Judge Richard A. Swartz, newly elected in October 2008, began serving as the Division C judge of the 22nd Judicial District Court on January 1, 2009. Judge Swartz graduated from the University of New Orleans in 1977 with a bachelor of arts degree in Pre-Law and Political Science. From there he attended the LSU law school where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1978. Prior to his election, Judge Swartz maintained a private law practice for many years. He served as an assistant district attorney in the 22nd JDC from 1980-1984, and as Judge Pro Tempore for the City Court of Slidell in 2004.
Judge Swartz was honored as the 1990 Slidell Citizen of the Year; he is a past president of the Slidell Chamber of Commerce, Slidell Kiwanis Club and the St. Tammany LSU Alumni Association. He has also been a member of the East and West St. Tammany Chambers of Commerce as well as the Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates. Judge Swartz currently is a member of the Slidell, Covington and Washington Parish Bar Associations and the 22nd JDC Inn of Court.
Judge Swartz resides in Slidell with his wife Charmaine. They have two children ages 29 and 26.