Judge Jennifer M. Medley is a graduate of McDonogh 35 Sr. High School, Xavier University of Louisiana and Southern University Law Center.  She began law practice in October of 2002 representing plaintiffs in class action and mass tort litigation arising from injuries sustained from toxic mold exposure and pharmaceutical drugs.  She has represented individuals, corporations and government entities in various types of litigation.  From 2004 through 2009, she served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Louisiana, where she defended state agencies and employees in claims involving road hazard/highway design defects, 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and 1983 actions, constitutional claims, premises and general/commercial liability claims. Ms. Medley has extensive litigation experience, having practiced in both federal and state courts in Louisiana and in Washington, D.C.  From September of 2017 until October of 2020, she served as General Counsel to DePaul Community Health Centers advising the organization on matters of state and federal regulatory compliance.  This was critical once the organization had to make overnight changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  She sat as a Judge Ad Hoc in the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court from August of 2014 until May of 2019, when she had to begin preparing to run for the seat she has been elected to.

Judge Medley is certified in the management and procurement of major commercial and federal government contracts.  She regularly offered strategic advice in litigation involving highway design, building design and construction defects.  She has represented other government entities such as the Regional Transit Authority in their civil litigation, Guste Homes, Inc. and high profile federal criminal clients (USA v. Rufus Johnson, USA v. Natalie Barton, Eastern District of Louisiana).

Judge Medley is a member of the Federal Bar Association, St. Thomas More Inn of Court, National Contract Management Association, the Health Care Compliance Association and the American Bar Association.  She served two consecutive (2) terms as a member of the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee, is a Fellow of the Loyola Institute of Politics, a former Commissioner of the Kenilworth Improvement District, and served on the Board of Directors for the City of New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor Management Corporation.

Honors and Achievements

In January of 2010, the Supreme Court for the State of Louisiana appointed Judge Medley to serve as an Assistant Bar Examiner for Code I of the Louisiana State Bar Examination.  This appointment ended at the end of 2019.

In the fall of 2011, Judge Medley was appointed to serve as a Council Member for the Louisiana State Law Institute (LSLI).  This appointment is from 2011-2013.  Judge Medley’s appointment to the LSLI coincided with her seat on the Legislation Committee for the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Judge Medley continues to serve young people through involvement in the Jet Life Grind Academy.  Her commitment to the community and youth of the city will continue while on the civil bench.

On November 3, 2020, Judge Medley earned the opportunity to serve the community upon receiving 53% of the vote for the Division F seat at Orleans Civil District Court.

Judge Medley is the proud mother of her 6 year old daughter, Riley.