Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse Building Naming Ceremony – December 10, 2019

SCLAHS and LSBA co-sponsored a reception following a ceremony commemorating the naming of the Louisiana Supreme Court (LASC) building during a special convening of the LASC on the evening of December 10, 2019. Act 429 of the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature provided for the building at 400 Royal Street to be officially named the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse. Ms. Kim Sport, former Executive Counsel to Chief Justice Calogero served as the Master of Ceremonies to an overflow crowd of family, friends, and associates. After an invocation by Brother Ivy LeBlanc, S.C., Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson greeted attendees and set the stage for what would be an evening of solemn and dignified remembrance of Chief Justice Pascal Calogero, who passed on December 20, 2018. Four distinguished guests addressed the audience with anecdotes, memories, and stories about Chief Justice Calogero and the building restored due to his tireless efforts and support: Governor John Bel Edwards; Madeleine Landrieu, Dean of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law; John T. Oliver, LASC Clerk of Court; and Timothy P. Averill, former LASC Judicial Administrator. Mrs. Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. provided the closing remarks.

The next part of the ceremony took place in the Court’s first floor foyer. The United States Marine Corps Band greeted guests as they made their way towards the front of the building. After all of the justices had re-assembled downstairs (Justices William J. Crain, John L. Weimer, Scott J. Crichton, Marcus R. Clark, James T. Genovese, and Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson) E. Phelps Gay, SCLAHS Board Member, gave his remarks about the mission of the Historical Society to preserve and promote the history of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Mr. Gay then revealed an architect’s mock-up of the lettering to be physically installed on the building at a later date. Music by the John Zarsky trio rounded out the evening, a highlight when the trio covered “Around the World,” a favorite of Chief Justice Calogero’s.

Read more about the ceremony at nola.com.