John Baptiste Fournet (July 27, 1895 – June 3, 1984) was an American attorney and politician who served as Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, lieutenant governor of Louisiana from 1932 to 1935, and a justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, serving as an associate justice from 1935 to 1949, and as Chief Justice by seniority from 1949 to 1970.

John Baptiste Fournet
Louisiana State Representative from St. Martin Parish
In office
1928–1932
Preceded byJ.H. Heinen
Succeeded byJohn T. Hood
Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives
In office
1928–1932
Preceded byWilliam Clark Hughes
Succeeded byAllen J. Ellender
35th Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
In office
1932–1935
GovernorOscar K. Allen
Preceded byAlvin O. King
Succeeded byThomas C. Wingate
Associate Justice, Louisiana Supreme Court
In office
1935–1949
Preceded byWinston Overton
Chief Justice, Louisiana Supreme Court
In office
1949–1970
Preceded byCharles A. O’Neill
Succeeded byMitchell J. Rabalais
Personal details
Born(1895-07-27)July 27, 1895
St. Martinville, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States
DiedJune 3, 1984(1984-06-03) (aged 88)
Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi
Resting placeFournet Cemetery in St. Martinville, Louisiana
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Rose, Sylvia Ann
Parent(s)Louis Michel and Marcelite Gauthier Fournet
OccupationAttorney, Educator

Early life, education, and career

edit

Born in St. Martinville, Fournet attended Louisiana State Normal College, and was a teacher, and even principal at Morganza High School for a period before entering the law school of LSU in 1917.[1] His studies were interrupted by service in World War I, after which he received an LL.B. from Louisiana State University in 1920.[2][1]

Political and judicial career

edit

A supporter of Huey P. Long, Fournet served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1928 to 1932, and as lieutenant governor of Louisiana from 1932 to 1935, when Fournet was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court. Fournet was walking next to Long when the latter was assassinated later that year.[2]

Fournet became chief justice of Louisiana by seniority in 1949, and remained on the court until 1970, when he reached the maximum age of service of 75.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Fruge, J. Cleveland (1956). Biographies of Judges of Louisiana (1st ed.). Louisiana District Judges Association. p. 1. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "John B. Fournet", Clarion-Ledger (June 5, 1984), p. 12.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
1932
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Louisiana State Representative from Jefferson Davis Parish
1928–1932
Succeeded by
Preceded by Louisiana House Speaker
1928–1932
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
1932–1935
Succeeded by