Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball, a 1970 graduate of the LSU Law Center and the first woman in the history of the state to be elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court, was sworn in as Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court on January 12. She is the first woman to hold that position.
“We at the Law Center are beaming with pride that Justice Kimball has been sworn in as Louisiana’s first female ‘Chief,'” said Chancellor Jack Weiss. “Justice Kimball possesses both the judicial skills and the administrative acumen to be a great chief justice. In addition, and perhaps above all, she is a thoroughly decent, down-to-earth person who will never forget the impact of her work on the lives of real people.”
The day began with a Mass celebrated at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, followed by the swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Louisiana Supreme Court building. Kimball was sworn in by her daughter, Lyria Kimball O’Brien—a licensed attorney in both Louisiana and Texas. Kimball’s husband, former state Rep. Clyde W. Kimball, held the Bible during the oath of office.
Kimball takes over as chief justice following the retirement of Justice Pascal Calogero, who served 36 years at the court.
Kimball served as a member of the Law Center’s Board of Trustees from 1998-2001, a Visiting Professor for the 2008 summer program, and a commencement speaker in May 2001.
