Since 1991, Madeline Jasmine has served as a judge in the 40th Judicial District Court of the State of Louisiana. She was the first African-American elected to the position. Chief Judge Jasmine retired in December, 2020. She was also the first African-American appointed as an Assistant District Attorney in the 29th and 40th Judicial Districts. Her legal career path also includes working for the New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation and she also worked in private practice.
Judge Jasmine earned a bachelor’s degree from Dillard University of New Orleans where she graduated magna cum laude. Thereafter, she earned her juris doctorate from Loyola University School of Law, also in New Orleans. At Dillard University, she was inducted into the Beta Gamma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Her civic and professional affiliations include membership in the National, American and Louisiana Bar Associations. She also holds or has held membership in the NBA’s Judicial Council, the Louisiana Judicial Council of the NBA, the 40th Judicial District Bar Association, the Fourth and Fifth Circuit Judges Association, the Fifth Circuit, American Judges Association, National Association of Juvenile Judges, National Association of Women Judges, the Louis A. Martinet Society and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Judge Jasmine is an active member of West St. John Civic Association.
She is the recipient of several awards and honors, including the Ernest N. Morial Judicial Pacesetter Award. Active in her community, she is a founding member of St. John Alliance for Progress. She is credited with establishing the 40th Judicial District Drug Court Program. In 2008, Judge Jasmine was appointed Judge Pro Tempore to the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal for nine months. In 2012, Judge Jasmine received the A. Leon Higginbotham Award from the National Bar Association Judicial Council. She served as chair of the Louisiana Judicial Council/NBA from 2014-2016.
Judge Jasmine is married to Eric Bourgeois, and is the mother of Prentiss and Denarold Anderson, and Eric Bourgeois, Jr. She is an active member of New Jerusalem Baptist church, where she serves as president of the Mass Choir.
Chief Judge: 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020