Background

Judge Vanessa Harris is a native of Washington, Louisiana.  She received a B.S. in Computer Science from Southern University in 1985, and a J.D. from Southern University Law Center in 1988.  She has been in private practice with Harris & Harris Law Firm since 1988.  She served as an Assistant District Attorney in St. Landry Parish from 1988-2008.  She took office as Opelousas City Judge on January 1, 2009 and retired in 2020.  She is married to Senic M. Batiste and has three daughters, Halli, Harlie and Hydi Kennerson.

Affiliations and Community Involvement

St. Landry Parish Bar Association
Louisiana State Bar Association
Louisiana Judicial College
Louisiana Judicial Council – National Bar Association
Third Circuit Judges Association
Opelousas Rotary Club