Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — U.S. District Judge John V. Parker, who had been a senior judge in Louisiana's Middle District since 1998, has died. He was 85.
Clerk of Court Michael McConnell on Tuesday confirmed that Parker died Monday. McConnell did not know details of his death.
"Judge Parker's career as a federal judge was exemplary and his contributions to the administration of justice are too numerous to describe," Chief Judge Brian A. Jackson said in a written statement. "He will forever be remembered for his keen sense of justice, his devotion to the rule of law and his love for the people of Baton Rouge."
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter nominated Parker for the federal bench. He served as chief judge from then until 1998, when he took senior status. Those who worked with him said the senior role didn't slow him down.
U.S. District Judge James A. Brady, Parker's successor when he took senior status, said Parker will be missed.
"He was a very active senior judge and didn't cut back on his workload," he said. "He relished doing what judges do. He was a wonderful mentor to me and an all-around great man."
The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1nEexhG) Parker is likely best known for overseeing a divisive East Baton Rouge Parish schools desegregation lawsuit filed in 1956 on behalf of 37 black children. The lawsuit officially ended in 2007.
"I inherited that case from him," Brady recalled. "Now, I'm not defending him but he was much maligned for some of the rulings made in that case when all he did was apply the law. People just didn't understand that. When I got the case, some of the parties involved felt I might give a different bent, but I told them Judge Parker followed the law and so will I. He just did what was required of him."
Brady described Parker as "an excellent judge."
"This community was very fortunate to have had him," he said.
Before his federal appointment, Parker worked as an assistant parish attorney, had a private law practice and served in the U.S. Army.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
___
Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
