MEET ARTHUR

JUDGE ARTHUR HUNTER

Judge Arthur Hunter isn’t a career politician. He’s a former New Orleans police officer, lawyer, and judge who has dedicated his life to protecting our communities and fixing our broken systems. He is stepping up to lead our city into the next chapter, because New Orleans deserves to be safer, stronger, richer, and an economic driver for the state of Louisiana.

GROWING UP IN NEW ORLEANS

Arthur Hunter grew up in New Orleans East, in a neighborhood known as the Gap. His father owned Delta Super Market between the Desire and Florida Housing Projects, and his mother worked part-time at the Robert Hall Department Store on Old Gentilly Road.

He attended St. Augustine High School, where he played on the undefeated state football championship team coached by the legendary Otis Washington. After high school, Hunter went to the University of Michigan, where he played football as a walk-on until a knee surgery ended his athletic career. He returned home to graduate from Loyola University with a degree in Political Science.

EARLY CAREER

Arthur has spent his life helping others and fighting for justice. He started his career as a police officer with the New Orleans Police Department, working in the Urban Squad, which covered the housing projects and the Fifth District, which includes the 7th, 8th, and 9th Wards. One moment changed him forever—he found a baby in a Schwegmann's grocery bag on the sidewalk. This made him even more determined to protect people in need.

While working full-time as a police officer, Arthur also went to Loyola University Law School. Many days, he wore his police uniform to class before heading to his overnight shift. He loved being a police officer, but he also wanted to become a lawyer. In 1985, he made a tough decision to leave the police force so he could study for the state bar exam and start his legal career.

Arthur started his own law practice with Cade and Jones, where he worked on civil rights, family law, and civil justice cases. He helped everyday people and stood up for those who needed a voice. One of his biggest cases held the New Orleans Police Department accountable for using excessive force. He fought to make sure people were treated fairly and that police officers were held accountable.

For nearly eleven years, Arthur also worked as a staff attorney for the Orleans Parish Civil Sheriff's Office.

In 1997, Arthur was elected as a judge for Criminal District Court, Section K. He served for more than 20 years, winning four elections and earning the trust of the people of New Orleans. As a judge, he worked hard to make sure the legal system was fair, treating all people with respect and dignity, and held people accountable.

EARLY CAREER

Arthur has spent his life helping others and fighting for justice. He started his career as a police officer with the New Orleans Police Department, working in the housing projects and the Fifth District, which includes the 7th, 8th, and 9th Wards. One moment changed him forever—he found a baby abandoned in a car. This made him even more determined to protect people in need.

While working full-time as a police officer, Hunter also went to Loyola University Law School. Many days, he wore his police uniform to class before heading to his overnight shift. He loved being a police officer, but he also wanted to become a lawyer. In 1985, he made a tough decision to leave the police force so he could study for the state bar exam and start his legal career.

Hunter opened his own law office, where he worked on criminal defense, civil rights, and family law cases. He helped everyday people and stood up for those who needed a voice. One of his biggest cases held the New Orleans Police Department accountable for using too much force. He fought to make sure people were treated fairly and that police officers followed the law.

For nearly ten years, Hunter also worked as a lawyer for the Office of the Orleans Parish Civil Sheriff, where he helped with civil court cases.

In 1997, Hunter was elected as a judge for Criminal District Court, Division K. He served for more than 20 years, winning four elections and earning the trust of the people of New Orleans. As a judge, he worked hard to make sure the legal system was fair for everyone, treating all people with dignity and respect.

TIME ON THE BENCH

Arthur’s tenure on the bench was defined by his leadership in public safety.

Throughout his 23 years as a judge, he developed and expanded groundbreaking programs that focused on reducing incarceration, increasing opportunities for education, training, and employment, and providing healthcare and treatment for substance abuse, mental health, and other behavioral disorders. He fought for fair funding for public defenders to level the playing field with prosecutors, and he worked to expedite trials for pre-trial detainees who had been staying in jail too long due to an underfunded and understaffed public defender’s office.

Arthur’s reform efforts also led to landmark rulings, including the striking down of unconstitutional state statutes that unfairly targeted marginalized groups. He was the first Louisiana trial court judge to order fair compensation for an exonerated defendant, he ruled against the state's "crime against nature" statute that had disproportionately affected African Americans and transgender individuals, and ruled in favor of battered women in domestic violence cases for their right to defend themselves against their abusers.

Judge Arthur Hunter’s work for justice earned him widespread recognition, including awards like the National Bar Association Judicial Council’s Sara J. Harper Humanitarian Award, the Louisiana State Reentry Service Award, and the American Bar Association’s “2015 Legal Rebel” Award. He has lectured at prestigious institutions, including Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Columbia University School of Law, and was invited as a criminal justice reform expert to a U.S. Department of State conference in Skopje, Macedonia.

COMMUNITY COMMITTEMENT

After retiring from the bench in 2020, Arthur transitioned into community and workforce development. He started a career training program for individuals 18 years old and older in partnership with Delgado Community College and GNO, Inc, known as the Delgado Community College Regional Career Project.

Beyond his work in the courtroom, Arthur continues to lead in public safety and legal education. Hunter previously has served on the Board of Directors for St. Augustine High School, cofounded the Young Artists Movement (YAM) and founded the Allen Ray Bolin Trial Advocacy Workshop. He currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Harvard Law School, where he teaches trial advocacy. He is also actively involved as a Board Member for Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Bastion (Veterans Housing & Treatment Services), the Environmental and Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program (ECPAP), and the Anti-Defamation League South Central Region.

He and his wife Charlette are the proud parents of a son and grandparents to two grandchildren. Arthur is a member of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.