Celebrating 200 Years

Jeannette Theriot Knoll

Associate Justice, Louisiana Supreme Court January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2016

JUSTICE JEANNETTE THERIOT KNOLL, one of ten children, was born in Baton Rouge and immediately took up residence in Gueydan, Louisiana. Justice Knoll subsequently graduated from St. James Major High School in New Orleans and received a B.A. degree, in 1966, in political science with a minor in history from Loyola University and her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1969. She received a Master of Laws degree in the judicial process from the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1996.

The winner of a Metropolitan Opera Association and New Orleans Opera Guild Scholarship at the age of 18 to study voice under the direction of Maestro Adler of the Metropolitan Opera Company and at Mannes College of Music, she studied in New York, she attended Loyola University Music School on a voice scholarship and was a guest soloist with the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony and the New Orleans Summer Pops.

Justice Knoll took office on the Louisiana Supreme Court on January 1, 1997. Prior to her election to the Supreme Court from the Third Supreme Court District, Justice Knoll served as a judge of the Court of Appeal, Third Circuit. She was elected to the Third Circuit in 1982 and was reelected in 1993.

From 1972 to 1982, she served as first assistant district attorney for the Twelfth Judicial District Court, Avoyelles Parish and at one time served as a criminal defense attorney for indigents in Avoyelles Parish. She also served as gratuitous attorney and advisor for the United States Selective Service, Local Board No. 5, Marksville, Louisiana.

Justice Knoll is an Instructor for the Louisiana Judicial College and served as chair of Continuing Legal Education for Louisiana Court of Appeal Judges. She is past president of the Business and Professional Women's Club. In 1995 and 2002, she received the Outstanding Judicial Award from the Victims and Citizens Against Crime, Inc. In 2000, she was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame and named the Louisiana Crimefighters' Outstanding Jurist of the Year. She was inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame in 2007. She is director of the Arts and Humanities Council of Avoyelles, Inc. and is a former chair of the March of Dimes.

Justice Knoll is a member of the visiting committees of Loyola University School of Law and of Loyola Music School; of LSUA Criminal Justice Advisory Committee; Loyola University Alumni Association Board of Directors (College of Arts and Sciences); American Legion Auxiliary - Prevost Johnson #130; Louisiana Cattleman's Association; and Marksville Chamber of Commerce. She is a former member of the State Board of Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice; Marksville Jaycee Jaynes; Phi Phi Phi, social sorority; and the conflicts committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute.

Justice Knoll is married to Jerold Edward Knoll, district attorney for the Twelfth Judicial District, Avoyelles Parish, and they are the parents of five sons: Triston Kane; Eddie, Jr.; Edmond "Sonny" Humphries; Blake Theriot; and Jonathan Paul.