Judge: ‘There needs to be a balance of genders and races in the courtroom’
By Lisa Addison
American Press of Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Judge Sharon Wilson told a room full of attendees at the latest Brown Bag Lecture Series on Wednesday at the Carnegie Library that she knew at age 14 she wanted to be in the legal profession and that it was, and still is, a male-dominated field.
“In Calcasieu Parish, we have had just three women as judges — Patricia Minaldi, Lilynn Cutrer and myself; that’s it,” Wilson said. “In the judicial system, all voices should be represented. When all voices are heard, you can give a decision that reflects justice.”
Further talking of “breaking the glass ceiling,” Wilson used Ruth Bader Ginsburg as an example.
“Women have had to fight to be judges,” she said.
Of the 114 people who have served as justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, Wilson said only four of them have been women.
“There needs to be a balance of genders and races in the courtroom,” she said. “The court belongs to the people; not the judges.”
Ginsburg, an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, was appointed by President Bill Clinton and took the oath of office on Aug. 10, 1993. She was the second female justice to be confirmed to the court.
Saying there has been progress in some areas but still not nearly enough, Wilson said Ginsburg once spoke of how the dean of Harvard Law School asked her and other women why they were going to law school and taking those seats from men.
“She was a trailblazer,” Wilson said. “The state of Louisiana owes a huge debt of gratitude to Ginsburg. Women can serve on juries in Louisiana because Ginsburg filed a discrimination lawsuit and change was effected — not just in Louisiana but across the nation.”
Wilson said in addition to the academic achievements needed to follow the path to become a judge, there are two qualities she believes every judge needs.
“Temperament is a big one and also just being able to endure is the other one.”
Although women have come a long way, Wilson said there is still work to be done, especially in her field.
“Across the United States, women make up 33 percent of judges and that includes all levels — state, federal, appeals court, etc.”
Wilson is a 1988 graduate of Louisiana State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in philosophy. In 1991, she received her law degree from the Paul Hebert Law Center at LSU.
Since 2014, Wilson has served as a judge for Division F of the 14th Judicial District Court. She was the first African American woman to be elected as a district judge in Calcasieu Parish.
Prior to becoming a judge, Wilson worked for both the Calcasieu and Allen Parish District Attorney’s offices. She was recently appointed to a four-year term on the Judiciary Commission.
The Brown Bag Lecture Series is sponsored by the city of Lake Charles’ Leadership Team for Community Diversity and Inclusion.
