Paulette Irons facts for kids

Paulette Riley Irons (born in 1952) is a judge for the civil district court in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is known for her work as a politician and for breaking new ground for women in Louisiana's government.

In 1994, she made history by becoming only the second woman to be elected to the Louisiana Senate. She served there for 12 years, until 2006. Before her time in the Senate, she was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 1994. In 2002, she also ran for mayor of New Orleans.

A Career in Public Service

As a state senator, Paulette Irons was a very active leader. She worked on important groups called committees, which help create new laws for the state.

Work in the Louisiana Senate

Senator Irons was part of several key committees, including:

• The Education Committee, which handles laws about schools.
• The Insurance Committee.
• The Judiciary B Committee, which deals with the court system.
• The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, which manages the state's money.

She was also the leader of the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children. This group focused on creating laws to help and protect women and kids in Louisiana.

Helping the Community

Paulette Irons has always been dedicated to helping people. She joined special groups, called task forces, to work on important issues. She worked to improve women's rights and to help people stay healthy. She also worked with a national group to help teenagers make smart choices for their future.

Because of her hard work, she was named Legislator of the Year in 1995 by the Alliance for Good Government. She also supported laws to make sure all people were treated fairly at their jobs. She often encouraged young people to stay in school and try their best.

Early Life and Education

Paulette Irons grew up in New Orleans. She graduated with honors from Booker T. Washington Senior High School. Even though she came from a family without much money and was a young single mother, she was determined to succeed.

She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Loyola University New Orleans. She then went to Tulane University Law School to become a lawyer. At Tulane, she earned a juris doctor degree, which is the degree needed to practice law. She focused on public interest law, which means using law to help people and communities.

As a lawyer, she often helped people who could not afford legal help. In 1992, she started her own law office, the Paulette Irons Law Firm.

Awards and Personal Life

Paulette Irons has received many awards for her work. In 2001, Good Housekeeping magazine gave her an award for Women in Government. In 2004, the TV channel HBO honored her as one of ten important Black women leaders.

She is married to Alvin Irons. She has two children, Marseah and Paul, and three grandsons. When she is not working, she loves to spend time with her family.