How many in Coushatta/Red River Parish know that our District Attorney made history in 2009 and June 7, 2024? This week the Journal sat down with District Attorney Jones to discuss her induction into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame.

When the Honorable Julie Colley Jones was elected as District Attorney in 2009, she was the first elected Female District Attorney in the state of Louisiana. Jones remembers the moment she was told of this milestone. “I was standing at the victory party when the former D.A. walked up to me and congratulated me on the accomplishment. It had not occurred to me before then.”

That singular moment would open the doors for at least 5 more women to be elected in the next dozen years. “I am proud of the positive change that my election produced. We are growing in numbers, and we are making an impact on the District Attorney Association. I appreciate the District Attorney Association for nominating me for this honor and for the Louisiana Justice Foundation for honoring me in this way.

For Jones, being the District Attorney is but one of her roles. She is also a wife, mother, and citizen of this parish. “I do not consider myself a politician. I want a genuine relationship with the people of our town and parish. We strive to raise our children together, spend time in the community, and support each other when we can.” Married to Joshua Bounds, with five children in their shared family, Tristen, Ty, Will, Mary Claire, and Jentry, Jones says she feels a deep responsibility to the people of this parish.

The responsibility that Jones takes to heart is that she must strike a balance between punishment and steering someone on the path to a better life. “The best days are when a defendant is helped to make better choices, stay out of trouble, and on a lawful path. Of course, there are times when the crimes warrant punishment. The victim’s needs are also considered, and the balance is for all involved. I do not take lightly the weight of making those choices and recommending how cases will be considered.”

At the induction ceremony, Jones not only had her portrait added to the Hall of Fame at the Louisiana State Penitentiary Museum and Cultural Center, but she was also tasked with creating a shadow box that represented her accomplishment. For Jones, there are sentimental attachments to each article she included. The is a newspaper article that announces her first election, the first certificate from Louisiana that recognizes her as a District Attorney, there are pictures of her family from the election and diplomas from her years of school. She says she is most proud of a picture of the Red River Parish Courthouse that represents her love for this town and parish.

“I have a love for this place. I believe that there is a path that God lays out for us. There are doors we can choose and when looking back, I realize I am right where I need to be. I am here in my home, raising my kids, and around the people who I have come to know as family.”