John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program
The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program in Louisiana provides for the payment of eligible educational loans (both Federal Family Education Loan Program [FFELP] and Federal Direct Loans) for state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors employed in Louisiana who agree to remain employed as public defenders and prosecutors for at least three years.
!!! Program Notice !!!
Please be aware that the funding for the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program has not been allocated for 2026 at this time. If we receive notification of funding, we will advise that the application has been opened.
In the event that no new funding is available for 2026, LOSFA will still be required to verify the employment status for each current John R. Justice beneficiary to ensure the 36-month service agreement or the 1-year service agreement (following completion of the initial 36-month term) is met.
All current John R. Justice beneficiaries who do not meet the terms of their service agreement may seek a waiver for those payments. Please see the waiver request template attached.
The completed waiver form may be emailed to krishundra.nelson@la.gov and will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice/ Office of Justice Programs.
Questions regarding this communication should be directed to Krishundra Nelson at krishundra.nelson@la.gov or Devynn Alexander at devynn.alexander@la.gov.
- Eligibility
To be eligible for the John R. Justice Program in Louisiana:
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Have an outstanding balance of at least $20,000 due on eligible student loans. Eligible loans include FFELP and Direct educational loan(s) (Federal Stafford loans, Graduate PLUS loans, federal consolidation loans) and Federal Perkins loans.
- Be an attorney continually licensed to practice law in Louisiana, and
- a full-time employee of the state of Louisiana or unit of local government (including tribal government) who prosecutes criminal or juvenile delinquency cases at the state or unit of local government level, including supervision, education, or training of other persons prosecuting such cases (Prosecutors who are employees of the federal government are not eligible), or
- a full-time employee of the state of Louisiana or unit of local government (including tribal government) who provides legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases including supervision, education, or training of other persons providing such representation, or
- a full-time employee of a nonprofit organization operating under a contract with Louisiana or a unit of local government who devotes substantially all the employee’s full-time employment to providing legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile cases including supervision, education, or training of other persons providing such representation, or
- employed in Louisiana as a full-time federal defender attorney in a defender organization, according to Subsection (g) of section 3006A of Title 18, United States Code, that provides legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases.
- Not be in default on any federal student loans.
- State and federal public defenders and state prosecutors employed in Louisiana must have been employed a minimum of one year in a qualifying position as of December 31, 2024. If awarded, they must agree to remain employed as a full-time prosecutor or public defender for a minimum of three years following receipt of the award.
- Contract employees are not eligible to participate in the John R. Justice Program.