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Eastern District of Louisiana History

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Judicial Profile - Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr.

Do you want to wear it?” he would ask, gesturing to his black robe.  Of course, he only asked in jest; it might appear to be just a robe, after all.  But for Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr., that robe represented much more: a position to be respected, with immense responsibility, and, above all, a position of service. To Duval, if a judge believes he deserves to wear the robe, then the opposite is true. This philosophy imbued his tenure, earning him a reputation for even-handedness, intellect, and practicality among members of the bar.

To those who know him, Duval is a true study in contrasts. An avid sportsman, he fishes near his camp in Grand Isle and hunts duck in Louisiana marshes, yet he also steadfastly supports the New Orleans arts and theater community. He is a sesquipedalian, slipping words like “phantasmagorical,” “ebullient,” or “perspicacious” into his everyday vernacular, yet has a down-to-earth (and often self-deprecating) sense of humor—and a fondness for pranks.

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