JUDGE CYNTHIA CLAY GUILLORY took the bench on January 4, 2021.  A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana she is married to Brad” Sly” Guillory, they have one son Jeremiah Guillory and God-daughter Megan Higginbotham.  She attended Xavier University of New Orleans where she received her Bachelor of Art Degree in Political Science-Science – 1976.  She then attended McNeese State University receiving her Master of Arts Degree in Social Science-Psychology – 1978.  Thereafter she received her Juris Doctorate Degree from Southern University School of Law, now Southern University Law Center – 1982, and later received her Theology Degree from Life Christian University.

Judge Guillory’s professional career began as a Paralegal for Drost & Savoie Law Firm.  In 1983 she opened her Private Law Office concentrating in the areas of Personal Injury, Successions, Divorces, Custody and Child Support Cases.  She was hired by the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office in 1985 and moved through the ranks as an Assistant District Attorney in the Misdemeanor, Felony, Severe Child Abuse, and Juvenile Divisions.  She served for several years as the Supervisor of the Child Support Division, leaving that position to begin working at the Louisiana District Attorneys Association in 1997 as the IV-D Coordinator.  She was instrumental in advising legislators regarding       re-writing the Child Support Guidelines, as well as laws affecting children and families both on the state and national levels. She further negotiated the Child Support Budgets and Contracts for the 40 DA’s and the Department of Social Services-Support Enforcement Services.

Judge Guillory BECAME the FIRST for the THIRD TIME on November 3, 2020, as the first African American Juvenile and Family Court Judge in the newly created Division J of the 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, Lake Charles, LA.   As a former Assistant District Attorney for over 37 years with the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office, she was the first African American Female to serve as President of the Assistant District Attorney Board of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the first African American hired as the IV-D Coordinator for the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.  She recently received the Top Ladies of Distinction 2021 Community Award.

Her successes are rooted in Jeremiah 29:11 – GOD has a specific plan and a purpose for each of our lives. Her mother, Evelyn Bellow, had always stressed to her the importance of love of GOD, people, education and a strong work ethic. Those principles have remained firm with her throughout her entire life. Having achieved her lifelong goal of being a Judge, she gives back by sharing time with her church, The Father’s House, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., St. Thomas More Society, Board of Directors of the Education & Training Center, President Xavier University of Louisiana Lake Charles Alumni Chapter, Member Southern University Alumni Chapter, Southwest Bar Association, Louis A. Martinet Society and with many other local, state and national service organizations. Through Faith in GOD, her Season has arrived, (Galatians 6:9)” … And let us not be wearing in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”