(Fmr.) Judge C. Hunter King

The Honorable C. Hunter King is a native New Orleanian whose journey from the St. Bernard Housing Development to the judicial bench serves as a testament to the power of resilience. Growing up in an environment where he frequently encountered adversity and violence, he attended New Orleans Public Schools and graduated from the college preparatory McDonogh #35 Senior High School. His parents provided a foundational influence on his life; he worked as a roofer with his father to fund his college education, a period that taught him the value of hard work, while his mother exposed him to the arts and provided essential financial guidance.

Academic and Scholarly Foundation

King began his collegiate journey at USL in Lafayette before earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southern University in New Orleans (SUNO). During his time at SUNO, he was elected Vice President of the Student Government Association, where he advocated for increased student rights. After working for the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, he entered the Southern University Law Center (SULC) on an Earl Warren legal scholarship, earning his Juris Doctor in 1988.

His legal academic career was distinguished by his role as an Editor for the SULC Law Review, which published his research, “Employment Discrimination: The Burden of Proof”, in 1986. He is also a graduate of the Loyola University Institute of Politics. In 2016, he furthered his academic credentials by earning a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Southern University Baton Rouge.

Judicial Career and Legal Practice

The Honorable C. Hunter King’s professional pedigree is marked by significant judicial service and high-level legal admissions. He is admitted to practice before the:

• Supreme Court of the United States

• United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal

• United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana

He served as Judge Pro Tempore in the First City Court of New Orleans before being elected Judge of the Civil District Court (Division “M”) for the Parish of Orleans in 1999. He served the people of New Orleans on the bench until 2003, having been re-elected in 2002. After a period managing property renovations following Hurricane Katrina, he reopened his law offices in 2013 to form The King Law Firm, focusing on personal injury, criminal, succession, and family law. His law license was granted back by the Louisiana State Supreme Court specifically to assist society in the fight against injustice.

A Legacy of Service and Sacrifice

King famously describes himself as a “first-generation lawyer and a third-generation roofer”. His commitment to family and community is perhaps best illustrated by a life-defining event in October 1996: while campaigning for his judgeship, he underwent bone marrow surgery to save the life of his eldest brother, Reginald. This successful donation granted his brother an additional 18 months of life and remains one of the most important actions of King's life.

This personal sacrifice led him to extensive advocacy in healthcare, serving as an Executive Board Member of the National Marrow Donors Program from 2001 to 2004 and working with the "Heart of America" organization to help other families find transplant matches.

Community Leadership and Education

Beyond the courtroom, King has held numerous leadership positions, including:

• Past President of the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society (New Orleans Chapter)

• Past Vice-President of the Police Athletic League of New Orleans