The Hon. James R. Mitchell (deceased) is a former judge for the 30th Judicial District Court of Louisiana in Vernon Parish. He was elected to the bench in 2008, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Lester P. Kees. Mitchell passed away in office on July 24, 2015.
He received a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University. Mitchell then completed a J.D. at Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
A Vietnam veteran, he served as a Captain in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Fort Polk in Louisiana.
Following his military service, Mitchell established his own private practice in Leesville in 1974. He supplemented his practice as a city judge and attorney for the Leesville Housing Authority.
Mitchell was a past president of the 30th Judicial District Bar Association.
He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and raised in Baker, Louisiana, where he graduated valedictorian from Baker High School. Mitchell was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.”
He and his wife, Michelle, had a blended family of four children. An accomplished horseman, Mitchell served in leadership roles for the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association and the American Quarter Horse Association. Some of his other passions included reading, spending time outdoors, rooting for the Leesville Wampus Cats, traveling, studying the Bible, and spending time with his grandchildren.