James Carter, a lifelong resident of New Orleans, graduated from both McDonogh #35 and the nationally recognized New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) high schools before securing his B.A. (1991) and Juris Doctorate (1997) degrees from Howard University, where he received the Law School's Academic Achievement Award.

Honored by non-profits, community groups and his peers, James was the first director of New Orleans' nationally recognized Weed and Seed Program, an innovative, comprehensive multi-agency approach to community revitalization, law enforcement, and crime prevention sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice.

James' affiliations include Tambourine and Fan, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Prince Hall Masons. He is also the former president of the New Orleans chapter of the Howard University Alumni Association and a 2003 graduate of the Metropolitan Area Committee Leadership Forum.

A Deacon at Second Good Hope Baptist Church of Algiers, James is married to the former Rene Lewis, daughter of the late Rev. Bob Lewis of Shiloh Baptist Church, and Principal of the newly reconstituted Martin Behrman Elementary School. James and Rene are the proud parents of their son, Bryce.