W. Eugene Davis
Encyclopedia
W. Eugene Davis is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
. His chambers are in Lafayette, Louisiana
.
Born in Winfield, Alabama
, Davis attended the University of Alabama
and Samford University
. After three years at Samford, he received a scholarship to Tulane University Law School
, and received his J.D.
from Tulane in 1960 without having received an undergraduate degree (Samford awarded him a bachelor's degree in 2006). While at Tulane, Davis was a member of the Board of Editors of the Tulane Law Review. Davis was in private practice in New Orleans, Louisiana
from 1960 to 1964, and then joined a law firm in New Iberia, Louisiana
where his law partners were Patrick T. Caffery
and John M. Duhé, Jr.
, until 1976. In his private practice, he frequently represented the oil and gas industries
.
On August 5, 1976, Davis was nominated by President Gerald Ford
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
vacated by Richard J. Putnam. Davis was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 17, 1976, and received his commission on September 21, 1976.
President Ronald Reagan
nominated Davis for elevation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
on November 1, 1983, to a seat vacated by Robert Andrew Ainsworth, Jr.
. Davis was again confirmed by the United States Senate on November 15, 1983, and received his commission on November 16, 1983.
Davis is one of three judges on a panel that will hear the appeal to Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC v. Salazar
, a case challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior
six month moratorium on exploratory drilling in deep water
that was adopted in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion
and the subsequent oil spill
. The Fifth Circuit panel denied the government's emergency request to stay the lower court's decision pending appeal.
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
. His chambers are in Lafayette, Louisiana
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...
.
Born in Winfield, Alabama
Winfield, Alabama
Winfield is a city in Marion county in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 4,540 at the 2000 census, the second largest city in Marion County.-History:...
, Davis attended the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
and Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
. After three years at Samford, he received a scholarship to Tulane University Law School
Tulane University Law School
Tulane University Law School is the law school of Tulane University. It is located on Tulane's Uptown campus in New Orleans, Louisiana. Established in 1847, it is the 12th oldest law school in the United States....
, and received his J.D.
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...
from Tulane in 1960 without having received an undergraduate degree (Samford awarded him a bachelor's degree in 2006). While at Tulane, Davis was a member of the Board of Editors of the Tulane Law Review. Davis was in private practice in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
from 1960 to 1964, and then joined a law firm in New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia is a city in and the parish seat of Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, 30 miles southeast of Lafayette. In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747...
where his law partners were Patrick T. Caffery
Patrick T. Caffery
Patrick Thomson Caffery is a retired Louisiana politician and former United States Representative from Louisiana's 3rd congressional district....
and John M. Duhé, Jr.
John Malcolm Duhé, Jr.
John Malcolm Duhé, Jr. is a retired senior judge on the New Orleans-based Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He currently practices law in Lafayette....
, until 1976. In his private practice, he frequently represented the oil and gas industries
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
.
On August 5, 1976, Davis was nominated by President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
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...
vacated by Richard J. Putnam. Davis was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 17, 1976, and received his commission on September 21, 1976.
President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
nominated Davis for elevation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
on November 1, 1983, to a seat vacated by Robert Andrew Ainsworth, Jr.
Robert Andrew Ainsworth, Jr.
Robert Andrew Ainsworth, Jr. was a United States federal judge.Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Ainsworth received an LL.B. from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 1932. He was in private practice in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1932 to 1961. He was s Lieutenant in the United States Navy...
. Davis was again confirmed by the United States Senate on November 15, 1983, and received his commission on November 16, 1983.
Davis is one of three judges on a panel that will hear the appeal to Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC v. Salazar
Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC v. Salazar
Hornbeck Offshore Services v. Salazar is an on-going case in United States federal court. In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the subsequent oil spill, the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a six month moratorium on exploratory drilling in deep water. Plaintiffs filed suit...
, a case challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
six month moratorium on exploratory drilling in deep water
2010 U.S. Deepwater Drilling Moratorium
On May 30, 2010 a 6 month moratorium on all deepwater offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf was declared by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar...
that was adopted in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion
Deepwater Horizon explosion
The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion refers to the April 20, 2010 explosion and subsequent fire on the Deepwater Horizon semi-submersible Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit , which was owned and operated by Transocean and drilling for BP in the Macondo Prospect oil field about southeast of the...
and the subsequent oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
. The Fifth Circuit panel denied the government's emergency request to stay the lower court's decision pending appeal.