Louisiana Supreme Court Justice William J. Crain has been confirmed to a lifetime appointment as a judge of the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Crain is a native of Washington Parish.
Justice Crain will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Eldon E. Fallon.
In a statement marking this milestone, Justice Crain said, “Being confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as a federal judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana is the professional honor of my lifetime. I want to thank President Trump for nominating me and for the trust and confidence he has placed in me. I also want to thank Senator Bill Cassidy and Senator John Kennedy for their support throughout the process.”
“Senator Kennedy endorsed me in my 2019 race for the Louisiana Supreme Court, and he never wavered in his support for my nomination to the federal bench. I am forever grateful.”
“Through three elections and 16 years as a state court judge at every level of the state judiciary, the people have placed their trust in me. I have worked tirelessly to maintain that trust by doing what I believe judges should do – decide cases in a timely, fair, impartial manner and interpret the law as it is written. Those efforts culminated in the most fulfilling years of my career to date, my service on the Louisiana Supreme Court. I thank my colleagues for their collaborative efforts to improve the judicial branch, as well as our Supreme Court family for their dedication to excellence. It is with a deeply grateful heart for the people allowing me to serve in the Louisiana judiciary that I look forward to serving my state and country in this new capacity.”
Justice Crain has served on the Louisiana Supreme Court, First District, since 2019, following prior judicial roles on the First Circuit Court of Appeal and the 22nd Judicial District Court.
Born and raised in Bogalusa, Justice Crain earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Louisiana State University in 1983 and his Juris Doctorate from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law School in 1986. He maintained a general litigation law practice for 22 years and frequently lectured on trial practice and professionalism.
Justice Crain is a member of the inaugural 2011 class of the Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute, has served for many years on the Louisiana Judicial Council’s court cost committee, including serving as Committee Chair, and is a former president of the Board of Governors for the Louisiana Judicial College.
