Judge Landry sworn in Friday

CADE — Hundreds of supporters of 16th Judicial District Judge Lori Landry attended an ecumenical service andinvestiture for her Friday evening at the Cade Community Center in Cade.

Starting with a judicial procession and the Pledge of Allegiance by St. Martinville Mayor Thomas Nelson, the prayer experience portion of the program included a variety of songs, scripture readings and guest speakers, as well as a libation ceremony and gestures of praise dance performances.

For the investiture ceremony, Landry was sworn into her second term of office by 15th Judicial District Judge Jules Edwards III, using a Bible held by Terry Clyde Landry Jr. Following the investiture of the robe and the presentation of the gavel, Landry gave a response to those who attended. She thanked her supporters and thanked God as well. “Thank you for doing what you did,” Landry said.

For her second term in office, Landry is looking to improve the state of the community, particularly with respect to those in the juvenile justice system.

“I want to continue to work with juveniles to move these families to a stronger, healthier place,” Landry said Saturday morning.

Specifically, she is looking forward to work with Assistant District Attorney Thailand Porter-Green, Public Defender S. Marie Johnson, who is assigned to the St. Martin Parish District Court, and the school board.

“We truly are a team,” Landry said, adding participants in Friday’s program have helped her grow both spiritually and professionally. “I serve an awesome God.”

Landry, 45, is a 1981 graduate of New Iberia Senior High School and a 1985 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She won a runoff election in 2002 and was reelected in October against challenger Lucretia Burton.