Judge Dawn Amacker, the oldest of three daughters, was born on an Air Force base in Texas, where her father was stationed with the military.
After he finished his tour of duty, the young family returned to their hometown of Bogalusa, Louisiana, where her dad went to work at the local paper mill, and her mom was a homemaker until she began work as an elementary school secretary to help put the girls through school.
“My parents were ‘extraordinary ordinary’ people who worked desperately hard in order that their children could achieve what they never had—a college education. All three of us became professionals—one each in law, medicine and accounting, but the real story of success was that of my parents,” Judge Amacker recalls. “They had a wonderfully devoted 50-year marriage and were parted only by my mother’s death a few years ago. With very modest means they provided us an All-American childhood—full of books, music, friends, church and summer vacation travel, which always involved road trips, hiking and camping in the National Parks.”
Judge Amacker credits her parents, and their “expectations of excellence” for her success. The girls were required to work their hardest, adhere to strict disciplinary standards and achieve at everything. “My parents were deeply religious. My dad was a part-time minister and both of my parents were fiercely protective, yet they thoroughly prepared us to ultimately leave them and be independent. The values they taught me—respect, honor, faith, duty and responsibility have defined my life as a wife, mother, attorney and now as a judge.”
After graduation from LSU Law School and admission to the bar in 1982, she served as an Assistant District Attorney in St. Tammany Parish, handling the juvenile docket, and when Judge Hillary J. Crain was elected to the First Circuit Court of Appeal, she became his first staff attorney.
In 1985, she became a partner in the law firm of Collett and Amacker and handled thousands of matters for clients over a career spanning 25 years. She specialized in family law and became a Board Certified Family Law Specialist in 1995, the first year the state offered certification.
Throughout the years, Judge Amacker established herself statewide as a pre-eminent family law attorney and active participant in the promotion of local and state family law initiatives, one of which resulted ultimately in the establishment of the 22nd Judicial District Family Court—the second exclusive family court in the state created by law.
When she was elected as one of the two family court judges in 2008, Judge Amacker put her lifelong experience in the district to use in structuring the new court, which handles all family proceedings, including protective orders, divorce, child custody, spousal and child support, property partitions and adoptions.
With reverence for the family unit, Judge Amacker has implemented procedures that are designed to help families heal. “Family court is usually the last place someone wants to be. We can make the process less traumatic by giving people options and tools to resolve conflict,” she said. “With a respect for the process that so greatly affects people’s lives and their children’s lives, we have a system that gets you in from the beginning and works over time to provide the most acceptable resolution for all parties involved.”
“The process has been well thought out for the benefit of our families,” Judge Amacker said.
Family Court judges and practitioners know that trying cases and litigation does not work. It runs counter to what we are trying to accomplish. People are more likely to accept the conditions if they’ve agreed on them together. It doesn’t benefit anyone to have parents come back into court because of non-compliance.
Judge Amacker explained that while the court tries to do everything it can to facilitate consensus, she will intervene when necessary, stating, “we employ strong enforcement strategies through penalties and sanctions to make sure all decisions are followed to the letter of the law, and we have zero tolerance for abuse and non-support of children and families.”
The two judges have made the Family Court surroundings warm and inviting. In the window of the Family Court, a tiny cocker spaniel named “Lady” is curled up. “I brought my dog to my law office for many years and was feeling sad that I couldn’t have her with me anymore, when I saw this lifelike “breathing” toy dog in a gift shop. Of all the animals and toys we have, she is the most popular and a comfort to children and adults alike,” the judge says. Judge Amacker needlepoints in her spare time, and her handiwork displaying positive messages, such as “Blessed Are The Mediators” and “Must Love Children,” is seen throughout the public rooms.
Adoptions that were once handled as a mere formality are now treated with pomp and circumstance in her division. Children receive their own teddy bears, families are invited to the bench and all attendees are handed lollipops with “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!” announcements. “One of the greatest joys in my life has been to have the ability to answer my phone, sometimes in the middle of the night, and in a few seconds place an abused child in a safe place. To later see these same children being adopted by loving, caring parents, has been the highlight of my career. My colleague, Judge Mary Devereux, and I began an annual celebration of ‘National Adoption Day’ here at the Justice Center, to promote adoptions of these deserving children and we all look forward to this day every year.”
Because emotions run high in Family Court, Amacker noted that it takes special skills to be involved in this area of the law. Throughout her career, she has relied on her family and her faith to remain steadfast in her convictions. “Decisions I make can be life changing. This is a great responsibility and one that I do not take lightly. I pray every day to have the wisdom, strength and courage to do the right thing, no matter the consequences, and for patience,” she says with a knowing smile, “always patience.”
Of all her achievements, Judge Amacker states, “My biggest source of pride and most fulfilling job has been just being mom for 27 years. I had the best parents and have a wonderful husband, beautiful daughter and devoted son-in-law. The children are both young lawyers and I hope to have a grandchild soon. I certainly understand how precious family is to everyone.”
“My steadfast husband of 30 years Ted, and my daughter Sasha, have been the primary reasons I have been able to do this job on a daily basis. Regardless of what happens during the day, I always go home to a happy home,” she added. “I want to give the same safe haven to the children and families in my court.”
Judge Dawn Amacker is a 22nd Judicial District Court Judge, with jurisdiction in Washington and St. Tammany parishes. Her office is located on the 3rd Floor of the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center in Covington, Louisiana. Judge Amacker is a candidate for Re-Election in Division “L”. For more information, see www.judgedawnamacker2014.com.
