Tucker Melancon

Tucker Melancon

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (senior status)

Tenure

2009 - Present

Years in position

15

Prior offices

United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

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Education

Bachelor's

Louisiana State University, 1968

Law

Tulane Law, 1973

Personal

Birthplace

Bryan, Texas

Contact

Official website

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Tucker L. Melancon is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. He joined the court in 1994 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton. He is serving on senior status.

Early life and education

A native of Texas, Melancon graduated from Louisiana State University with his bachelor's degree in 1968 and later graduated from Tulane Law School with his law degree in 1973.

Professioanl career

Melancon spent his entire pre-judicial legal career as a private practice attorney licensed in the State of Louisiana from 1973 to 1993.

Judicial career

Western District of Louisiana

On the unanimous recommendation of Louisiana U.S. Senators John Breaux and Bennett Johnston, Melancon was nominated by President Bill Clinton on November 18, 1993 to a seat vacated by Tom Stagg. Melancon was Confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 10, 1994 on a Senate vote and received commission on February 11, 1994. Melancon assumed senior status on February 14, 2009. Melancon was succeeded in this position by Elizabeth Erny Foote.

Noteworthy cases

Lawyer seeks $10 million in fees (2011)

See also: United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (Monteilh v. St. Landry Parish School Board, No. 11-0570)

Judge Melancon was the presiding judge over a case which involves an attorney seeking legal fees of $700 an hour for the 14,136.5 hours. He says he worked on a desegregation lawsuit he filed in 1965 against the St. Landry Parish School District. The case came to an end in March of 2011, with the school district being required to continue several desegregation initiatives. Marion Overton White, the attorney who originally filed the lawsuit, came to Judge Melancon in May seeking compensation for his work on the case. Though he is legally entitled to collect fees, the school district contend that the amount is too much and has asked the judge to dismiss the case. On November 21, 2011, a settlement was reached for $800,000 to be paid in fees to Overton.

See also

• United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

External links

• The Robing Room- Rate Judge Melancon
• Judge Melancon's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by: Tom Stagg	Western District of Louisiana 1994–2009 Seat #1	Succeeded by: Elizabeth Erny Foote