Honorable Eric R. Harrington
Judge Eric Roger “Rick” Harrington was born in Natchitoches on June 19, 1947. He grew up in the Cypress and Flora communities, and graduated from Flora High School.
Judge Harrington received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern State University in 1967, and taught high school for 6 years. He graduated from the Tulane University School of Law in 1976, and returned home to open a law practice.
He was engaged in the private practice of law for 23 years, and served as an assistant district attorney from 1976-84. He has served as a member of the adjunct faculty of Northwestern State University, teaching classes in criminal and family law.
Judge Harrington is a past president of the following organizations: Louisiana Assistant District Attorneys’ Association, the Natchitoches Jaycees, the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, and the NSU Athletic Boosters’ Club. He and his wife, Carolyn, were co-chairs of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and the 275th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of Natchitoches.
He was elected judge of Division A of the Tenth Judicial District Court in 1999, and took office that same year.
Since first taking office, Judge Harrington has worked with others to create a number of programs. He and Sheriff Victor Jones established the Long Distance Dads program at the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. The program teaches incarcerated men to be better fathers, both while in jail and after release.
Judge Harrington teamed with the Sheriff, District Attorney Van Kyzar and City Judge Fred S. Gahagan to create Teen Court, wherein juvenile offenders are judged and sentenced by their peers.
The judge joined with the Boys and Girls Club of Natchitoches to establish the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, which trains and coordinates volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children.
He and First Baptist Church on Amulet Street sponsor a probation support group that helps those on felony probation to be successful and get on with their lives.
In 2004, with the support of Sheriff Jones and District Attorney Kyzar, Judge Harrington founded the Tenth Judicial District Drug Court program. Drug court takes felony first offenders who have committed a crime because of a substance abuse problem, and places them in treatment and under intensive court supervision during their period of probation, to get them off drugs and help them live constructive lives.
For information on these programs contact Judge Harrington.
Judge Harrington is married to the former Carolyn deLaureal, and they have three children, Charlotte, Andrew and Camille, and two grandchildren. The Harringtons are members of Trinity Episcopal Church and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.