Ceremonies marking the historic investiture of Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, a 1969 graduate of the LSU Law Center, were held on Thursday, February 28.  Chief Justice Johnson is the first African American Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court and the 25^th Chief Justice to serve in the role. 

The investiture ceremony took place on the steps of the Louisiana Supreme Court in New Orleans.  Justice Johnson took the official oath of office in a courtroom ceremony held on February 1.  She succeeds retiring Chief Justice Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball (LSU Law 1970), who served as the Court’s first female Chief Justice.

“On behalf of the entire LSU Law family, I offer my congratulations and best wishes to Chief Justice Johnson,” said LSU Law Chancellor Jack M. Weiss, who attended the February 28 ceremony.  “She has served the Court and the legal community with dedication and distinction.  We are proud to claim Chief Justice Johnson as a “law Tiger.”  We look forward to working with Chief Justice Johnson as she seeks to improve our state’s system of justice for the benefit of all of our citizens.” 

Chief Justice Johnson’s judicial career began in 1984 when she was elected to the Civil District Court of New Orleans, becoming the first woman to hold that office. She was re-elected without opposition in 1990 and was elected Chief Judge by her colleagues in 1994.  Chief Justice Johnson was elected to serve on the Louisiana Supreme Court in 1994 and was re-elected, without opposition, in 2000 and 2010.  She represents the Seventh Supreme Court District which includes Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. 

Of the seven justices on the Louisiana Supreme Court, four other sitting Justices are graduates of the LSU Law Center, including the Honorable John Weimer (1980), Honorable Greg Guidry (1975), Honorable Marcus Clark (1985), and  Honorable Jefferson Hughes (1978).

Link to full biography of Chief Justice Johnson. 

The LSU Law Center mourns the passing of two distinguished alumni, William M. “Bill” Meyers of Covington and The Honorable Frank J. Polozola, United States District Judge of the Middle District of Louisiana. 

Mr. Meyers, a prominent oil and gas lawyer who helped found the Liskow and Lewis law firm in New Orleans, died Friday, February 22, 2013, in Covington. He was 90.  The LSU Law Center awarded him the “Distinguished Achievement Award” in 2012, in recognition of his exemplary career and dedication to the Law Center. He earned his LSU Law degree in 1948, and while in law school, Mr. Meyers served as associate editor of the Louisiana Law Review and president of Phi Delta Phi, a fraternity for law students.  He graduated The Order of the Coif.

Mr. Meyers worked with the Liskow and Lewis law firm for over 40 years, serving as managing partner for several years. He was particularly concerned with legal and environmental issues related to the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, and the waters bordering Alaska. He was a frequent presenter at legal seminars and hearings, and at industry seminars. His system for recording lease files at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act is in use today.  He was a long-time Senior Member of the Louisiana Law Institute, helping to revise portions of the Louisiana Civil Code and the Louisiana Mineral Code.

Mr. Meyers was a member of the Law Center’s Chancellor’s Council, a Law Fellow, and a former practitioner-in-residence at the Law Center. He was inducted into the LSU Law Center Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements.

Mr. Meyers was a member of the Board of Governors and the Board of Delegates of the Louisiana Bar Association. He also was a former research fellow and trustee of the Southwestern Legal Foundation, now the Center for American and International Law, and was on the board of editors of the Oil and Gas Reporter.

He joined the Marines in 1942, serving as a gunnery officer aboard the U.S.S. Washington which provided support for landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Mr. Meyers was awarded four battle stars. The Law Center will recognize Mr. Meyer’s military service during the annual Chancellor’s Council dinner on March 9. 

In addition to Mr. Meyers’ wife, Lorraine, survivors include four sons, Dr. William Meyers Jr. of New Orleans; Mark Meyers (LSU Law ’79) of Houston; Andrew Meyers (LSU Law ’84) of Lafayette; and John Meyers of Covington; two daughters, Meg Meyers Smith of Houston and Mary Meyers Howard of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and 11 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held March 16 at 3 p.m. at Christwood Retirement Community, 100 Christwood Blvd. in Covington. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Bill’s memory to the William M. Meyers Endowed Scholarship at the LSU Law Center. Gifts may be made to the scholarship via the LSU Foundation’s online giving process at https://www.lsufoundation.org/contribute.php

Federal Judge Frank Polozola, a 1965 graduate of the Law Center, passed away on Sunday, February 24, 2013 and was buried on Wednesday, February 27 in Baton Rouge.

Judge Polozola was sworn in as a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana in 1980, following his nomination by President Jimmy Carter. He served as Chief Judge of the Middle District of Louisiana from 1998 – 2005.  Judge Polozola became a Senior Judge in January 2007.  He served almost 40 years on the bench, first serving as a U.S. Magistrate Judge. 

He attended LSU on an athletic scholarship and was a catcher for the 1961 Southeastern Conference Championship baseball team. During his years at LSU Law, he served on the Law Review and graduated The Order of the Coif.

He served as an adjunct professor at the Law Center for many years.  Judge Polozola formerly served on the Law Center’s Alumni Board of Trustees and was inducted in the LSU Law School Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements.

He was instrumental in establishing the Guard Youth Challenge Program and the Job Challenge Program for at-risk youth.  He served for 22 years on the Board of Directors for Catholic High School in Baton Rouge.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, children Gregory Polozola (LSU Law ’95), Sheri Polozola Vutera, Gordon Polozola (LSU Law ’95), and numerous grandchildren.