Louisiana Supreme Court Justices
1813-Present |
Joseph Arsenne Breaux (1838-1926)
Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Louisiana, April 5, 1890, to April 4, 1904
Chief Justice, April 5, 1904, to April 5, 1914
Born February 18, 1838, in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, descendant of an early Acadian family • Spent childhood on family sugar plantation near Bayou Goula • Received bachelor's degree at Georgetown College in Kentucky • Earned law degree at University of Louisiana (Tulane's forerunner) and admitted to the bar 1859 • Practiced in Iberville Parish and established weekly newspaper • Married Eugenia Mille 1861 • Enlisted in the Confederate Army 1862 • Following the war, moved to Lafayette to practice • During 1867 risked his life managing food distribution to yellow fever victims • Practiced law in New Iberia • Ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1876 • First president of New Iberia National Bank • Worked to develop public schools, and elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction 1888 • Appointed associate justice by Governor Nicholls 1890 • Contributed a digest of decisions, published 1901 • Elevated by seniority to the office of chief justice 1904 • Served until retirement in 1914, having presided over completion of the Royal Street courthouse in 1910 and the centennial celebration of the Supreme Court in 1913 • A major benefactor of Charity Hospital and Loyola and Tulane universities • Died in New Orleans July 23, 1926 • Portrait painted by Andres Molinary
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