The Region VII Agents along with the Louisiana Game Warden Magazine would like to recognize Judge Brenda Bedsole Ricks of the 21st Judicial District, which consists of Tangipahoa, Livingston, and St. Helena parishes. Judge Ricks was born in Hammond, Louisiana and has been a lifelong resident of the 21st Judicial District where she was elected and sworn in as District Judge on November 15, 1996, and re-elected without opposition in 2002. Judge Ricks is the daughter of Cecil and the late George Bedsole of Hammond, Louisiana. Her father was head of the Department of Sociology, Social Welfare, and Criminal Justice at Southeastern Louisiana University and was the founding father of the Criminal Justice and Social Welfare programs at SLU.

Judge Ricks is a graduate of the SLU Lab School and Southeastern Louisiana University. She attended Loyola Law School and obtained her Juris Doctorate. from Southern Law School in 1984. She received her CPES certification from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. in 1972. She also is a three-time graduate of the National Judicial College. Judge Ricks is also a CLE presenter for the Baton Rouge Bar Association and Loyola. Judge Ricks served as a research analyst/attorney for the Louisiana State senate being employed in various positions from 1974-1985 when she began her private law practice. Judge Ricks has also served as an assistant district attorney for Tangipahoa Parish from 1987-1995 and as City Attorney for the town of Roseland. She was also a contract attorney for Louisiana Department Children, Youth, and Family Services.

Judge Ricks’ professional, civic, and business affiliations include the 21st Judicial District Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, American Judicature Society, National Association of Women Judges, the Blood Center Board of Directors, Louisiana Federation of Republican Women, Hammond and Amite Chamber of Commerce, Strathmone’s Who’s Who, Denham Springs and Hammond Arts Council, and the Amite City Museum.

Judge Ricks stated that she wanted to become a judge because after eight years as a prosecutor she wanted to impact the law from a different level. Judge Ricks is very firm, but fair when it comes to business in her courtroom. She takes every case as serious as the one before it. She has been a tremendous asset to Wildlife and Fisheries with her no-nonsense attitude and sentencing of violators. She stated that even though Wildlife and Fisheries laws seem to differ from the normal cases that she hears, she views them just as seriously and doesn’t think of them as petty offenses.

Judge Ricks stated that one of the toughest or hardest parts of the job are child custody issues. She said that usually nobody wins. She does believe she makes a difference when she is on the bench and that she will continue to do the job to the best of her ability.

The Wildlife Agents of Region VII are proud to have Judge Ricks on the bench and would also like to thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to patrol with wildlife agents to see a part of what the wildlife agents’ job consists of. Judge Ricks went on patrol with agents in an airboat in Manchac W.M.A. and on a boat patrol that covered Manchac to Lake Ponchartrain to the Tangipahoa River and other remote areas. She said she would come back another day for a patrol on land (if there are any judges or prosecutors out there who want to see what wildlife agents do, just ask your local agent).

Judge Ricks is married to Robert G. Ricks who is a retired lieutenant from Louisiana State Police and they have two children, Michael B. Ricks and Robert W. Ricks.  Judge Ricks said even though she is not a hunter, she loves the outdoors and loves to photograph wildlife and outdoor scenery. She said she does like to saltwater fish when she gets the opportunity. When she is not working or helping take care of her family, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.