Judge Terri F. Love is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. Judge Love graduated in 1983 from Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She received a Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law in 1986 and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in April of 1987. In 2004, Judge Love received her Master of Laws degree in the Judicial Process from the University of Virginia. In 2007, Judge Love was selected to attend the International Judicial Academy, where she studied international law at The Hague, Netherlands. In 2011, Judge Love was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to participate in the inaugural session of the Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute. The LJLI assists in developing leadership skills, increasing awareness of leadership issues and provides a network for court leaders across Louisiana. Judge Love began her legal career in New Orleans with the firm of Jefferson, Bryan, Gray, & Jupiter where, among other things, she represented the Orleans Parish School Board in tort litigation. In 1990, Judge Love established a private law practice; she represented clients in all areas of law and specialized in family law. In 1993, she was appointed Judge Ad Hoc by the judges of the Juvenile Court of Orleans Parish. The following year, Mayor Marc Morial appointed her Chief Deputy City Attorney for the City of New Orleans. During her tenure, Judge Love was the lead author of the city’s first domestic violence ordinance. In October 1995, Judge Love was elected to the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. In September 2000, she was elected to the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, unopposed. In August 2004, and August 2014, Judge Love was re-elected to serve ten-year terms, unopposed.
A continuing student of the law, Judge Love has completed the New York University School of Law’s Institute for Appellate Judges and the George Mason School of Law Collegium. She is an active lecturer in various continuing legal education programs and has served as a Trial Advocacy Instructor at the Louisiana State University School of Law. She has also acted as an adjunct professor at Miles College Law School. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Judge Love coordinated the development and implementation of the Fourth Circuit’s Disaster Preparation, Continuity of Operations Plan. Judge Love currently serves as the Docket Committee Chair to ensure timely and efficient docket administration. In addition to the numerous community awards that Judge Love has received, in May 2004, she was bestowed with the prestigious Ernest N. Morial, Judicial Pacesetter Award, presented by the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society. In 2012, Judge Love received the National Urban League Women of Power Award. Judge Love is dedicated to the education of our youth. She has served on the Xavier University Preparatory School’s Board of Directors, Jackson State University’s Development Board, and also served as the inaugural chair of the Jackson State University Woman’s Philanthropy Board. Judge Love currently serves on the Amistad Research Center’s Board of Directors.
Judge Love also serves as a mentor and advisor with programs preparing the youth of New Orleans for collegiate education, including College Track and JOB1 (2018 Young Adult Achievement Award recipient). Judge Love’s commitment to young people includes providing the youth with an interactive experience in the judicial system. In furtherance of this commitment, Judge Love conducts annual Law Days. Judge Love is a member of the Louisiana State Bar, the Louisiana State Bar Foundation, the National Bar Association, the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, the American Judges Association, New Orleans Bar Association Inn of Court President (2011- 2016), and the National Association of Women Judges. She has also served on the ABA’s Judicial Division Appellate Judges Conference. She has been appointed as a hearing officer for the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana to adjudicate allegations of judicial misconduct. Judge Love has been a member of the Greater Saint Stephens Full Gospel Baptist Church since 1987. She serves as the activity director for the Senior Citizens Ministry of the church. Her dedication to providing, cultivating, and encouraging service to the community is continuous, as she is an active member of the Omicron Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (inducted in 1981 to the Gamma Rho Chapter at Jackson State University) and the New Orleans Chapter of The Links, Inc. Judge Love has been married to Ellria Love for the past thirty years. They are the proud parents of Jasmine Love-Cockfield (Samuel) and Ellria Hall. Judge Love is extremely proud that her daughter is a 2011 Jackson State Alumni and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., inducted into the Gamma Rho Chapter in 2010. Jasmine is presently employed as the Manager of Internal Communications and Special Programs with Rheem in Atlanta, Georgia.