The Ballot Brief
Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

Lafayette City Court Judge, Division B

3 candidates are tracked for Lafayette City Court Judge, Division B on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ryan Harris, James Klock and Emilia Pardo. Candidate information follows official Lafayette Parish election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Open seat; elected by City of Lafayette voters within the parish. Division A (Roya Boustany) was unopposed and does not appear on the ballot. Three candidates qualified, per the Acadiana Advocate.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

Louisiana › Lafayette Parish › Lafayette City Court Judge, Division B

Ryan Harris

Ryan Harris

Republican

Top priorities
  • Says he would bring fairness and professionalism to the bench
  • Promotes community-minded leadership, describing himself as accountable and accessible to constituents

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Ryan Harris is a Republican candidate for Lafayette City Court Judge, Division B. He is a Lafayette attorney who has worked as both a private attorney and a public defender, representing clients in OWI, civil, traffic and misdemeanor cases, per his campaign site. He has served as Contract Public Defender for Lafayette City Court since July 2025, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

James Klock

Republican

Biography

Klock is an Assistant District Attorney and felony supervisor at the 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office in Lafayette Parish, prosecuting felony cases including domestic abuse, crimes of violence, sex offenses, and property crimes, per the campaign site. He has also worked as a federal public defender and in private practice covering criminal defense, family law, and immigration, and teaches business law as an adjunct instructor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, per the campaign site. He holds a law degree and a master's in finance from LSU, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Emilia Pardo

Republican

Top priorities
  • Says she wants the court to have a reputation for efficiency, fairness, respect for the bench and kindness
  • Wants to explore better legal approaches for people with mental health issues who cycle through the court system

Per the per a Covenant Spotlight candidate profile.

Biography

Emilia Pardo is a Republican candidate for Lafayette City Court Judge, Division B. She is an Assistant District Attorney with 16 years of prosecutorial experience, primarily in domestic violence and family-related offenses, per a Covenant Spotlight candidate profile. She has served as a magistrate in Scott City Court since 2025, per the same profile. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Emilia Pardo.

Next on your ballotLafayette Parish School Board, District 2

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Lafayette City Court Judge, Division B in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Lafayette City Court Judge, Division B on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ryan Harris, James Klock and Emilia Pardo. Candidate information follows official Lafayette Parish election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Lafayette City Court Judge, Division B election in Louisiana?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Louisiana are on the Louisiana election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Lafayette Parish ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Lafayette Parish and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Louisiana election office, or see the full Lafayette Parish sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Lafayette Parish ballot

5 tracked races in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
15th Judicial District Court, Division I15th Judicial District Court, Division MDistrict Attorney, 15th Judicial DistrictSee all 5 Lafayette Parish races
Candidate profiles
Ryan Harris, full profileJames Klock, full profileEmilia Pardo, full profileOfficial Louisiana election office