Times Picayune: Baton Rouge attorney John deGravelles wins Senate confirmation as federal judge
WASHINGTON -- The Senate Tuesday unanimously confirmed John deGravelles as a federal District Judge in Baton Rouge. The vote was 100-0.
He is an attorney and founding partner at deGravelles, Palmintier, Holthaus & Fruge LLP in Baton Rouge.
DeGravelles, 64, was recommended for the post by Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. President Barack Obama nominated deGravelles in March for the lifetime appointment.
He received his Bachelor's and law degree from LSU.
He is replacing Judge James Brady, who took senior status at the court earlier this year.
With the vote at 99-0, the roll call was kept open an extra five minutes so that Majority Leader Harry Reid could vote and give the nominee affirmative votes from all 100 senators.
DeGravelles, who expects to be sworn in Thursday or Friday, said he'll benefit from his own experience as a lawyer who has tried cases before a diverse group of judges.
"As a lawyer who has suffered through slings and arrows from some judges," deGravelles said, his goal as a judge will be to "be very user friendly" so other attorneys "are not put through what I've experienced."
Landrieu said she appreciated the unanimous vote for a nominee and the support for his nomination from her Republican colleague, Sen. David Vitter.
"As a partner in this well-established firm in Baton Rouge, he has honed his skills as one of the region's most capable litigators in both federal and state court," Landrieu said. "In addition to his work as a lawyer, respected by a broad cross section of leaders, he has also taught for 20 years at both Tulane Law School and LSU. He's very popular, I understand, as a teacher, always open to students, and one whose advice is sought on a regular basis."
