meet melanie

Born and raised in New Orleans, Melanie is an only child. Her father was a WWII Veteran and sole proprietor of Johnny’s Radio and TV Repair on St.Claude Avenue. Melanie’s mother was a sitter and caregiver companion for the elderly. 

As a former Orleans Parish Assistant District Attorney and President & CEO of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, Melanie brings an impressive criminal justice background to her candidacy. 

As a prosecutor at Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for almost 17 years, Melanie prosecuted more than one hundred jury trials and countless judge trials. She was the lead prosecutor on capital crimes, violent felony offenses, major narcotics cases, and public corruption charges. Melanie served as the Chief of Screening, as well as the Chief of the Economic Crime Unit. With extensive experience, Melanie is routinely called upon by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Gulf Coast Program, to present to civil and criminal practitioners on Building Trial Skills and to judge trial competitions. 

During her tenure at the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, millions of dollars have been raised in support of the women and men of the New Orleans Police Department and the Orleans Parish Criminal Justice System. 

As an advocate for victims of domestic violence, Melanie served on a municipal Domestic Violence Advisory Committee, contributed to a Domestic Violence Prosecution Handbook, was a Board Member of Crescent House, and helped establish the New Orleans Family Justice Center as a permanent part of the justice system. 

Melanie earned her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, a B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Orleans, and graduated a 3-year senior from Benjamin Franklin High School.

Melanie has been an active member of the Louisiana State Bar Association for more than 30 years.