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Judge Buras’ median resolution time was 162 days, compared with 211 days courtwide. She ranked first in both 2024 and 2025 for having the best case resolution processing time among all the judges of Criminal District Court.
Earlier reports also recognized Judge Buras’ performance. MCC’s 2016–2017 review highlighted a reduction exceeding 40 days in her median processing time.
Independent courtroom observations provide another perspective. In its 2020 annual report, page 54, Court Watch NOLA found Judge Buras mentioned victims most frequently among the judges observed: in 12 of 25 sessions, or 48 percent.
An unnamed volunteer’s assessment in Court Watch’s 2016 report, page 2, described Judge Buras as “steady, intelligent, confidant and compassionate,” (sic).
Last month, 82% of New Orleans attorneys polled by the New Orleans Bar Association found Judge Buras the most qualified candidate in the race for Judge of Section H of Criminal District Court.
Elected in 1998, Buras became the court’s first female chief judge, according to a Louisiana State Bar Association biography.
Buras has emphasized that timely decisions must preserve fairness. In a Verite News questionnaire, she said warranted continuances protect victims and accused people alike—a distinction consistent with MCC’s call for efficient proceedings without sacrificing justice.
As Orleans Parish prepares for a smaller criminal court, the need for experienced, effective judges will only grow. Judge Buras’ record reflects the qualities that challenge demands: timely case resolution, attention to victims and respect for the rights of the accused. For everyone waiting on the courts, those priorities matter—because justice requires both care and the commitment to move cases forward.
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