Darensburg briefed journalists in January 2024: Press ‘Crucial’ To Demystifying Nation’s Juvenile Court System. 

Judge Ranord J. Darensburg serves as chief judge of Orleans Parish Juvenile Court. Darensburg was a practicing attorney and social worker for over 25 years before being elected and joining the New Orleans Juvenile Court bench on Jan. 1, 2021. Prior to his election, Darensburg served as Orleans Parish Juvenile Court judicial administrator. He has written and lectured on legal issues, including juvenile justice reform, small business formation, adoption and business development.

A native of New Orleans, Darensburg obtained graduate degrees in law and social work from Loyola University College of Law (JD) and Tulane University School of Social Work (MSW). As an undergraduate, Darensburg studied art history and French at the University of Toulon in France. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Fresh out of law school, Darensburg was co-founder of the Community Volunteers Association, a nonprofit community service organization with the mission of enhancing existing community services to better meet the needs of youth and families. As Judicial Administrator for Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, Darensbirg oversaw all non-judicial functions of the court. In this role, he worked proactively to cultivate relationships with vital stakeholders to improve the operations, effectiveness and sustainability of the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court.

Darensburg has served in numerous and varied leadership roles during his career, including an appointment in 2010 as Judge Pro Tempore in Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, Ad Hoc Judge-First City Court for the Parish of Orleans, Clerk of Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, Outreach Coordinator Multi-Service Center for the Homeless, Code Enforcement Hearing Officer and General Counsel at Transit Management of Southeast Louisiana. As judicial administrator of Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, Darensburg worked to enhance court services and operations. Darensburg has utilized his combination of law and social work education to create evidence-based programming in the Court that has improved outcomes for court-involved youth and families. In August 2021, Darensburg was appointed Chief Judge of Orleans Parish Juvenile Court by election of the Judged En Banc.

Throughout his career, Darensburg has volunteered with a wide range of professional and community service organizations. He has served on the Board of Directors for organizations, including Kingsley House, Young Leadership Council, Volunteer Information Agency, New Orleans Arts Council, National Association of Social Workers-Louisiana Chapter and the National Alliance for Mental Illness.