Rémy Voisin Starns

Rémy Voisin Starns (pronunciation of name is: ray’∙me) is the State Public Defender. As the State Public Defender, Mr. Starns oversees the entire 64-parish public defense system in Louisiana which represents almost 88% of all persons accused of crimes statewide.

Prior to his appointment as State Public Defender, Mr. Starns was an assistant district attorney in Avoyelles Parish and practiced civil and criminal law in a wide range of matters in both state and federal court.

Mr. Starns was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A 1993 graduate of LSU, he received a Bachelor of Arts in political science with minors in Latin and classical civilization. While at LSU, Mr. Starns contributed mostly on the scout team as a defensive lineman for the football team. Also, Mr. Starns holds law degrees from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law and Tulane Law School.

Starns was appointed to his second term with the LSU Board of Supervisors by Governor Jeff Landry in June 2024. He was previously appointed to the LSU Board of Supervisors by Governor John Bel Edwards in June 2018. His prior service includes being a charter member of the Louisiana Public Defender Board as an appointee of the senate president and as a member of the Louisiana Capital Punishment Fiscal Impact Study Commission as an appointee of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference.

Mr. Starns and his wife Pamela Turgeau Starns live in Jefferson Parish and are parishioners of St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church.