Juan LaFonta | |
|---|---|
| Member of the LouisianaHouseofRepresentatives from the 96th district | |
| In office 2005 –January 9, 2012 | |
| Succeeded by | Terry Landry Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Juan Anthony LaFonta November 1972 (age 52) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | New Orleans,Louisiana |
| Alma mater | Southern University Law Center (J.D.) University of New Orleans (B.A.) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Juan Anthony LaFonta (born November 1972) is a New Orleans personal injury attorney and former Democratic State Representative for Louisiana representing Louisiana House District 96. He was elected in 2005 during a special election and was unopposed in his 2007 re-election. He runs Juan Lafonta and Associates,L.L.C.
LaFonta served as Louisiana first Freshmen legislator elected to Chairman of the Black Caucus. LaFonta also served on the Commerce Committee,the Insurance Committee,and the Retirement Committee. After Hurricane Katrina,LaFonta also served on the House Special Committee on Disaster Planning,Crisis Management,Recovery and Long-Term Revitalization.
Juan Anthony LaFonta was born in New Orleans,Louisiana,the son of a bricklayer and a public school teacher. He graduated from Brother Martin High School and earned his B.S. from the University of New Orleans in 1997,followed by a J.D. from Southern University Law Center in 2000. [1] [2]
He became the first freshman legislator in U.S. history to chair a state Black Caucus,serving as Chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus during his first term. [3]
He played an organizing role in the national Jena Six March and has supported civil rights causes throughout his career. [4]
LaFonta runs Juan LaFonta &Associates,LLC,a personal injury law firm that has served thousands of clients since 2002. [5]
Since 2021,LaFonta has hosted an annual Juneteenth Celebration on the New Orleans Lakefront. The free public event features food,music,fireworks,and cultural programming. As of 2025,he has organized the celebration for five consecutive years. [6] [7]
In 2018,LaFonta organized a free red-carpet screening of Marvel’s 'Black Panther' for mentoring groups and youth organizations. [8] In 2019,LaFonta sponsored a series of summer movie field trips for local children and families,with transportation and access covered. [9] In 2025,he partnered with actor Anthony Mackie to surprise students with an early screening of 'Captain America:Brave New World'. [10]
In 2017,LaFonta was crowned Mardi Gras Mambo King by the Cervantes Fundación Hispanoamericana de Arte at the New Orleans Museum of Art. The honor recognized his cultural leadership and support of New Orleans' Hispanic and multicultural communities. [11]
LaFonta has invested in Black-owned businesses by underwriting their advertisements in barbershops and other local establishments. [12] He also donated new uniforms to a youth football team when he learned families were struggling to afford them,stating,“This is what you do when you’re blessed. You give back.”
LaFonta’s advertising campaigns with local figures like Big Freedia have gained regional and national attention. A 2017 campaign featuring artist Roan Smith's portraits combined New Orleans bounce culture with legal branding,earning praise for its originality and cultural authenticity. [5] The Fader called LaFonta's Big Freedia commercial 'possibly the most New Orleans commercial of all time'. [13]