Opelousas General Health System Announces Appointment of The Honorable James P. Doherty, Jr. to the Board of Trustees

Gina Bradley Tuttle, Chairman of the OGHS Board of Trustees has announced that the Hospital Service District #2 Board of Commissioners has appointed The Honorable James P. Doherty, Jr., to serve on the Opelousas General Hospital Authority Board of Trustees. Doherty, a local attorney, and retired judge replaces Patrick C. Morrow, who recently resigned.

Doherty was born and reared in Opelousas. He is married to the former Sharla Prat and is the proud father of three children and eight grandchildren. He graduated high school from the Academy of the Immaculate Conception (currently Opelousas Catholic) in May 1964. He received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) degree from Loyola State University in New Orleans and in 1971 received his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School.

Upon graduation from law school, he returned to Opelousas and established a law practice that he maintained for 34 years until he was elected to the bench of the 27^th Judicial District Court in 2005. His practice included representing banks, insurance companies, hospitals, small businesses, and many individuals.

As an active member of his profession, he served as President of the St. Landry Parish Bar Association. He was also a member of the House of Delegates of the Louisiana Bar Association from 1976 to 2005, a member of the Client’s Protection Fund Committee of the Louisiana Bar Association from 1989 to 2004 and as Chairman of the committee from 1989 to 1991 and from 1999 to 2004. In 1990, he received the Louisiana Bar Association President’s Award in recognition for his work with the Client’s Protection Fund Committee. He was also chosen to serve as a representative of the practicing attorneys on the Louisiana Law Institute from 2000 until his election as Judge of Division A of the 27^th Judicial District Court in May 2005. Serving two terms without opposition, he retired on January 1, 2021.

As a member of the judiciary, he served on the Louisiana District Judges’ Association, the Louisiana Juvenile Judges’ Association and the Louisiana Legislature’s Judicial Compensation Liaison Committee. As a judge, he was instrumental in restructuring his court’s dockets and updating the court’s information systems and courtroom electronics. He was also an avid supporter of the specialty courts having assisted in the establishment of the Family Preservation Court and the Sobriety Court for St. Landry Parish.

Since 1995, Doherty has served as a Trustee of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church and presently serves as a lay reader and member of the church’s Finance Committee.

“We are very pleased with the appointment of The Honorable James P. Doherty, Jr. to the OGHS Board of Trustees. He is a man of great integrity and offers a plethora of legal and professional experience that will significantly enhance our Board,” said Tuttle.

Patrick C. Morrow, Attorney with Morrow, Morrow, Ryan, Bassett & Haik, served on the OGHS Board of Trustees since January 2012 and has been a tremendous asset to the OGHS Board. “We thank Mr. Morrow for his dedication to Opelousas General Health System and wish him much success,” added Tuttle.