EDGARD — Judge Mary Hotard Becnel has been a judge in the 40th Judicial District Court for 23 years.

After many years serving the residents of St. John the Baptist Parish, Becnel said she feels it is time to retire, adding her last day is going to be Dec. 31.

Judge Becnel’s husband, Daniel Becnel Jr., became ill last December, and she plans to retire in part to spend more time with him.

“He will be coming home in a couple of weeks,” she said. “I would like to spend a lot more time with him. I rather not go into the details of his illness but I do appreciate the calls and concerns regarding his health.”

A special election will be held for Judge Becnel’s replacement. According to the Registrar of Voters, qualifying for that election runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 20-22. The election for Judge District Court Division B is Nov. 8.

Becnel is one of three judges, along with Madeline Jasmine and J. Sterling Snowdy, who serve the 40th Judicial District Court.

Her term was scheduled to end in 2021.

Becnel said she is looking forward to all the things that go along with retirement, such as not having a business schedule.

“Right now I’m expecting a new grandbaby, so that’s exciting,” she said. “I also hope to travel a little bit, work in my yard and catch up on my reading.”

Becnel said it is tough to leave because she loves what she does and the people she works with.

“I love serving the Parish; I’ve been elected five times,” she said. “I’m one of those lucky people because I’ve been given the opportunity to work at a job that I love doing and get paid for it. It’s been a wonderful experience.”

Serving at the St. John Courthouse in Edgard for 48 years, Becnel said she began her life in law at the age of 19 as a court reporter for the late Judge C. William Bradley.

“I went to college and law school at night,” she said. “Then I became a lawyer and practiced (at the Edgard Courthouse) and I was elected judge later on. I’ve been in the courthouse in three capacities. It feels wonderful. Being at the courthouse is like being home with family.”

She never imagined at 19 that she would someday be a judge.

She didn’t even think she was going to be a lawyer at that point.

There weren’t many women becoming judges at that time, according to Becnel. She said judges are not like Judge Judy and aren’t on the bench for shock value or entertainment.

“When someone goes into a courtroom, they are there for a very serious problem,” she said. “It’s not a happy occasion. The only happy thing a judge sees in a courtroom is an adoption. Everything else is a problem, whether it’s a criminal case, a juvenile case or a divorce case. All of those are serious life-changing issues for the people involved in them. The public should know that all three of us judges on the bench here take our job very seriously.”

Judge Snowdy said it’s a bittersweet feeling seeing his colleague leave.

“We understand her reasons for leaving,” he said. “She has severed for so many years with distinction. She is a vivacious conversationalist and a fair and very patient jurist.”

Whoever replaces Becnel, Snowdy said, needs to be fair and honest.

They have to understand they have big shoes to fill, he said.

“(Becnel) has been a wonderful colleague and mentor,” Snowdy said. “She always had an open door. I look forward to cherishing these next few months with her as she winds down operations.”

Snowdy said he wishes Becnel and her husband luck, adding he hopes Danny’s recovery is quick.