Judge Jonathan “JP” Perry was born, raised and still resides in Kaplan, Louisiana. He is a graduate of Kaplan High School and his educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Northeast Louisiana University (currently ULM) in Criminal Justice along with a minor in Sociology. Following the completion of his bachelor’s degree Judge Perry recognized his passion to help others and at the age of 25, he became a police office in his hometown. While attending A.L.E.T.A. (Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy), he was selected Cadet President, in addition to being awarded The John “Dooley” Hardy award - given to the Hardest Working Cadet.
Judge Perry rose to the rank of Sergeant while serving as a F.T.O. (Field Training Officer) and Shift Supervisor for the Kaplan Police Department.
With determination to further his education he returned to the academic arena in pursuit of a Law Degree. During his first year of law school Judge Perry and his wife, Christine, were blessed with twin daughters, Molli and Meredith. During his third year of law school Judge Perry began his public service career at the age of 28 when he was elected as a city councilman in his hometown of Kaplan. Two years after the completion of his Law Degree, Judge Perry and Mrs. Perry welcomed to their lives a son, Major.
Judge Perry has previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for the 15th Judicial District Court. From 2004-2018 Judge Perry was the founding and managing attorney of Perry Law Firm, L.L.C. where his law practice would be considered general in foundation but concentrated in Estate Planning.
In 2003, Judge Perry entered an additional career field, that of professional clean cajun comedy. He is the past “King of the International Cajun Joke Telling Contest”. Judge Perry is referred to as “The Cajun Ambassador”. One of the most sought-after Cajun entertainers in the country, he has been featured on television, magazines and newspapers throughout the United States, in addition to having performed at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and Washington D.C.
In 2007, Judge Perry was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives to serve District 47, where he represented Cameron and Vermilion Parish. While in the House of Representatives Judge Perry served on the House Committee of Ways and Means, the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice and the House Committee of Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.
In October of 2009, Judge Perry and Mrs. Perry were blessed with their fourth child, a daughter named Marlee.
In the spring of 2011 Judge Perry won a special election for State Senate District 26, which covers all or a portion of Acadia, Lafayette, St. Landry and Vermilion Parish. In the fall of 2011 Judge Perry ran for re-election and was unopposed. Judge Perry was again elected without opposition in 2015. During his time in the State Senate he served on Senate committees: Judiciary C (Vice-Chairman), Senate Commerce, Local & Municipal Affairs, and was the Chairman for the Select Committee on Veteran Affairs. Judge Perry served in the State Senate until the end of 2018.
Judge Perry also served as past Chairman and past Vice-Chairman of the Acadiana delegation and was also a member of the Rural Legislative Caucus.
Judge Perry was sworn into the Third Circuit Court of Appeal in January of 2019 after running unopposed for the position.
In the fall of 2020, Judge Perry was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court as a representative of the Appeal Courts, to serve on the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission. The Commission is a standing commission of the Supreme Court, consisting of judges throughout Louisiana from various levels of the judiciary who are charged with identifying technology needs, establishing goals for implementation, devising best practices and suggesting necessary rule changes and steps towards implementation of articulated technology goals for the judiciary.
At the beginning of 2021, Judge Perry was appointed to The Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom initiative. In addition to this new appointment, Judge Perry has spoken to hundreds of students dating back to his time in the legislature where he taught the legislative process as well as most recently “Court in the Classroom.”
In his personal time, Judge Perry enjoys girls’ softball, cooking, reading and spending time with his family. Judge Perry is an avid runner having completed an ultra-marathon of 40 miles, in addition to 3 full marathons (26.2 miles) and 12 half marathons (13.1 miles) in 9 different states and Washington, D.C.