Honorable Ronald C. Gathe, Jr.

Ronald C. Gathe Jr. is a career prosecutor with a reputation for being a remarkable trial attorney.  In 2021, he was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana.  He was the first black U. S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana. As the chief federal law enforcement official in the district, Mr. Gathe was responsible for enforcing federal criminal laws with his federal partners such as FBI, ATF, DEA, Secret Service, IRS, HSI, U.S. Marshalls and a host of others.  In addition, he managed the district’s Public Safety Partnership program along with community organizations, state and local law enforcement, and government officials to optimize coordination and encourage partnership in keeping the district safe.  Under his leadership, he improved his office’s conviction rate to an outstanding 92% underscoring the importance of fair and firm prosecution with quality cases. 

Additionally, he represented the U.S. government in civil proceedings where he had authority to settle claims up to $10 million dollars.  Of the $9,712,626.45 initially demanded in civil claims under his authority, only $1,996,740.68 were paid in settlements saving $7,715,885.77 in taxpayer money.  As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Gathe reported to Attorney General Merrick Garland as part of his Advisory Committees on the issues Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Human Trafficking, Foreign and Domestic Terrorism, and National Security.  U.S. Attorney Gathe requested a designated civil rights attorney for his office which he was awarded and led investigations into the pattern and practices of Louisiana Department of  Corrections alleged over-detention of detainees and the patterns and practices of Louisiana State Police.  His duties also included serving as the Executive Director for the National Center of Disaster Fraud and on the Gulf Coast’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Committee.  As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Gathe served nine parishes having a population over one million people.

Previously, he served as the Chief of Trials for the 18th Judicial District, Office of the District Attorney under the Honorable Tony Clayton, where he was responsible for training the assistant district attorneys and supervising all trials held in the district which encompasses West Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee, and Iberville Parishes. Also, Mr. Gathe was the first black Section Chief for the 19^th Judicial District, Office of the District Attorney under the Honorable Hillar C. Moore, where he was responsible for prosecuting a broad range of felony crimes including homicides, rapes, robberies, and other crimes of violence.  He started his prosecution career as an assistant district attorney under the Honorable Doug Moreau. 

Mr. Gathe is a native of Baton Rouge where he attended St. Francis Xavier School and Catholic High of Baton Rouge. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Xavier University of Louisiana and his Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center with the Class of 2000. Upon graduating from law school, he worked as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable James Best in the 18th Judicial District. Mr. Gathe has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Southern University Law Center where he taught Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law and Trial Advocacy. He was also the district attorney’s office liaison and prosecutorial supervisor over the Southern University Law Center Externship program. In 2016, Mr. Gathe was awarded the honor of Distinguished Alumni at Southern University Law Center.

Mr. Gathe served as the first President of the Louisiana Chapter of National Black Prosecutors Association; the first chapter chartered in the State. Under his tenure, the Louisiana Chapter was awarded Chapter of the Year and established a pipeline of black prosecutors across numerous parishes within the State. He has also served the organization on a national level serving as Regional Director, Vice President of Membership, and Treasurer of the National Black Prosecutors Association. He was acknowledged by the National Black Prosecutors Association at the National Convention for having 15 years of experience as a prosecutor. He also received the NBPA President Special Recognition Award.