Judge Dawn Amacker is a Louisiana State District Court Judge, who was elected in 2008 to preside over Division “L” of the 22nd Judicial District Court, serving both St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. She was instrumental in the establishment of the 22nd JDC Family Court by the Louisiana Legislature in 2008 and was one of the first two judges elected to the divisions of the 22nd JDC that exclusively hear Family Court cases.
Judge Amacker was born in Victoria, Texas, where her father was stationed with the U.S. Air Force. At the end of her father’s military service, the family returned home to Washington Parish, Louisiana, where Judge Amacker graduated from Bogalusa High School with highest honors in 1975. She attended Southeastern Louisiana University on full academic scholarship and graduated in 3 years, with a B.A. in History and Government.
Judge Amacker received her Juris Doctorate from LSU Law School in 1982, where she was selected to serve on the Moot Court Board and on the LSU National Moot Court Team. After law school, she was employed with the District Attorney’s Office in St. Tammany Parish as an Assistant District Attorney. She later served as senior law clerk for Judge Hillary J. Crain, and as a staff attorney for the First Circuit Court of Appeal.
Prior to her election in 2008, she was a partner for over 25 years in the law firm of Collett and Amacker, where she was engaged in a general trial practice with a specialization in family law in Washington and St. Tammany Parishes. During her years of practice, she was appointed to serve as Judge ad hoc in Bogalusa City Court and Hearing Officer ad hoc in the 22nd JDC. She obtained certification and practiced extensively as a Qualified Mediator and as a Collaborative Law Attorney.
Judge Amacker is a Louisiana Board Certified Family Court Specialist, receiving certification in 1995, the first year certification was offered in the state. At the time of her election, she was Chairman of the Louisiana Family Law Advisory Council, and was rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating that can be received by an attorney for expertise and ethics. She was named a “Louisiana Super Lawyer” for the three years prior to her election and named one of the “Top 50 Women Attorneys in Louisiana”.
She currently serves by appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court on the Uniform District Court Rules Committee for Family Court and the Family Court Best Practices Committee. She was chosen by the Supreme Court for the first Louisiana Judicial Leadership Class in 2011.
Since her election, in addition to her duties handling the Family Court civil docket, she has presided over Juvenile Court, including Juvenile Drug Court and Traffic Court. She serves as a frequent presenter statewide on Family law and Professionalism topics.
Judge Amacker resides in Mandeville, Louisiana, with her husband of 27 years, Edward Brewster “Ted” Dittmer II, who is a senior partner in the law firm of Talley, Anthony, Hughes and Knight, LLC. They have one daughter, who is also a graduate of LSU Law School.
Professional Organizations
Current Member of:
American Bar Association —Judicial Division
National Association of Women Judges
American Judges Association
National Association of Drug Court Professionals
Louisiana Bar Association- past House of Delegates Member, Family Court Committee
Greater Covington Bar Association- Past Secretary/Treasurer
Washington Parish Bar Association- Past President
Slidell Bar Association
LSU Law School Board of Trustees
LSU Law School Chancellor’s Council
Louisiana State Bar Foundation Fellow
Louisiana State Law Institute Committee on Specialty Family Courts
Louisiana District Court Judges Association
Louisiana State Family Court District Rules Committee
Louisiana State Family Court Best Practices Committee
22nd JDC Inn of Court
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
Past Member of:
Louisiana State Family Law Advisory Council- Chairman
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services- Board Member
State of La. OCS Multi-Disciplinary Consultant
Community and Civic Organizations:
Current Member of:
Republican Professional Women of St. Tammany
St. Anselm’s Catholic Church- Lector
Past Member of:
Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce- President
Annunciation Catholic School Board- President
Camp Fire Boys and Girls- President
Bogalusa Business and Professional Women’s Club- President