On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, WAFB reported that the Louisiana Supreme Court convened on Tuesday to hear arguments regarding the potential removal of Judge Tiffany Foxworth Roberts from her position on the 19th Judicial District Court bench of East Baton Rouge Parish. The hearing was prompted by a recommendation from the judiciary committee to remove her from the bench.
Judge Foxworth Roberts, who was elected in 2020, was not present in court but was represented by legal counsel. The Judiciary Committee presented its case, focusing on accusations that the judge had lied about her military service and misled police during an investigation into a car burglary. The committee’s investigation revealed that Foxworth Roberts allegedly reported the burglary occurred at her residence, when it actually took place approximately three miles away. This incident occurred in 2020, during her judicial campaign.
Michelle Beaty, special counsel for the Judiciary Committee, argued before the justices that Judge Foxworth Roberts had compromised the integrity of the judicial process through acts of dishonesty. Beaty emphasized the importance of judges adhering to high ethical standards and asserted that Foxworth Roberts had repeatedly lied and demonstrated a pattern of dishonesty.
Justice Jay McCallum raised concerns about the disparity in disciplinary actions, referencing a previous misconduct case involving Judge Eboni Johnson Rose, who also served in the same judicial district. McCallum noted that Judge Johnson Rose received an eight-month paid suspension for missteps on the bench, including wrongly convicting someone of a nonexistent crime. He questioned why Foxworth Roberts was facing a harsher punishment, suggesting a possible inconsistency in the committee’s approach.
Beaty responded that each case is unique, with varying facts and levels of cooperation from the judge in question. McCallum inferred that Foxworth Roberts’ lack of cooperation may have influenced the recommended punishment.
Justice Cade Cole emphasized that the primary concern was not the initial alleged misconduct, but rather the subsequent cover-up. Cole highlighted that Foxworth Roberts, as a lawyer and a judge, should have corrected the misstatement regarding her military rank when asked under oath.
Steve Irving, the attorney representing Foxworth Roberts, argued that the attempts to remove her from the bench were excessive, asserting that the case was based on summary conclusions and that the details did not warrant such a severe penalty.
The Louisiana Supreme Court will now consider the arguments presented and determine whether to uphold the judiciary committee’s recommendation to remove Judge Tiffany Foxworth Roberts from her position.
Source: WAFB
