Robert Raymond Reid (March 12, 1855 – January 14, 1923) was a justice of the
Louisiana Supreme Court from January 2 to January 14, 1923.
Early life, education, and career
Born in
Madison County, Mississippi
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 95,203. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for U.S. President James Madison.
Madison County is part of the Jackson, ...
, Reid's family moved to Louisiana around 1860, when Reid's father purchase the Contreras plantation in
St. Bernard Parish.
The family settled in
Amite, Louisiana
Amite City ( or ; commonly just Amite) is a town in Tangipahoa Parish, of which it is the parish seat, in southeastern Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,141 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical ...
, in 1866.
Reid graduated from the
Virginia Military Institute
la, Consilio et Animis (on seal)
, mottoeng = "In peace a glorious asset, In war a tower of strength""By courage and wisdom" (on seal)
, established =
, type = Public senior military college
, accreditation = SACS
, endowment = $696.8 mill ...
in 1875, and from the old University of Louisiana (later
Tulane University
Tulane University, officially the Tulane University of Louisiana, is a private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 by seven young medical doctors, it turned into a comprehensive pu ...
), and was admitted to the bar in 1882,
thereafter entering the private practice of law.
Judicial service
In 1892, Reid was elected as a District Court Judge for
Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, remaining in that office until 1904.
During this twelve-year period, Reid was credited with "a virtual suppression of the lawlessness which afflicted portions of his district", with tensions rising to the point that "guards were utilized to prevent the threatened assassination of Reid by contending factions in the feuds that were going on during the period".
In 1904, Reid returned to private practice. In 1921, Reid participated in the prosecution of the six men accused of the murder of Dallas Calmes.
Reid was prominent in Masonic circles of the state, serving for two terms as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Louisiana, from 1902 to 1904, and serving in other offices of the Grand Lodge. He was also a member of the constitutional convention of 1921, serving on various committees and as chairman of the bill of rights committee.
In 1922, Reid ran for an open seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court, handily defeating opponent
Harney Felix Brunot
Harney Felix Brunot (October 8, 1860 – March 11, 1944) was a justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from June 4, 1923, to December 31, 1936.
Born in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, to Robert Felix Brunot and Jane Elizabeth Brunot, née Neeley,"Dea ...
in October of that year. Reid was sworn in on January 2, 1923, and served for only twelve days before his sudden death.
Personal life and death
Reid married Katherine Buck of Tangipahoa Parish, with whom he had a large number of children, eleven of whom survived him.
Reid died at his home in Amite at the age of 68, from enlargement of the heart and hardening of the arteries.
He was buried wearing his judicial robes.
His eldest son, Columbus Reid, was proposed to succeed him on the bench, but judge Brunot was ultimately selected for the seat.
["Judge Brunot Will Take His Oath June 4", ''The Shreveport Times'' (May 13, 1923), p. 4.]
References
Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court
Virginia Military Institute alumni
Tulane University alumni
1855 births
1923 deaths
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