As of April 1, 2023 the Judges of the 23rd JDC divided the formal dual role of Judicial Administrator/Hearing Officer held for eight years by Patricia Douglas. While Ms. Douglas remains the Hearing Officer, the new Judicial Administrator is Candace Washington. Candace has worked with the Court since 2020, previously serving as Home Incarceration Coordinator and most recently, Assistant Administrator.

As Hearing Officer, Ms. Douglas will take on additional duties and will soon begin holding Hearing Officer Conferences for Ascension Parish family cases. These conferences should expedite the resolution of family matters, allow the parties to have more decision making in their own resolutions and reduce the court’s dockets, saving time spent in court by attorneys and clients.

Candace and Pat are both excited about their new positions and have “hit the ground running”. They and the Court are hopeful that these innovations will improve services to the public.