The Honorable Jerry Edwards took the bench as judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in 2023. He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Louisiana. He served as Chief of the Civil Division where he oversaw all civil actions involving the United States brought in federal or state courts within the territorial limits of the Western District of Louisiana. These actions included torts, employment litigation, federal program litigation, judicial review of agency decisions, bankruptcy and collection proceedings, and lawsuits filed by the United States to recover money lost due to fraud or to impose civil penalties for violations of the nation's health, safety and economic welfare laws