The road was originally named Goodchildren Drive, but was renamed in November 1969 for former political boss of St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, Judge Leander Perez (died March 1969).
Nearly every major fast food chain is represented here, as well as several large national retailers, many with multiple locations.
The thoroughfare, which carries the designation of Louisiana Highway 39, begins as West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi at the border between Orleans and St. Bernard parishes as a continuation of North Claiborne Avenue.
It becomes East Judge Perez Drive at its intersection with Paris Road (Louisiana Highway 47) and continues as such for several miles.
The roadway had damage ranging from significant to severe after the levee breaches during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which submerged the Drive in as much as 14 feet (4.3 m) of oil-polluted flood water in some areas.