The Hon. Gail Horne Ray is a judge for the 19th Judicial District Court of Louisiana. She was elected to the bench in 2022.
The 19th Judicial District includes East Baton Rouge Parish.
Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Alabama in 1974. She then completed a J.D. at Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, in 1977. Ray was admitted to practice in Louisiana the following year.
She began her legal career in solo practice in 1978 and managed her law firm until her election to the bench. Ray is also a former assistant public defender, having served as a member of the East Baton Rouge Public Defender Board.
Her memberships include the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Louis A. Martinet Society, and the Baton Rouge Bar Association. Ray also served two terms on the Democratic State Central Committee, and she is a former professor at Southern University Law Center.
From a civic standpoint, Ray has been involved with the Southern University 6th Man Club, the J. K. Haynes Charter School Board, the Baton Rouge Delta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, the Urban Elders, and the NAACP (Silver Life Member).
She received the Justice for Youth Award from the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana and the President’s Award from the NAACP of Baton Rouge.
Ray attends Allen Chapel AME Church.
She is registered as a Democrat.