A native of Monroe, Louisiana, Representative Katrina R. Jackson is the proud daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Welton and Patricia Holman and Mr. and Mrs. Walter and Linda Jackson. As the product of loving and committed parents, Ms. Jackson’s life work has been predicated upon two beliefs: service to God and service to her community.
Ms. Jackson attributes her accomplishments to not just having a dream, but having a dream that is in alignment with God’s plan for her life. She believes her footsteps are ordered by God and every day she works to allow God to guide her in the process of realizing her dream. Ms. Jackson and her family worship at Riverside Missionary Baptist Church in Monroe.
Ms. Jackson was educated in the public school system in Monroe. After graduating high school, Ms. Jackson attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Pre-Law and Legal Studies. In 2004, Ms. Jackson earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge. Ms. Jackson is also a graduate of Leadership 2000.
After school, Ms. Jackson’s career quickly took off and she continues to reach higher heights. Upon gaining admission to the Louisiana State Bar, Attorney Jackson began to concentrate her efforts to help her community as a licensed attorney. She developed and honed her skills and talents with the Law Offices of Willie Hunter, Jr. in Monroe. In 2006, she joined the staff of the Louisiana House of Representatives as the attorney for the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations. As the attorney for the committee, Ms. Jackson was responsible for research and bill drafting in areas of law including worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, and the payment of wages. In 2007, Attorney Jackson went on to serve as the executive director of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. Attorney Jackson made the decision to hang her own shingle in 2012 by opening her private law firm, Katrina R. Jackson LLC, in Monroe
In 2011, Ms. Jackson was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives to represent House District No. 16 which covers parts of Ouachita and Morehouse Parishes. As state representative, Rep. Jackson worked passionately to advance causes that are important to her and her community, particularly in the areas of education criminal justice, agriculture, and health care
During her first term as state representative, Rep. Jackson served as a member of the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development; Committee on Commerce; Committee on Health and Welfare; and the House Executive Committee. She was an ad hoc member of the Committee on Appropriations, Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, and Committee on House and Governmental Affairs. Elected, and later re-elected, by her peers, Rep. Jackson served as the chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus for two two-year terms.
In 2005, Rep. Jackson was re-elected to a second term of office in the House of Representatives. In this current term, her committee assignments are: the Committee on Judiciary, of which she is the chair; Committee on Health and Welfare; House Executive Committee; House Select Leadership Committee; House Appropriations, Ad Hoc Member; Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, Ad Hoc Member; Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission; and, Member of the Judicial Council of Louisiana Supreme Court.
Rep. Jackson also serves as a member of the Democratic Caucus, Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, Women’s Caucus of which she is the secretary, and Rural Caucus.
For her diligence and commitment to public service, Rep. Jackson has received recognition from a number of organizations.