Judge James F. McKay Ill is presently serving a ten year term as Chief Judge on the Louisiana Court of Appeal 4th Circuit. Judge McKay is a native of New Orleans, where he attended and graduated from De La Salle High School in 1964. After graduating from De La Salle, he attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in English and Political Science in 1969. Thereupon, he entered law school at Loyola University in New Orleans from which he was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1974. While enrolled in law school, he also worked as an adult probation and parole officer.

From 1974-1978, Judge McKay worked at the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office where he served as a Senior Trial Attorney. From 1978-1982, he served as the Chief Prosecutor of the Criminal Division for the Metropolitan office of the State Attorney General's Office. On December 12, 1982, he was elected to the Criminal District Court bench where he served until 1998. Judge McKay was elected to the Louisiana Court of Appeal 4th Circuit on March 7, 1998. Since January 1, 2013, he has served as Chief Judge of this Court.

Judge McKay is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Judges Association where he served as President in 2009. He previously served as Vice President, National Secretary and has twice been elected to the Board of Governors. In 2007 he received the Judge William H. Burnett Award from the American Judges Association. Judge McKay is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Fourth and Fifth Circuit Judges Association, Francophone Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the American Judicature Society.

Judge McKay is also active in a number of civic and fraternal organizations. He served as National Treasurer of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, from 2008- 2012, National Vice President from 2012-2016, Nation President from 2016-2020 and thereafter remains Past National President for life. Currently Chair of the National Oversite Committee for the National Ancient Order of Hibernians and National Hibernian Charity.

He also has served as president of the Firemen's Charitable and Benevolent Association since 2000. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus (St. Dominic's Council) and the De LaSalle Alumni Association (past president). In 2010 Judge McKay was appointed as the Honorary Consul General of Ireland for the State of Louisiana.

Judge McKay is married to Marie Soniat McKay and they are the parents of four children: James F., IV, Michael B., Katherine L. and Colleen S. McKay.