Assistant DA announces run for judge seat vacated after resignation following racist video

Roya S. Boustany, an assistant Lafayette district attorney, announced she will run for the Lafayette City Court judge seat vacated when Michelle Odinet resigned.

Boustany, who has worked for the 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office for about seven years, announced her intentions to run on Facebook this week.

"My life in Lafayette has been deeply rooted in public service both through my career as a prosecutor and my voluntarism with nonprofit organizations that are near and dear to my heart," she wrote. "Since my days in student government at Lafayette High School, I’ve always wanted to do my part to leave our community better than I found it.

"So on Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at The Grouse Room in downtown Lafayette, I will announce our family’s next great adventure with my candidacy to become your next Lafayette City Court Judge."

Boustany is a Lafayette native who attended law school at Southern University Law Center. She worked as a law clerk for Judge Clayton Davis in Lake Charles before working as an indigent defender in the 16th Judicial District.

In 2014, she became an assistant district attorney - a lifelong goal - where she works to advocate for victims of crimes.

Boustany also is involved civically in Lafayette, including volunteering with the Junior League of Lafayette and with Louisiana State Police's Sudden Impact program that educates teens about driving while impaired.

The judge seat was vacated on Dec. 31 when Odinet submitted her resignation to Louisiana Supreme Court after she was heard using racial slurs on video.

More: Louisiana Judge Michelle Odinet resigns after making racial slurs on video

The Louisiana Supreme Court appointed an ad hoc judge, Retired Opelousas City Court Judge Vanessa Harris, a Black woman, to preside over Odinet's cases while she was suspended.

Boustany is the second person to announce intentions to run for the seat. Former District Court Judge Jules Edwards III announced earlier this month he would again run for the seat.

'I want to go upstream': Former judge to run for seat vacated by Odinet resignation following racist video

Edwards ran for the seat in 2020, retiring from his 15th Judicial District after nearly 30 years in the role. He lost the election to Odinet, who won 57% of the votes.

The election for the city court judge seat will be Nov. 8, the same day as the Congressional primary. If necessary, a run-off would be held on Dec. 10.

Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Prosecutor to run for Louisiana judge seat vacated after racist video