MEET OUR CHIEF
Tonya B. Clark, Chief District Defender
Tonya B. Clark is the Chief District Defender for the 23rd Judicial District. She has spent over twenty years working in the criminal justice system. Mrs. Clark received her undergraduate degrees from Nicholls State University and her Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center.
Her past work experience includes an extensive private civil practice, Sex Crimes Special Felony Prosecutor and Felony Prosecutor for the District Attorney’s Office in the 23rd Judicial District, as well as IV-D Child Support prosecution for the State of Louisiana. She has worked as a Felony Public Defender and a CINC certified juvenile Public Defender with the 23rd Judicial District until she was appointed Chief District Defender of the 23rd Judicial District in October of 2022.
The opportunity to have worked on both sides of the criminal justice system has provided Clark the ability to fully utilize her vision and experience in dealing with the workings of the criminal justice system. Clark is a lifelong resident of Assumption Parish and the 23rd Judicial District. This allows her a unique perspective and understanding of the needs and resources of the residents of Assumption, Ascension, and St. James Parishes. To have lived her entire life in the district that she represents is one of the many reasons that Clark was appointed by the Louisiana State Public Defender Board for the position of Chief District Defender.
Support Staff
Phyllis Glover, Office Manager, phyllis_pdo@eatel.net
Nakira Owens, Secretary, 23rdjdcpdo@gmail.com
Lyric Jackson, Maya Johnson, Mary Richard, and COE Workers from EAHS, Data Entry Clerks
Monica Magee-Adams, Social Worker, madams.23pdo@gmail.com