Chief Judge Sylvia R. Cooks

Office: P.O. Box 566
Ville Platte, LA. 70586
Phone: (337) 363-5629
Fax: (337) 363-5186

Biographical Data:
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Date of Birth: June 4, 1943
Spouse: Susan Manuel
Children: 3, Grandchildren: 9, Great Grandchildren: 2

Career / Education:
Judge, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal (1992 to date)
Louisiana State Senator, District 28 (1975 to 1992)
- Chair, Judiciary C Committee
- Insurance and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committees
Attorney, Saunders & Vidrine (1984 to 1990) – General Practice
LSU Law School – 1968, J.D.
Louisiana State University – 1965, B.A.
Sacred Heart High School (Ville Platte) – 1961

Professional, Civic and Business Affiliations:
Louisiana Commission on Criminal Justice
Louisiana State and Evangeline Parish Bar Associations
Sentencing Commission / Jaycees, Past Vice President
Louisiana Association of Educators’ President’s
- Special Recognition Award – 1989
Louisiana State University Alumni Association, Past Secretary
Mamou Youth, Inc., Past Vice President

Professional Activities:
Frequent lecturer at CLE Programs on professionalism, ethics and
Third Circuit Jurisprudence

Hobby/Personal/Publications:
Frequent contributor to Bonnes Nouvelles Magazine
Titles Include: 1 – Cotton Festival – Early Days (October 2012 issue) of Buggy Tracks

Judge Elizabeth A. Pickett

Judge Ezell was born. reared, and educated in Greenville, Mississippi. He is married to Bernell Marie Thibodeaux Ezell and is the father of Bart, Britt and Brookes and has three step-children, Christie, Jean-Paul, and Natalie. He is the grandfather of three and step-grandfather of four.

Judge Ezell graduated from Greenville High School in 1961. He received a Bachelor's degree in marketing and management from LSU in 1965, where he was a Captain and Quarterback of the LSU Tigers Football team and a member of the baseball team 1964-1965. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and a member of the LSU ROTC Program. He received his juris doctorate from LSU. Upon graduating from Law School, he entered active duty with the United States Army and while serving, obtained the rank of Captain. After officer basic course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1970, he served nine months in Vietnam before his discharge in 1971. His military awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star, and the Republic Of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Dev Rifle M-16 (Exp). He received the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces in the fall of 1970.

Upon return to the United States, he was stationed at Fort Polk for four months. After his discharge, he began his practice of law in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with the firm of Camp, Carmouche, and after two years, practiced with the firm of McHale and Bufkin. While with the firm of McHale and Bufkin, he was the city prosecutor for the City of Lake Charles. In 1975, the firm of Levingston, Liles, Ezell and Tynes was formed and he engaged in the general practice of law until his election as the first Family and Juvenile Judge for the Fourteenth Judicial District Court JDC in Calcasieu Parish, where he served for 18 years. He has served on the Court of Appeal, Third Circuit since 2003.

Judge Ezell is a member of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, Louisiana Bar Association, American Inns of Court, American Bar Association, American Judges Association, VFW, American Legion, and the Knights Of Columbus.

Judge Ezell has served as president of the 3rd Circuit Judges Association, as a member of the Judicial Budgetary Control Board of the State of Louisiana, and President of the Louisiana Family Courts Judges' Association.

Judge Ezell has served as a panelist/speaker/lecturer at many continuing legal education seminars on such topics as Practices and Procedures of the Third Circuit, Court of Appeal and Family Law issues and procedures.

Judge Shannon Gremillion grew up in the birthplace of rock n roll, Ferriday, Louisiana. He received a BBA in finance from the University of Louisiana, Monroe in 1991. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and was named that year’s Most Distinguished Graduate.

He obtained a Juris Doctorate from LSU Law School in 1995. He practiced law as a civil litigator prior to becoming a judge. He was a partner in a Lafayette law firm, and later, he was a partner in an Alexandria law firm. He represented his clients in every court and judicial district within the bounds of the Third Circuit, and indeed, throughout the state of Louisiana.

In 2008 Judge Gremillion became a member of this court. He was elected to replace his father, Judge Glenn B. Gremillion. He is one of three judges who are elected from the northern-most 8 parishes of the Third Circuit which include both the parish where he was reared, Concordia, and the parish where he makes his home, Rapides.

Judge Gremillion leaves in Alexandria. He is a member and past president of the Exchange Club of Alexandria, he is a leader in his local Rotary Club, and he is a deacon at Calvary Baptist Church. He speaks regularly to civic, professional, and faith-based groups, and teaches continuing legal education on topics including ethics and recent developments in state law.

He married his wife, Kimberly, in Bossier City in 1994. Kimberly is a biotech professional. They live in Alexandria and have two children. Christian is a student in the honors program at Louisiana Tech where he is a member of PIKE Fraternity, and Anne Marlowe is a student-athlete at Alexandria Senior High where she a leader in student government.

HON. JOHN E. CONERY is a 1970 cum laude graduate of Loyola Law School where he served on the Law Review and as President of the Student Bar Association. He practiced law for almost twenty-five years with a focus on personal injury litigation before taking office as a general jurisdiction District Judge for the Sixteenth Judicial District, Parishes of St. Mary, Iberia and St. Martin, State of Louisiana on January 1, 1995. While on the District Court bench, Judge Conery co-ordinated capital training for Louisiana Judges in co-operation with the National Judicial College, and co-ordinated preparation of the Louisiana Capital Crimes Benchbook. Judge Conery has completed training as a domestic violence faculty co-ordinator and has presented at the state and national level on domestic violence issues. He is Past President of the Louisiana District Judge’s Association and is immediate past President of the American Judges Association. Judge Conery has been a member of the Steering Committee for the Center for Elders and the Courts at the National Center for State Courts since 2005 and is featured in the introduction to the NCSC Elder and the Courts website. He conducted the NCSC pilot program for Elder Abuse Training for Judges at the State and National level. Judge Conery completed the Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute and has been a frequent lecturer on the topics of Professionalism and Ethics for many years, previously serving as Chair of the LSBA Professionalism Committee. Judge Conery is a founding member and First President of The Inn on The Teche, a chapter of the American Inns of Court, and continues to serve as Inn Administrator.

Judge Conery is married to Brooksie B. Conery and has three children, John, Jr., Christine and Kelly, and two step-children, Brent and Dawn. He and Brooksie have twelve grandchildren between them.

Judge Conery now serves as a judge on the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal since election on January 1, 2013.

Judge Kent Savoie is presently serving as a Judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeal. For almost 14 years prior to his election, Judge Savoie served as District Judge on the 14th Judicial District Court. A United States Navy Veteran and former operator at PPG Industries, Judge Savoie served as City Prosecutor and City Attorney for Sulphur, as well as Magistrate of Town of Vinton.

He has been married to Patricia Borel Savoie for 45 years and together they have 5 children and 17 grandchildren, with the 18th due in October, 2018.

Judge Van H. Kyzar

Judge Candyce J. Perret

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 enlisted in the police academy. 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 an 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 scene in pursuit of a Law Degree. During his first year of law school Judge Perry and his wife, Christine, where 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. 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. Judge Perry was the founding and managing attorney of Perry Law Firm, L.L.C. where his law practice concentrated in Estate Planning.

In 2003, Judge Perry entered an additional career field, that of professional 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 a large portion of 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 welcomed home their fourth child, a daughter named Marlee.

In 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 also served as past Chairman and past Vice-Chairman of the Acadiana delegation and was also a member of the Rural Legislative Caucus.

In his personal time, Judge Perry enjoys girls’ softball, cooking, reading and spending time with his family. He is an avid runner having completely 2 full marathons (26.2 miles) and 8 half marathons (13.1 miles) in five different states.

Judge Sharon D. Wilson

Judge Charles G. Fitzgerald is a life-long resident of Lafayette, Louisiana. He is married to Jeanne Fuselier Fitzgerald, and they are the parents of three children: Patrick, John Henry, and Annalise.

Judge Fitzgerald graduated from the Episcopal School of Acadiana in 1992. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Louisiana State University in 1997. While an undergraduate student, he was selected to the Alpha Epsilon Delta premedical honor society and the Beta Beta Beta basic sciences honor society. Judge Fitzgerald attended the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, from which he graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree in 2001. While in law school, he was selected to the Order of the Coif, the highest honor a law student can receive. He was also a member of the Louisiana Law Review.

Judge Fitzgerald was admitted to the Bar of the State of Louisiana in October 2001. Thereafter, he was a founding member of the law firm Cox Fitzgerald, LLC, where his practice focused in the family law area, with an emphasis on complex financial and community partition matters, and litigation in those areas. While in private practice, he was admitted to practice before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana; and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana. He litigated hundreds of cases before numerous state district courts, federal district courts, and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Fitzgerald’s judicial career began when he was elected District Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial District Court, Division M, in November 2014. He served as a district court judge for six years, from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2020. In July 2020, he was elected without opposition to the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal. His service as an appellate judge began on January 1, 2021.

Judge Fitzgerald is a former member of the Federal Bar Association and Federal Appellate Bar Association. He is a current member of the Louisiana State Bar Association; Lafayette Bar Association, including its Paula K. Woodruff Family Law Section; Judges’ Association of the Third Circuit; American Judges Association; Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; the Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society; Louisiana Bar Foundation, as a Judicial Fellow; and the American Inn of Court of Acadiana. Since 2016, he has also been a planning-committee member for Louisiana State University’s annual Family Law Seminar.

Judge Fitzgerald, while in private practice and since taking the bench, has been a frequent presenter at regional, state, and local continuing legal education seminars. He has presented on various legal topics, including ethics, professionalism, business valuations, and evidence. He is a regular guest speaker at the University of Louisiana on topics ranging from forensic accounting to the psychology of parental conflict in custody cases. He is an annual participant in the Judges in Classrooms and Judicial Ride-Along programs. He has hosted numerous educational presentations for students throughout Acadiana, and he regularly participates in the LBA Young Lawyer’s Mock Trial competition for high school students.