All around her, Judge M. Lauren Lemmon has daily reminders to why she does what she does.
As she sits at her desk, to her right is an artist’s portrait of her mother, father and herself – all three in their judicial robes – reminding of her first inspiration to pursue a career in public service. Directly in front of her, a picture of four children who are part of the Youth Empowerment Project, which Lemmon was instrumental in expanding into St. Charles Parish, and alongside that photo another artist’s portrait – this one illustrated by one of the children in the photo.
“When I was a lawyer, (the child’s family) was struggling with some tough things. His grandmother was raising him … I watched him grow up,” recalled Lemmon. “When he was in the seventh grade, he drew me that picture and brought it to my office. Those things remind me of why I’m here. It’s rewarding to look up at those pictures.”
After 15 years on the bench of the 29th Judicial Court for St. Charles Parish, Lemmon will hang up her robe. The Luling resident and fifth-generation native of St. Charles Parish will shift her focus to teaching the next generation of legal minds at the National Judicial College, among several organizations, something she has been doing and stirs up new great energy within her.
She’s ready to pass the torch – though she once thought she’d be holding onto it for a good while longer.
“That saying, we plan and God laughs,” said Lemmon. “I had my plan all mapped out and thought I would be doing this longer. I started doing some other things I’m really interested in … I love what I’ve done in this community and across the state and country. But I’ve been thinking about it for two, three years and I guess I feel it’s time. Something better is coming … it’s been a really good run. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve and am grateful for all of the support and love from this community.”
Lemmon knew at a very early age that she wanted to one day be a judge, like her father and her mother before her. Her father, Harry Lemmon, was a Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court for more than 20 years. Her mother, Mary Ann Vial Lemmon, is a United States District Court Judge. Her grandfather, James Vial, was a renowned lawyer for many years, his practice in Hahnville. And her great great grandfather, Leon C. Vial, was the Sheriff of St. Charles Parish.
Harry met Mary Ann in law school. By the time they graduated, they were married with three children, then went on to have three more.
“(Going into law) seemed very natural for me,” Lemmon said. “My parents’ integrity and my grandparents’ integrity, upholding that in my own life and career has always been my goal. And being able to share having a career in public service with them has been truly special.”
Lemmon was elected to the 29th Judicial Court in 2008, but her road to get there began in the 1980s. The 1985 graduate of Spring Hill College went on to earn her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1990. That was 55 years after grandfather James earned his law degree from Loyola.
She began her career working in New Orleans for 10 years before returning to St. Charles Parish, moving to Luling to raise her family. She began practicing law in what was previously her grandfather’s office, including civil work and as a public defender. Later, she became a juvenile public defender.
Those roles saw Lemmon dive into an area that would become a passion for her over the course of her career. She has long been a voice for those less fortunate or who lack the resources to advocate for themselves. Lemmon’s promoted awareness of and access to mental health services for families and children regardless of socioeconomic status. She founded the local chapter of the Children and Youth Services Planning Board and the Juvenile Drug Court program. She co-founded the local court-appointed special advocates (CASA) program and the St. Charles CARE Center.
“My parents and my grandparents had such a giving spirit … I don’t know any other way,” Lemmon said. “I was always interested more in the social worker and psychology side of this, in helping people who need it. I believe that everyone in a time of need deserves to have a voice and to be able to use that voice in a safe place. That’s something I feel is my job – to give a voice.”
The job of a judge isn’t an easy one. The responsibility is immense and that can intimidate even the strongest of people.
“Sometimes it’s still intimidating. It’s been the greatest blessing to be able to always call people who I trust absolutely,” Lemmon said, gesturing to the portrait of her parents. “It’s heavy and it’s challenging. It can be isolating … once my first name became Judge, people treated me differently, in both good ways and not so good ways. It’s been a wonderful journey, though.”
Likewise, working as a judge in your native region can be a double-edged sword.
“You have to learn boundaries. People are going to get ticked off and it’s part of it,” Lemmon said. “Someone once said to me that 50 percent of the people in court must leave really upset. I said 100 percent – because it’s about compromise. It’s a balance and some days, I’m good at it. Some days, maybe not so good. You have to be tough, and you also have to be compassionate.
“I’m a judge, but I’m a person first.”
Lemmon has seen people at their most vulnerable, as when she worked overseeing drug recovery court.
“We had 34 heroin deaths. We called them tombstones. And I would say, ‘please don’t be the next tombstone. Don’t be number 35.’ It’s heavy,” Lemmon said. “In some ways, you probably get to know these people more than anyone else, even family.”
But when someone comes up to her and thanks her for helping to turn a life around, Lemmon said there’s no better feeling.
One of the biggest differences from when she first began as a judge to today is she thinks we are disconnected and more focused on what divides us rather than what unites us as a society, and she feels that has worsened during the pandemic.
“Drug use, DWIs, drug dealing, domestic violence, it all shot upward (during the pandemic),” she said.
“A lot of the new work I’m doing is about reconnecting. And I’m really excited about that. Teaching new judges, college students and high school students, gives me great hope and energizes me. Our purpose is to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our brothers and sisters in the community.”
Margaritaville