Judge Bruce E. Hampton, Third Judicial District, was awarded the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education’s 2025 Judge Benjamin Jones Judges in the Classroom Award at the Louisiana State Bar Association Annual Conference/Joint Summer School for Judges on June 5 in Destin, Florida.
It was presented for his efforts in furthering civic education of students in the Third Judicial District, both by speaking at classrooms in local schools and hosting students in the courtrooms in Lincoln and Union Parishes.
“I’m honored and blessed to receive this award for something I love doing,” said Judge Hampton. “Education has always been a priority for my family. When I was growing up, I was blessed with the support of my parents, teachers, coaches, and church and community leaders, who encouraged me to strive for success. This district has blessed me with the opportunity to serve as district judge.
“It is important to me that I give back to this community by helping our youth learn about the Constitution, laws, and court system, and to educate them about activities that can lead to trouble. For those who want a career in the legal field, they get an opportunity to learn more about what area of the law they might want to pursue.
“For troubled and disadvantaged youth, they get a chance to learn about the legal system and issues they can avoid. Hopefully, they will also realize that each of them is important and has an opportunity to be successful.”
Judge Hampton is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University (B.S. Finance, Cum Laude), Tulane University School of Law (J. D., Magna Cum Laude), and Southern Methodist University School of Law (LLM, Taxation) and has been licensed to practice law in Louisiana since 1981.
Before being elected as District Judge in 2018, he maintained a private law practice in Farmerville since 1991. Additionally, he served as Assistant District Attorney for the Third Judicial District for 18 years and as a Public Defender for the Third Judicial District for 9 years.
Judge Hampton is Chair of the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, and a member of the Louisiana State Law Institute, the Louisiana District Judges Association (Secretary), the American Judges Association, and the Supreme Court Task Force on Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom. He speaks at seminars for judges and attorneys on the subject of ethics. He frequently speaks to civic organizations and students from third grade to college as an active participant in the Judges in the Classroom Program on various legal topics.
He is married to Cindy Hampton, a high school chemistry and biology teacher who has been an educator for 44 years. They have 2 children and 7 grandchildren.
