Royce Duplessis

Royce Duplessis was elected to serve the people of Louisiana House District 93 in 2018, where he serves on the Ways & Means, Criminal Justice, Labor & Industrial Relations, and the House Executive Committees. District 93 includes the Central Business District, Warehouse District, French Quarter, Lower Garden District, Central City, Lower Mid-City, Tremé, 7th Ward, and St. Roch neighborhoods.

He is the son of a veteran teacher and career-long postal service worker – public servants who were his first examples of hard work and integrity. In high school, Royce worked summers as a bricklayer’s assistant, learning the value of sweat equity. During college at Xavier University, he supported himself earning tips as a busboy at Mandina’s Restaurant. When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Royce poured himself into rebuilding his community by serving as Chief of Staff to former New Orleans Councilman James Carter.

While attending Howard University Law School in Washington, D.C. he founded the Howard Energy and Environmental Law Society, focusing on environmental justice. He worked as an intern at the Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. After serving as a law clerk for Judge Thomas Motley, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Royce Returned home to practice law in 2011.

In 2014, Royce was hired by Chief Justice Bernette Johnson to serve Special Counsel for the Louisiana Supreme Court, where he specialized in judicial administration and criminal justice reform policy.

As Chairman of the New Orleans City Planning Commission, Royce fought for progressive zoning policies that also preserve the character of New Orleans’ historic neighborhoods.

Since 2012 Royce has volunteered as a mentor to teenagers through the nationally renowned Silverback Society. In his role as Past President of the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society and worked to vastly improve the society’s focus on improving legal access through programming like community outreach clinics. Royce also co-founded and served as the President of the A.P. Tureaud, Sr. Legacy Committee which works to honor the legacy of the preeminent Louisiana Civil Rights through education.

Royce has also been actively involved with the following:

• Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee (2012-2014)

• New Leaders Council (2014 Fellow)

• Xavier University of Louisiana’s 40 Under 40 (2015)

• Education Leadership Institute (2016 Fellow)

• New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute (2017 Fellow; Leadership Award)

• Tulane’s Early Childhood Policy Leadership Institute (2018 Fellow)

Royce owns and operates his own small business, Duplessis Law firm LLC, focusing on civil litigation. Royce and his wife Krystle Ferbos Duplessis, Esq. are proud residents of Central City. In 2018 Royce and Krystle welcomed home Reese Ava, who gave Royce the greatest title of all, “Dad.”