Judge Cade R. Cole is a graduate of DeQuincy High School and the Tulane University School of Law. In law school he was awarded as the highest performing student in many important classes and was then admitted to both the Louisiana and Florida bar. Judge Cole later trained as a mediator at the Straus Institute at Pepperdine School of Law.

After law school, Cade served as a Law Clerk to Justice Jeannette Knoll at the Louisiana Supreme Court before entering private practice in Lake Charles. He handled extensive business and complex federal tax litigation while also serving as appellate counsel in many cases.

Judge Cole has served as an Assistant District Attorney, City Attorney for Sulphur and Vinton, and as the DeQuincy City Magistrate. He was Louisiana College Republican Chair and previously represented District 11 on the Calcasieu Republican PEC. Judge Cole is a past member of the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Committee on Social Concerns.



Governor Foster appointed him to the Louisiana Service Commission and Governor Jindal appointed him to the Board of Tax Appeals. 

Judge Cole has served as the state’s first state and local Tax Judge, presiding over billions of dollars of complex disputes. He has been the Chair of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization Advisory Commission and as a Section Chair of the state Bar Association. 

In 2013, the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association awarded Cade its Outstanding Service Award for his successful work to solve an indigent defense funding crisis that had stopped important trials. 

Cade also stood up for Southwest Louisiana after Hurricane Laura when the other area state and federal judges asked him to design the program to expedite the handling of hurricane related litigation and serve as its Special Master. 

Cade has recently worked closely with Coach Will Wade advising McNeese on NCAA issues and organizing the McNeese Ranch Collective to support student athletes. 

Judge Cole served as a member of the vetting committee for federal judicial appointments in Louisiana and chaired the U.S. District Court for Western Louisiana’s Magistrate Judge selection committee. 

Cade is married to Rebekah Cole, a former Chemical Engineer. They have four children and reside in Lake Charles.

The law enforcement leaders of every parish in this supreme court district support Judge Cole because they know he will keep us safe.