J. Frank McInnis
Encyclopedia
Jesse Frank McInnis, known as J. Frank McInnis (January 28, 1886–January 27, 1959), was a judge
of his state's Second Circuit Court of Appeal
from Minden
, Louisiana
. In 1952, McInnis succeeded Robert F. Kennon
of Minden, in the circuit judgeship which Kennon vacated to become governor of Louisiana. Prior to his appeals court service, McInnis served for twenty-two years on the now 26th Judicial District Court.
McInnis was born on a farm near Castor
in Bienville Parish
in north Louisiana. From 1919-1924, he was the deputy Webster Parish clerk of court under John H. Tillman, in which capacity he independently studied for the law. In 1923, he was admitted to the Louisiana bar and began the practice of law in Minden. On January 1, 1930, Governor Huey Pierce Long, Jr., appointed McInnis, a fellow Democrat
, to the new 26th District state court, created in 1926 and based in Benton
, the seat of Bossier Parish
. After his short-term appointment, McInnis was elected to full terms on the district court in 1930, 1936, 1942, and 1948. Some 80 percent of McInnis' criminal court rulings were upheld on appeal. He noted, however, that few criminal cases were at that time appealed.
As district judge, McInnis succeeded Judge Harmon Caldwell Drew
(1889–1950), who at the time was elevated to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in Shreveport
. Drew was the father of later City Judge and State Representative
R. Harmon Drew, Sr.
Harmon Caldwell Drew's grandson, Harmon Drew, Jr.
, also of Minden, still serves on the same appeal court.
From 1945-1946, McInnis served briefly on the Court of Appeals and returned to that body when Judge Robert F. Kennon
became governor in 1952. In December 1953, McInnis retired after a year and a half of service on the circuit court of appeals, having completed Kennon's unexpired term. In 1953, he was named "Citizen of the Year" in Minden.
In February 1954, McInnis joined the Minden law firm of John B. Benton, Jr. (1924–2009), and Enos Carr McClendon, Jr. (1917–2003), later a state court judge from 1960 to 1978. He was married to the former Cortez Mixon (November 3, 1889–December 2, 1947). The couple resided at 211 Goode Avenue in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish
. McInnis was a Methodist.
McInnis died the day before his 73rd birthday. The McInnises are interred at Minden Cemetery
.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of his state's Second Circuit Court of Appeal
Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal
The Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal are the intermediate appellate courts for the state of Louisiana.There are five circuits, each covering a different group of parishes...
from Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
, 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...
. In 1952, McInnis succeeded Robert F. Kennon
Robert F. Kennon
Robert Floyd Kennon, Sr., known as Bob Kennon , was the 48th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1952-1956. He failed to win a second non-consecutive term in the 1963 Democratic primary....
of Minden, in the circuit judgeship which Kennon vacated to become governor of Louisiana. Prior to his appeals court service, McInnis served for twenty-two years on the now 26th Judicial District Court.
McInnis was born on a farm near Castor
Castor, Louisiana
Castor is a village in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 209 at the 2000 census. It was established in 1900. The name "Castor" refers to the genus Castoridae beaver....
in Bienville Parish
Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Bienville Parish is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Arcadia and as of the 2000 census, the population is 15,752....
in north Louisiana. From 1919-1924, he was the deputy Webster Parish clerk of court under John H. Tillman, in which capacity he independently studied for the law. In 1923, he was admitted to the Louisiana bar and began the practice of law in Minden. On January 1, 1930, Governor Huey Pierce Long, Jr., appointed McInnis, a fellow 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...
, to the new 26th District state court, created in 1926 and based in Benton
Benton, Louisiana
The town of Benton is the parish seat of Bossier Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. The population was 2,035 at the 2000 census. The larger Bossier City is located south of Benton...
, the seat of Bossier Parish
Bossier Parish, Louisiana
Bossier Parish is named for Pierre Bossier, a 19th-century Louisiana state senator and U.S. representative from Natchitoches Parish.Bossier Parish was spared fighting on its soil during the American Civil War...
. After his short-term appointment, McInnis was elected to full terms on the district court in 1930, 1936, 1942, and 1948. Some 80 percent of McInnis' criminal court rulings were upheld on appeal. He noted, however, that few criminal cases were at that time appealed.
As district judge, McInnis succeeded Judge Harmon Caldwell Drew
Harmon Caldwell Drew
Harmon Caldwell Drew was a lawyer from Minden, Louisiana, who served prior to 1945 as the district attorney of Bossier and Webster parishes and then as a judge of both the district and the state appeal courts. His political career ended with his defeat by future Governor Robert F. Kennon...
(1889–1950), who at the time was elevated to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. Drew was the father of later City Judge and State Representative
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...
R. Harmon Drew, Sr.
R. Harmon Drew, Sr.
Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. was a fourth generation judge and a former Democratic state representative who was descended from pioneer families of Webster Parish in north Louisiana...
Harmon Caldwell Drew's grandson, Harmon Drew, Jr.
Harmon Drew, Jr.
Richard Harmon Drew, Jr. , is a Louisiana judge, legal lecturer, and rhythm-and-blues musician. He is serving a second 10-year term on his state's Second Circuit Court of Appeal, based in Shreveport.-Ancestry:...
, also of Minden, still serves on the same appeal court.
From 1945-1946, McInnis served briefly on the Court of Appeals and returned to that body when Judge Robert F. Kennon
Robert F. Kennon
Robert Floyd Kennon, Sr., known as Bob Kennon , was the 48th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1952-1956. He failed to win a second non-consecutive term in the 1963 Democratic primary....
became governor in 1952. In December 1953, McInnis retired after a year and a half of service on the circuit court of appeals, having completed Kennon's unexpired term. In 1953, he was named "Citizen of the Year" in Minden.
In February 1954, McInnis joined the Minden law firm of John B. Benton, Jr. (1924–2009), and Enos Carr McClendon, Jr. (1917–2003), later a state court judge from 1960 to 1978. He was married to the former Cortez Mixon (November 3, 1889–December 2, 1947). The couple resided at 211 Goode Avenue in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. In 2010, its population was 41,207....
. McInnis was a Methodist.
McInnis died the day before his 73rd birthday. The McInnises are interred at Minden Cemetery
Minden Cemetery
The Minden Cemetery, located in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, United States, has graves dating from 1843, seven years after the founding of the city in 1836...
.