Walter Bergen Hamlin (March 13, 1898 – January 1, 1984) was a justice of the

Louisiana Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Louisiana (french: Cour suprême de Louisiane) is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orlea ...

from December 15, 1958, to March 13, 1973, serving as Chief Justice after December 26, 1972.

Early life, education, and career

Born in New Orleans, Hamlin attended the public schools in New Orleans public schools, and that city's Soule Business College. He served in World War I as an infantry sergeant, and then received an LL.B. from

Loyola University New Orleans Loyola University New Orleans is a Private university, private Jesuit university in New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name o ...

in 1919."Retired Chief Justice Walter Hamlin dies", ''The Shreveport Times'' (January 4, 1984), p. 6. He thereafter engaged in the private practice of law until 1948, interrupted by service in the United States Navy in World War II, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Judicial service

In 1948, he was elected to a seat on the Civil District Court for Orleans Parish, and was re-elected without opposition 1952. In 1958 he was elected to the state supreme court, to which he was reelected without opposition in 1966, and where he remained for fifteen years, until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. He served as chief justice for a period of months before his retirement.

Personal life and death

In 1923, Hamlin married Stella I. Malynn, who predeceased him. Hamlin died in New Orleans at the age of 85, following a brief illness. He was interred at the Hope Mausoleum.

References

Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court 1898 births 1984 deaths Loyola University New Orleans alumni United States Navy personnel of World War II {{Louisiana-state-judge-stub