HLS 14RS-4554 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 154
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the death of Judge Manuel "Manny" Adam
Fernandez, former state representative
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express condolences upon the death of Judge Manuel "Manny" Adam Fernandez and to2
express enduring gratitude for his outstanding contributions to the state of Louisiana,3
particularly during his tenure as a distinguished member of the Louisiana House of4
Representatives.5
WHEREAS, Manuel "Manny" Adam Fernandez was born in St. Bernard Parish on6
October 15, 1942, to Manuel William Fernandez and Blanche Perez Fernandez Molero; and7
WHEREAS, Judge Fernandez attended St. Bernard Parish public schools graduating8
from St. Bernard High School in 1960 and then attended the University of Southwestern9
Louisiana (USL) in Lafayette where he earned an undergraduate degree in economics; and10
WHEREAS, upon graduation from USL, which is now known as the University of11
Louisiana, at Lafayette, in 1964, Judge Fernandez enrolled in the Loyola University Law12
School in New Orleans from whence he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1967; and13
WHEREAS, as a practicing attorney for thirty-four years, Judge Fernandez was14
president and a member of the St. Bernard Bar Association, the Louisiana Bar Association,15
and had been admitted to practice law before the United States Supreme Court, the United16
States Court of Claims, and all federal and state courts in the state of Louisiana; and17
WHEREAS, Judge Fernandez devoted decades to serving the citizens of the state of18
Louisiana, beginning his public service as the representative of District 104 in the Louisiana19
House of Representatives where he served from 1972 through 1987, serving as a member20 HLS 14RS-4554 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 154
Page 2 of 3
of the House committees on civil law and procedure, retirement, labor and industrial1
relations, and natural resources for which he served as chair; and2
WHEREAS, Mr. Fernandez said that as a legislator he was most proud of helping to3
rewrite the community property laws so that wives had equal management rights of4
community property; he also helped develop the current joint custody rights of children; and5
as chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, he was the author of legislation6
creating the Department of Environmental Quality; and7
WHEREAS, upon his departure from the legislature, Mr. Fernandez was appointed8
by Governor Buddy Roemer to serve on his "kitchen cabinet", a three-person super cabinet9
that would serve as liaison between the governor's office, the departmental secretaries, and10
the legislature and would enable the departmental secretaries to focus on running their11
departments rather than becoming embroiled in the political lobbying on behalf of the12
administration, with Mr. Fernandez serving in this capacity for two years and being13
responsible for the departments of Social Services, Health and Hospitals, Wildlife and14
Fisheries, Natural Resources, and Environmental Quality; and15
WHEREAS, in May 2001, Mr. Fernandez was elected judge to fill a partial term on16
the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District Court, Division B to which he was re-elected and where17
he served until his retirement in the summer of 2013; and18
WHEREAS, while serving on the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District bench, Judge19
Fernandez was a guest lecturer and presenter on many legal subjects, served as the Louisiana20
editor on environmental texts, co-authored an article on the rights of the terminally ill that21
was published in medical journals, and he served as chief judge and was the founder of the22
drug court in the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District Court; and23
WHEREAS, Judge Fernandez was stepson of the late Scott Molero; the husband of24
Dorothy Harrington Fernandez; the father of Gina Fernandez, Jill Willie, and Amy25
Ybarzabal and stepfather of Casey Hutchens; and grandfather (Pop Pop) to Nick, Eric,26
Daniel, Ben, and Madeline Priola; Foster, Simon, and Samuel Willie; Adam, Gabrielle,27
Kyle, and Camille Ybarzabel; and Emily Hutchens; and28
WHEREAS, Judge Fernandez was proudly recognized as "Man of the Year" and29
"Legislator of the Year" in St. Bernard Parish; and30 HLS 14RS-4554 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 154
Page 3 of 3
WHEREAS, Judge Fernandez will be forever remembered as a loving and loyal1
husband, father, grandfather, and a friend to many, who loved his community and treasured2
his family; and3
WHEREAS, the death of Judge Fernandez has left a great void and created a genuine4
sense of sorrow in all who knew him, including the members of the legislative family, all5
of whom mourn the loss of this wonderful man who served his state and this institution with6
distinction, integrity, and statesmanship.7
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby8
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of former state representative Judge9
Manuel "Manny" Fernandez and does hereby record for posterity the enduring appreciation10
of the citizens of Louisiana for his outstanding contributions and achievements, particularly11
during his tenure as a distinguished member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.12
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted13
to the family of Judge Fernandez.14
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Garofalo HCR No. 154
Expresses the condolences of the legislature upon the death of Judge Manuel "Manny"
Fernandez, former member of the House of Representatives.