Revius Ortique Jr., Civil Rights Attorney, La.'s 1st Black Supreme Court Justice, Dies at 84

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Source: Associated Press

Revius Ortique Jr., civil rights attorney, La.'s 1st black Supreme Court justice, dies at 84

By MARY FOSTER (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
June 22, 2008 9:27 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS - Revius Ortique Jr., a former civil rights attorney who became the first black justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court, died Sunday. He was 84.

Ortique died in Baton Rouge from complications with a stroke he suffered June 14, current Justice Kitty Kimbal told The Associated Press. Ortique and his wife moved to Louisiana's capital after their New Orleans home was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

"I think he was one of the finest judges I ever had the privilege to work with,'" said Kimball, who took her seat on the court in 1992, one day before Ortique did. "I never knew anyone who did not like him. He exemplified the word gentleman."

Ortique had to step down from the court in June 1994 when he turned 70, the state's mandatory judicial retirement age.

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