Lafayette City Court now has its first African-American judge.
The Louisiana Supreme Court appointed Judge Vanessa Harris as judge pro tempore of the court to replace a suspended judge.
Harris, who is a retired Opelousas City Court judge, will serve in the temporary position through the end of February.
She replaces Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet, who was temporarily suspended without pay by the state Supreme Court after a video came to light in which Odinet uses a racial slur.
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