District Judge Paul deMahy announced Monday he will retire as a judge in Louisiana's 16th Judicial District at the end of 2017. He has served St. Mary, St. Martin and Iberia parishes as a district judge for 31 years. (Photo courtesy of 16th Judicial District Court)
District judge announces retirement
Judge Paul deMahy has announced that he is officially retiring from the 16th Judicial District Court at the end of 2017, a news release said.
He sent Secretary of State Tom Schedler notice of his intention Monday. The 16th Judicial District covers St. Mary, St. Martin and Iberia parishes.
“It has been my great honor to serve the people of the 16th JDC for the past 31 years," deMahy said in the release. "I am confident that this is the right time for me. My work on the court has been tremendously rewarding and I am fortunate to have been able to serve the court and the citizens of St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary parishes. I am grateful for the faith and confidence that has been placed in me these past three decades."
He has served Division B of the Court since his election in 1986, handling full civil and criminal dockets. In 2002, Judge deMahy established the St. Martin Parish Adult Drug Treatment Court and served as its presiding judge through 2010. He served four terms as chief judge.
He s a graduate of Catholic High School in New Iberia, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. In 1973, deMahy began his legal career as an associate with the firm of Willis and Hardy. In 1981, deMahy established a solo practice, which included serving as an assistant defender and chief defender for the 16th Judicial District Indigent Defender Office. He served St. Martinville as city attorney from 1974 through 1986.
He is a life-long resident of St. Martin Parish.