bˈuːlɪɡni wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd ɹᵻkˈoːɹdɚ fɚðə fˈoːɹθ mjuːnˈɪsɪpəl dˈɪstɹɪkt ʌv nˈuː ˈɔːɹliənz ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɪks, mˌeɪkɪŋ hˌɪm ɹᵻspˈɑːnsᵻbəl fɔːɹ tɹˈaɪɪŋ ænd sˈɛntənsɪŋ kˈeɪsᵻz ɪnvˈɑːlvɪŋ pˈʌblɪk nˈuːsənsᵻz ænd pˈɛɾi kɹˈaɪmz.
Bouligny was elected recorder for the Fourth Municipal District of New Orleans in 1856, making him responsible for trying and sentencing cases involving public nuisances and petty crimes.