12 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> March 2011
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAMELA LABBE Interview with Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Duke Welch BY ADAM THAMES VITAL STATISTICS Full Name: Jewel Edward Welch Jr. Nickname: Duke Age: 57 Position: Judge, Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal, 2004 - present Prior Judicial Experience: Judge, 19th Judicial District Court, 1995 - 2004; Chief Judge, 2002 - 2003 Born & Raised: <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> and Baker, La., respectively Education: Baker High School, 1971; University of Maryland, Business Management, magna cum laude, Phi Kappi Phi Honor Society, 1977; LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., 1980; University of Nevada at Reno, Master of Judicial Studies, 2009 Married to: Roxson Welch; three children; eight grandchildren Judge Jewel E. “Duke” Welch currently serves on the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal, where he was elected without opposition in 2004. Judge Welch was elected without opposition three times to the 19th JDC beginning in 1995 through 2004. Prior to being elected to the bench, Judge Welch was a solo practitioner with a general law practice from 1980 to 1994 in Zachary, La. During that time, he served as an elected official with the Baker City Council and the East <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> Metro Council (District 1), and he served as chairman of the East <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> Planning & Zoning Commission. Judge Welch was an assistant attorney general for the State of Louisiana and prosecutor for the City of Zachary. Judge Welch is presently serving on the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics, the Trial Court Committee to Review Need for Judgeships and the Louisiana State <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong> Committee on Professionalism and Attorney Mentoring. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Family Road, Inc. and the ALS <strong>Association</strong> of Louisiana and Mississippi, Inc. In addition, he is the president of the Dean Henry George McMahon American Inns of Court and was an adjunct Professor of Law at Southern University Law Center for the last 15 years. In 2010, Judge Welch was inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame. I got the nickname “Duke” because I didn’t like being called by my first name, Jewel, and, after some teasing from my classmates on the first day school, I got into a fight. I was sent to the principal’s office, and my dad was called up to the school. I’ve gone by “Duke” ever since. Growing up, I always wanted to be a football coach in high school and after joining the Air Force, a fighter pilot. The turning points in my life have been when I married my wife Roxson at age 18, to whom I have been happily married for 39 years; when I volunteered in Vietnam and spent 5½ years in the military; I tried to join the Marines, but because of a bad knee from a football injury, I joined the Air Force. After graduating from the University of Maryland, I decided to go to law school and not business school. I decided in law school that I wanted to be in public service, and I have served in an elected position for the last 30 years. Finally, I decided to give up private practice to become a judge. Growing up, I always looked up to my dad. He worked for the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> Coca-Cola Co. He got up early, often worked six days a week and never complained. Most importantly, he worked really, really hard, and he was always good to other people. My first job: I went to work early at age 14 working construction during the summer and as a zoo keeper at the Greater <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> Zoo on weekends. The pay was $1.40 an hour. I have worked ever since. I first became interested in the legal profession while in college at the University of Maryland. What I have missed most since my time as a practicing attorney is participating in jury trials. I loved being an advocate in a jury trial. I also miss not having more interaction with the other practicing lawyers. Campaigning for a judicial position is enjoyable. I like to meet people. In fact, I spent a large amount of time during the spring semester of my third year of law school campaigning for a position on the Baker City Council March 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 13
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