louisiana?
- Highest court
- Louisiana Supreme Court — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Partisan election
- Voters
- Voters elect justices
- Term
- 10 years
- To serve again
- Run for re-election
- 2026 ballot
- 3 seats, decided May 16, 2026
How Louisiana chooses its judges
Louisiana Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan elections to 10-year terms and must run again to keep their seats.
- Seats: 7 justices on the Louisiana Supreme Court.
- Term: 10 years.
- To serve again: Run for re-election.
- Age rule: Must be under 70 when elected.
- Districts: justices are elected from regions of the state, not statewide.
- Other courts: All courts use partisan elections.
Justices represent seven districts. Beginning in 2026, supreme court candidates run in closed party primaries.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Louisiana Supreme Court elections in 2026
Louisiana decided its 3 seats on May 16, 2026, so no Louisiana Supreme Court race is on the November ballot.
1st District (special election)
Decided- William H. Burris (winner)RepublicanWon
- Blair Downing EdwardsRepublican
Decided in the May 16 Republican primary; no other party fielded a candidate.
3rd District
Decided- Cade Cole (winner)IncumbentRepublicanWon
4th District
Decided- Jay B. McCallum (winner)IncumbentRepublicanWon
All three seats were settled before November, so no supreme court race appears on the November 3 ballot.
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia.
How to research judges on your Louisiana ballot
- Your sample ballot: Louisiana’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Louisiana — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Louisiana
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Louisiana’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Louisiana’s senators: John Kennedy (Republican) and Bill Cassidy (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
District judges for courts in Louisiana and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
- Eastern District of Louisiana: seat of Lance M. Africk (senior, Oct 1, 2024) — nominee Peter M. Mansfield, nominated Sep 14, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Louisiana?
Louisiana Supreme Court justices are chosen in partisan elections to 10-year terms and must run again to keep their seats. All courts use partisan elections.
How long is a term on the Louisiana Supreme Court?
10 years. At the end of a term, they must run again to keep their seats. Must be under 70 when elected.
Who is running for the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2026?
Louisiana's 3 seats were decided on May 16, 2026: William H. Burris, Cade Cole, Jay B. McCallum.
How do I research judges on my Louisiana ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://www.sos.la.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Louisiana?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Louisiana's senators, John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state. The Senate confirmed 2 judges tied to Louisiana by recorded vote in 2026.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Louisiana
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Louisiana Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.