The Honorable Shelly Dick was confirmed as a US district judge for the Middle District of Louisiana in 2013 and became chief judge in July 2018. She is the first female judge to serve in the district. Before joining the bench, Judge Dick worked in private practice handling a wide variety of cases in both state and federal courts and before administrative tribunals. She has also served as an ad hoc hearing officer appointed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission to hear worker's compensation cases and other administrative matters. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and her law degree from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center.