Dee D. Drell
Encyclopedia
Dee Dodson Drell is a United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana
, based in Alexandria
, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana
. He was nominated by U.S. President George W. Bush
on January 15, 2003, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, 99-0, on April 9, received his commission on April 10, and had his investiture ceremony on May 30.
(B.A., Anthropology) and Juris Doctor
degrees from Tulane University
in 1968 and 1971, respectively.
Drell served in the United States Army
Judge Advocate General
's office from 1971–1975, based part of the time in Columbus, Georgia
. He entered private practice in Alexandria in 1975. Bush nominated him to succeed Judge F. A. Little, Jr.
, of Alexandria. Like Judge Little, Drell was affiliated with the firm Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell prior to joining the bench.
Drell has been active in state and local bar associations, and he assisted the state bar with attorney disciplinary matters. He was a board member of the Family Mediation
Council of Louisiana from 1986-1992. Drell was also a board member of the Rapides Parish Indigent Defender Board from 1987-1994. He served on a state task force on racial and ethnic fairness in the courts. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club.
Judge Drell also devoted time on a pro bono basis to helping individuals suffering from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. He counseled the Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services and AIDSLaw of Louisiana, Inc. In 1997, he received the Pro Bono Publico Award from AIDSLaw of Louisiana. Drell and his family are Episcopalian.
Republican
– he donated $300 to defeated GOP congressional candidate Clyde C. Holloway
even after Bush tendered the nomination – he drew the praise of one of the Senate's most liberal
members, Democrat
Patrick Leahy
of Vermont
. At the time of the nomination, Leahy, then the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, described Drell as "a lawyer’s lawyer, rather than a political or judicial activist," a category in which Leahy placed many of Bush's district and circuit court nominees.
Leahy continued: "Mr. Drell has a record of accomplishment and compassion as a lawyer of which we can all be proud. He has the full support of both of his home-state senators, (then Democrats John Breaux
and Mary Landrieu
). His record has generated no controversy or criticism. If only, our circuit court nominees had records such as his. This nomination is a good example of the kind of candidate who engenders bipartisan support."
laws and educational regulations. One of Drell's predecessors, Nauman Scott
of Alexandria, had monitored the Rapides and Grant parish systems for many years to seek compliance with federal law.
United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
The United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is a United States federal court with jurisdiction over approximately two thirds of the state of Louisiana, with courts in Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport...
, based in Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, the seat of Rapides Parish and the largest city in central Louisiana
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...
. He was nominated by U.S. 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....
on January 15, 2003, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, 99-0, on April 9, received his commission on April 10, and had his investiture ceremony on May 30.
Early life and experience
Drell was born in New Orleans to Theodore Louis Drell, Jr. (1913–2006) and the late Mrs. Drell. The Drells had three other children, Theodore L. Drell, III, Robert L. Drell, and Barbara Drell Allen. Drell obtained both his bachelor of artsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(B.A., Anthropology) and 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...
degrees from Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in 1968 and 1971, respectively.
Drell served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army
The Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army is composed of Army officers who are also lawyers and who provide legal services to the Army at all levels of command. The Judge Advocate General's Legal Service includes judge advocates, warrant officers, paralegal noncommissioned...
's office from 1971–1975, based part of the time in Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
. He entered private practice in Alexandria in 1975. Bush nominated him to succeed Judge F. A. Little, Jr.
F. A. Little, Jr.
F. A. Little, Jr. is a former United States federal judge.Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Little received a B.A. from Tulane University in 1958 and a J.D. from Tulane Law School in 1961...
, of Alexandria. Like Judge Little, Drell was affiliated with the firm Gold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell prior to joining the bench.
Drell has been active in state and local bar associations, and he assisted the state bar with attorney disciplinary matters. He was a board member of the Family Mediation
Mediation
Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution , a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties. A third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement...
Council of Louisiana from 1986-1992. Drell was also a board member of the Rapides Parish Indigent Defender Board from 1987-1994. He served on a state task force on racial and ethnic fairness in the courts. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club.
Judge Drell also devoted time on a pro bono basis to helping individuals suffering from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. He counseled the Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services and AIDSLaw of Louisiana, Inc. In 1997, he received the Pro Bono Publico Award from AIDSLaw of Louisiana. Drell and his family are Episcopalian.
Confirmation
Though Drell is considered a conservativeConservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
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...
– he donated $300 to defeated GOP congressional candidate Clyde C. Holloway
Clyde C. Holloway
Clyde Cecil Holloway is an American small business owner from Forest Hill in the southern part of Rapides Parish who is one of five members of the Louisiana Public Service Commission. He also served as a conservative Republican member of the U.S...
even after Bush tendered the nomination – he drew the praise of one of the Senate's most liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
members, Democrat
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...
Patrick Leahy
Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph Leahy is the senior United States Senator from Vermont and member of the Democratic Party. He is the first and only elected Democratic United States Senator in Vermont's history. He is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy is the second most senior U.S. Senator,...
of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. At the time of the nomination, Leahy, then the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, described Drell as "a lawyer’s lawyer, rather than a political or judicial activist," a category in which Leahy placed many of Bush's district and circuit court nominees.
Leahy continued: "Mr. Drell has a record of accomplishment and compassion as a lawyer of which we can all be proud. He has the full support of both of his home-state senators, (then Democrats John Breaux
John Breaux
John Berlinger Breaux is a former United States senator from Louisiana who served from 1987 until 2005. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1972 to 1987. He was considered one of the more conservative national legislators from the Democratic Party...
and Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
). His record has generated no controversy or criticism. If only, our circuit court nominees had records such as his. This nomination is a good example of the kind of candidate who engenders bipartisan support."
Ending desegregation cases
Judge Drell has tangled with longstanding school desegregation lawsuits, filed in the 1960s, which brought area parishes under the scrutiny of the federal court to guarantee that the districts were working toward a racially unitary school system. Drell approved school campus and grade assignments for Natchitoches Parish. He also ended the desegregation suit against Rapides Parish in 2006 and against Grant Parish in 2007. He declared that both districts were in substantial compliance with applicable national civil rightsCivil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
laws and educational regulations. One of Drell's predecessors, Nauman Scott
Nauman Scott
Nauman Steele Scott, II , was a Republican-appointed federal judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana from 1970 until 2001, who ordered cross-parish busing guidelines in 1980 to foster racial balance in Rapides Parish public schools...
of Alexandria, had monitored the Rapides and Grant parish systems for many years to seek compliance with federal law.