District Attorney Tony Clayton has worked in criminal prosecution all of his career. Before being elected District Attorney in 2020, he served as First Assistant District Attorney, and was the Chief of Felony Trials for the 18th Judicial DDA’s office. In those roles, he successfully prosecuted two serial killers, and also tried almost every major felony case involving violent crimes for the last 17 years, with an almost perfect record of convictions.
In addition to his public service as a prosecutor, Tony served, in 1997, as a District Court Judge at the 19th Judicial District Court by appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Previous to that, he served 8 years in criminal prosecution and justice management and 5 years as Special Prosecutor for the East Baton Rouge District Attorney. He was named Prosecutor of the Year by Crime Fighters of Louisiana, and received the Home Run Hitters Award by the National District Attorneys’ Association.
Tony has served as both Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Southern University Board of Supervisors, and is a managing partner in the Port Allen law firm of Clayton, Fruge’, Ward and Hendry. Tony has many professional affiliations and serves on numerous boards and commissions.
He is a 1988 graduate of Southern University A & M College and a 1991 Cum Laude graduate of Southern University Law Center. He is married to the former Paula Hartley. He is the proud father of Brilliant, Austin, Jené, Brandon and TJ.