Photos by Johnny Chauvin and Phillip Colwart

Attorney Rebecca Davis Lee has spent more than a decade working in the Juvenile Court System with Judge Blair Edwards, who was recently elected to the First Circuit Court of Appeal. The appointment has resulted in the need for a special election on March 29, 2025, to elect a District Court Judge in the Juvenile Court for Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa Parishes.

"As a mother, I know the challenges that families and youth in our community face. I also know that absent intervention, abused and neglected children often become adult criminals or abusers. An experienced judge is crucial to helping children and their families navigate difficult times and emerge stronger through the process."

Rebecca Davis Lee, a resident of Hammond, is the daughter of William "Bill" Davis, the widow of longterm Northshore native David Lee, and the mother of three. Rebecca’s childhood is filled with not only memories of her father Bill’s candy business “Dixie Candy Company,” based out of Hammond but also spending weekends on the Natalbany River at the family camp in Pumpkin Center. Rebecca is excited to recreate her childhood memories of her father throwing full-sized candy bars in the Hammond Christmas Parade with her children by having them participate in the campaign parade trail with her this season.

Rebecca received her law degree from Loyola University College of Law in 2009 and has served for 14 years in Juvenile court, initially with the Office of the Governor and then as a public defender. She utilizes her personal and professional experiences as an in-demand speaker at conferences nationwide.

Throughout her career, she has represented children in need of care and those accused of crimes. "A vast majority of my legal career has centered on family and juvenile law," said Lee, who has handled over 5,000 cases involving juvenile issues and a score of other cases involving family law, complex litigation, and other matters."

Rebecca is a genuine conservative Republican, and she believes that the scourge of multi-generation child abuse and neglect, which ultimately results in high crime and incarceration rates, can be broken by effective leadership on the Juvenile Court bench.

Rebecca currently serves as the defense attorney for the town court in French Settlement and is an Assistant Public Defender for the 21st JDC Juvenile Division. She also maintains a thriving private law practice. As a testament to her commitment to the area's youth, Rebecca's peers have recognized her as a leader in juvenile and family law, and she is a member of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) with a specialty in child welfare.