Judge June Berry Darensburg is now the first black woman to serve as a Judicial District Court Chief Judge in the Jefferson parish of New Orleans. She is also the first African American woman to be elected to the district court. Darensburg is the 24th judge of the court and will sit for a two-year term. She will replace Judge John Molaison on the 16-member bench.
June Darensburg graduated from Grace King High School in Metairie in 1980. She received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Xavier in 1985. She started her career as a pharmacist before moving to law, beginning with a position at the public defender’s office. Darensburg is a graduate of Loyola University School of Law.
On April 1, 2006, Judge Darensburg was elected judge to the 24th Judicial District Court, Division C, for Jefferson Parish, becoming the first black woman to hold the honorable position. She was re-elected without opposition for another term.
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Chief judges elected to the District Court aren’t given anything extra in their paychecks for their appointment. They do, however, become the media’s ‘go-to’ for interviews and work closely with law enforcement. One of the court’s major challenges has been when inmates seek reviews of their cases without an attorney.
Judge Darensburg made additional headlines when she recently filed suit against
NGM Insurance Company, Indoor Air Technologies Inc. and Rafael Rosario Jr. in the 24th Judicial District Court on December 11, 2013 for an accident leading to personal injury. Her case includes charges of physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, permanent disability, medical expenses, loss of income, loss of earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, property damage, towing, storage, depreciation, loss of use and rental.
Judge Darensburg is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Jefferson Bar Association, Louis A. Martinet Society, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, National Association of Women Judges, Louisiana Judicial Council-NBA Division, Louisiana District Judges Association, Fourth and Fifth Circuit Judges Associations and Louisiana Pharmacy Association.
She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Jefferson Dollars for Scholars, Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Advisory Board, the Westwego Rotary Club, the Xavier University Investigational Review Board, Legal Aid Bureau Board and Leadership Jefferson Task Force. She currently holds the position of Chairperson of the Finance and Facilities Committee in the 24th Judicial District Court.
