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Elizabeth Erny Foote
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2022 - Present
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Elizabeth Erny Foote is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. She was nominated by President Barack Obama (D) on February 4, 2010, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 15, 2010.[1]
Foote assumed senior status on January 21, 2022.[2]
Biography
Early life and education
Foote earned her bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University in 1974 and her Master's degree from Duke University in 1975.[3] She graduated with her J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1978.[4]
Professional career
Foote worked as an attorney in private practice with the Smith Foote Law Firm, LLP in Alexandria, Louisiana, from 1979 until her confirmation to the court.[4]
Judicial career
Western District of Louisiana
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Elizabeth Erny Foote |
| Court: Western District of Louisiana |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 131 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: February 4, 2010
|
| ABA Rating: Substantial Majority Qualified, Minority Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: February 24, 2010
|
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: March 18, 2010
|
| Confirmed: June 15, 2010
|
| Vote: Voice vote
|
On February 4, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Foote to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.[4] She was nominated to fill the seat vacated by Tucker Melancon.[5]
Foote was recommended to the President for nomination by Senator Mary Landrieu on July 31, 2009.[6]
She received a rating from a substantial majority of the American Bar Association of "Qualified," and the minority rated her "Well Qualified."[7]
Judiciary Committee hearing
Foote had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 24, 2010.
Senate confirmation
On June 15, 2010, Foote was confirmed by the Senate.[8] She took her oath of office on September 10, 2010.[9]
Awards and associations
- Past president of the Louisiana State Bar Association
- Past president of the Louisiana Civil Justice Center
- Co-chair of the Louisiana State Bar Association's Disaster Relief Committee (2005)[4]
Noteworthy cases
Judge declares mistrial after defendant commits suicide (2014)
- See also: United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (U.S. v. Reece, et al, 6:12-cr-00146)
- See also: United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (U.S. v. Reece, et al, 6:12-cr-00146)
On April 3, 2014, Judge Foote declared a mistrial in the government's case against attorneys Barry Domingue and Daniel Stanford after Domingue shot himself in an apparent suicide.[10]
In the underlying case, Domingue and Stanford, both licensed attorneys in Louisiana, were indicted along with eight other defendants for their alleged role in the trafficking of synthetic marijuana put to market as a potpourri. Domingue was listed as registered agent for Curious Goods, the company that sold the illegal goods. In November 2012, two co-defendants confessed that they paid the attorneys about $60,000 for legal services through funds raised by the sale of the drugs in question. Domingue and Stanford represented themselves pro se in the matter.
Domingue reportedly shot himself in the head with a 9mm pistol and left a suicide note.[11] He died the same day.[12] After receiving word of Domingue's death, Stanford requested that a mistrial be declared, and Judge Foote acquiesced to his wishes, noting that it was a "very sad end to a very sad matter."[11]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Department of Justice, "111th Congress - Judicial Nominations," accessed April 24, 2014
- ↑ USCourts.gov, "Future Judicial Vacancies," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Biography of Elizabeth Erny Foote"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 White House Office of the Press Secretary, "President Obama Nominates Four to Serve on the United States District Court Bench," February 4, 2010
- ↑ Independent Weekly, "President nominates Lafayette native for federal judgeship," February 4, 2010
- ↑ Shreveport Times, "How the federal appointment process works," February 26, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Judicial Nomination Materials," accessed April 24, 2014
- ↑ Inside Louisiana News, "Senate Confirms Louisiana Judicial Nominees Jackson, Foote," June 16, 2010
- ↑ Shreveport Times, "Foote reflects on becoming a judge," September 23, 2010
- ↑ The Advertiser, "Attorney alleged to have shot himself; US district judge declares mistrial," April 3, 2014 (dead link)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Advocate, "Mistrial declared in Lafayette case after defendant shoots self," April 7, 2014
- ↑ The Advertiser, "Attorney involved in Curious Goods case has died, authorities say," April 3, 2014 (dead link)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana 2010-2022 |
Succeeded by - |
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| Nominated | |||
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana
State courts:
Louisiana Supreme Court • Louisiana Courts of Appeal • Louisiana District Courts • Louisiana City Courts • Louisiana Family Courts • Louisiana Justice of the Peace Courts • Louisiana Juvenile Courts • Louisiana Mayor’s Courts • Louisiana Municipal Courts • Louisiana Parish Courts • Louisiana Traffic Courts
State resources:
Courts in Louisiana • Louisiana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Louisiana
