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MONROE, La., (KNOE 8 News) - The Louisiana Supreme Court has announced that 4th Judicial District Court Judge Sharon I. Marchman and 19th Judicial District Court Judge Antony J. Marabella, Jr., have been elected Chair and Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, respectively.

Judge Marchman succeeds William "Bill" W. Hall as Chair of the Judiciary Commission. She received her undergraduate degree (1982) and her law degree (1985) from Louisiana State University (LSU). After working as a law clerk at the Second Circuit Court of Appeal, she entered private practice with the Monroe firm of Theus, Grisham, Davis and Leigh where she became a senior partner. In 2000, she was elected to the 4th Judicial District Court and served as Chief Judge. Judge Marchman presides over juvenile court as well as adult drug and DWI court for Morehouse and Ouachita Parishes. She also  established a juvenile drug court for Ouachita Parish which has become a MacArthur Foundation Model for Change site. Judge Marchman was awarded the Alton E. "Jake" Hadley Award for outstanding work in drug court, as well as the Louisiana Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Family Advocacy Award, and the Monroe Region of the National Association of Social Workers Public Official of the Year Award. In 2009 Judge Marchman was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as a judge member of the Judiciary Commission.

Judge Marabella succeeds Judge Marchman as Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Commission. He received his law degree from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1973. He began his career in Baton Rouge as an assistant parish attorney (1973-1975), an assistant district attorney (1975-1978), and an assistant public defender (1978- 1980). He was in private practice devoted largely to criminal defense from 1980 until his election in 2003. Judge Marabella presides over a criminal docket at the 19th Judicial District Court and also presides over drug court. Additionally, he serves as an adjunct faculty member of the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Judge Marabella is a member of many professional organizations where he has served in leadership positions including: Baton Rouge Bar Association President (1994); Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President (1999); East Baton Rouge Parish Indigent Defense Board Chairman; Louisiana Indigent Defense Assistance Board Chairman (2001-2003); and Ecumenical House Board President. In 2011 Judge Marabella was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as judge member of the Judiciary Commission.