A. J. McNamara
Encyclopedia
Abel J. "Buddy" McNamara (born 1936), usually known as A.J. McNamara, is a former Louisiana
politician and judge of the New Orleans-based United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
, who served full-time from June 21, 1982, until the fall of 2001, when he assumed senior status
.
The New Orleans-born McNamara graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge in 1959. He received his Juris Doctor
degree from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1968.
McNamara served in the U.S. Navy from 1959-1962. From 1966-1968, he was a bailiff and law clerk for Judge Herbert W. Christenberry of the same court on which McNamara served. He maintained a private law practice from 1968-1982. In 1976, he joined three other attorneys in forming the partnership Hailey, McNamara, McNamara, and Hall. The name was changed to Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale in 1982, when A.J. McNamara was appointed to the district judgeship. The firm is the largest in Jefferson Parish and one of the largest litigation operations in metropolitan New Orleans.
While practicing law, McNamara served in the Louisiana House of Representatives
from populous Jefferson Parish in suburban New Orleans. Elected in the jungle primary
of 1975, he was a Democratic
representative from 1976–1977, and a converted Republican
member from 1977-1980. He did not seek reelection in the 1979 primary.
In 1976, as a Democrat, McNamara cast a critical vote against the Equal Rights Amendment
in the House Civil Law Committee. The unfavorable committee vote effectively killed the prospects of ratifying the amendment for the second time in Louisiana.
In the 105-member Louisiana House, McNamara served with six other Republicans at the time: Clark Gaudin
of Baton Rouge, three Caddo Parish members, Art Sour
, B.F. O'Neal, Jr., and Bruce Lynn
, and two converts to GOP
, Michael F. "Mike" Thompson of Lafayette
and Lane A. Carson
of New Orleans.
In 1980, McNamara supported the Ronald W. Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush national ticket. President Reagan thereafter nominated McNamara for the bench on May 5, 1982, for the seat vacated by Judge Edward James Boyle, Sr., and the U.S. Senate quickly confirmed him.
McNamara was succeeded full-time on the court by Judge Jay C. Zainey (born 1951), a nominee of President George W. Bush
, who was confirmed on October 10, 2001.
Judge McNamara resides in Metairie
with his wife Alma J. McNamara. The couple has two sons: attorneys John Price McNamara (born 1964) and Dwight L. McNamara (born 1967), both of Metairie. Judge McNamara is Roman Catholic.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
politician and judge of the New Orleans-based United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana is a federal trial court based in New Orleans. Like all U.S...
, who served full-time from June 21, 1982, until the fall of 2001, when he assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
.
The New Orleans-born McNamara graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in Baton Rouge in 1959. He received his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1968.
McNamara served in the U.S. Navy from 1959-1962. From 1966-1968, he was a bailiff and law clerk for Judge Herbert W. Christenberry of the same court on which McNamara served. He maintained a private law practice from 1968-1982. In 1976, he joined three other attorneys in forming the partnership Hailey, McNamara, McNamara, and Hall. The name was changed to Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale in 1982, when A.J. McNamara was appointed to the district judgeship. The firm is the largest in Jefferson Parish and one of the largest litigation operations in metropolitan New Orleans.
While practicing law, McNamara served in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from populous Jefferson Parish in suburban New Orleans. Elected in the jungle primary
Jungle primary
A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party. Under this system, the top two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the next round, as in a runoff election...
of 1975, he was a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
representative from 1976–1977, and a converted Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member from 1977-1980. He did not seek reelection in the 1979 primary.
In 1976, as a Democrat, McNamara cast a critical vote against the Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
in the House Civil Law Committee. The unfavorable committee vote effectively killed the prospects of ratifying the amendment for the second time in Louisiana.
In the 105-member Louisiana House, McNamara served with six other Republicans at the time: Clark Gaudin
Clark Gaudin
Edward Clark Gaudin is a Baton Rouge attorney who served for twenty-one years in the Louisiana House of Representatives as the first Republican member from East Baton Rouge Parish in the 20th century....
of Baton Rouge, three Caddo Parish members, Art Sour
Art Sour
Arthur William Sour, Jr., known as Art Sour , was a Shreveport businessman and a pioneer in developing a competitive Republican Party in Louisiana. A conservative, Sour served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972-1992. He was born in Shreveport to Arthur W. Sour and Adele Sour . He...
, B.F. O'Neal, Jr., and Bruce Lynn
Bruce Lynn
Bruce Newton Lynn, I, is a retired north Caddo Parish businessman and banker who was a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1976–1988. He is a native and resident of the village of Gilliam , where three generations of his family have operated the J.W...
, and two converts to GOP
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Michael F. "Mike" Thompson of Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
and Lane A. Carson
Lane Carson
Lane Anderson Carson is the head of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs in the administration of Governor Bobby Jindal. Carson is also a licensed building contractor and real estate broker, and an attorney in private practice. He resides in Covington, the seat of St. Tammany Parish...
of New Orleans.
In 1980, McNamara supported the Ronald W. Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush national ticket. President Reagan thereafter nominated McNamara for the bench on May 5, 1982, for the seat vacated by Judge Edward James Boyle, Sr., and the U.S. Senate quickly confirmed him.
McNamara was succeeded full-time on the court by Judge Jay C. Zainey (born 1951), a nominee of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, who was confirmed on October 10, 2001.
Judge McNamara resides in Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
with his wife Alma J. McNamara. The couple has two sons: attorneys John Price McNamara (born 1964) and Dwight L. McNamara (born 1967), both of Metairie. Judge McNamara is Roman Catholic.