[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 171 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8576-S8577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING CHIEF JUSTICE CATHERINE KIMBALL

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Louisiana 
Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine D. Kimball, who is scheduled to 
retire in 2013. It was 1975 and the courtroom was packed in New Roads, 
LA. The people in the courtroom weren't there to hear the ruling on the 
salesman who allegedly scammed an elderly gentleman. They were there to 
see Catherine D. Kimball--the first female lawyer to argue a case in 
the New Roads courtroom. Catherine Kimball, affectionately known as 
``Kitty'', later became the first female Chief Justice of the Louisiana 
Supreme Court. She will retire on February 1, 2013 and I rise today to 
offer remarks about this very accomplished woman.
  Chief Justice Kimball brought a diverse legal background to the bench 
and exemplified leadership as a Justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court. 
While breaking the glass ceiling, she demonstrated a commitment to 
juvenile justice and legal scholarship. Chief Justice Kimball is truly 
a pioneer in the Louisiana legal community and a great legal scholar.
  Catherine Kimball decided to attend law school during her freshman 
year of college. So in 1966, after earning her Bachelor of Arts at 
Louisiana State University, she enrolled at LSU law school. While 
attending law school, the future Louisiana Chief Justice met Clyde 
Kimball on a blind date. The two were married in January of 1967. By 
1970, Chief Justice Kimball was graduating law school with two children 
and another on the way. After graduating from law school, she clerked 
for a Federal judge in Alexandria, LA before returning to Baton Rouge, 
LA to investigate construction fraud allegations in the Attorney 
General's office. In 1975, the family moved to New Roads where she 
opened her private practice in New Roads, LA.
  Although Chief Justice Kimball enjoyed success early in her career, 
she also faced her share of adversity. At one point, she sat down with 
the president of the bank to discuss borrowing money for her law 
practice. The bank president informed her that her husband had to sign 
off on her loan. Chief Justice Kimball said, ``Excuse me--are you not 
aware of the new law that just passed? My husband does not have to sign 
a note for me to borrow for my law office.'' She was committed to 
succeed despite all obstacles.
  As a result of her perseverance, Chief Justice Kimball became the 
first female judge in the 18th Judicial District in Louisiana in 1983. 
Members of the legal community quickly recognized her talent and 
potential and in short order, the legal community encouraged her to run 
for the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Kimball hesitated, saying she 
loved working as a district judge too much to leave that behind. 
Nevertheless, she became the first woman elected to the Louisiana 
Supreme Court in 1992.
  Chief Justice Kimball demonstrated strong leadership skills soon 
after joining the court. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when 
then Louisiana Chief Justice Pascal Calogero was evacuated from his 
home in New Orleans and displaced in Dallas, he turned to Justice 
Kimball for support. Chief Justice Kimball served as the court's point 
person and worked with FEMA to get reimbursements and get the courts 
and lawyers back to work in New Orleans. That was the beginning of a 
long road ahead as Chief Justice Kimball dealt with Katrina issues for 
at least the next 5 years.
  On January 1, 2009, she became the first female Chief Justice of the 
Louisiana Supreme Court. As Chief Justice, she strengthened her 
reputation as a brilliant and tireless advocate for justice. She became 
known for her work to preserve the judiciary as an equal and 
independent branch of government and collaborated with the legislature; 
Republicans and Democrats alike. Most of all, she made her mark by 
making strides in juvenile justice.
  Chief Justice's dedication to juvenile justice developed from 
understanding

[[Page S8577]]

the effects that courts can have on children. Through her work in 
juvenile justice, she earned the respect of members of the national and 
local judicial communities. Judith S. Kaye, a retired Chief Justice of 
New York, said of the Chief Justice, ``She was outstanding in many 
ways, but for me most of all on the vexing issues concerning juvenile 
justice. The Chief Justice's ideas and initiatives drew my attention 
even before she became Chief Justice.'' Sue Bell Cobb, the Chief 
Justice of Alabama, also praised Chief Justice's work on juvenile 
justice. ``Children,'' she said, ``do not vote and do not have a voice 
in arenas in which public policy is made. In Louisiana, Chief Justice 
Kimball has been their voice.''
  In Louisiana, former Louisiana Chief Justice Pascal Calogero said, 
``Justice Kimball's contributions to the juvenile justice system, as 
well as the Judicial Leadership Institute, and other progressive 
judicial matters, were immeasurable. When she became Chief Justice, I 
knew that she would become one of the most active and respected chief 
justices in the history of the court.'' I could not agree more. Chief 
Justice Kimball has made her mark in history for many reasons, but 
especially for her work in juvenile justice.
  The Chief Justice's accomplishments are of equally important 
significance for women pursuing legal careers in Louisiana. My sister 
Madeleine became a State court judge in 2001. When I asked Madeleine 
what Chief Justice Kimball's career has meant to her, she said, ``When 
Chief Justice Kimball took her seat among her six white male justices, 
it had a huge impact on me as a woman lawyer. The grace and dignity and 
excellence with which Chief Justice has held herself has shown us there 
are no limits to where we can go. It made such lofty goals not as scary 
to us anymore.'' Chief Justice Kimball always strives to reach her full 
potential and encourages others to do the same.
  Among Chief Justice's endless list of accomplishments is her creation 
of the Judicial Leadership Institute in Louisiana. She recognized the 
important leadership role of a judge as both an employer and as a 
member of a community. She saw the value of judges of every level being 
in a room together and learning together. So she took the initiative to 
organize a training course which meets 7 days a year. This exemplifies 
so many of Chief Justice Kimball's great qualities--her devotion to the 
justice system and to the future of our state, her humility and her 
ability to be a strong leader while simultaneously being part of a 
team.
  As the Chief Justice prepares to retire, I commend her for her years 
of service to our State and for her unwavering commitment to the 
Louisiana Constitution. Although she will step down at the end of 
January, the impact she made on the nearly 4.6 million citizens in our 
State will live on beyond her retirement, just as the people in that 
courtroom in New Roads, LA will never forget the day they saw Chief 
Justice Kimball make history.

                          ____________________