2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 64
BY SENATORS ALARIO, ADLEY, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME, BROWN,
BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAITOR, CORTEZ, CROWE,
DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, JOHNS, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY,
MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH, MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK,
PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE AND
REPRESENTATIVES ABRAMSON, ADAMS, ANDERS, ARMES,
ARNOLD, BADON, BARRAS, BARROW, BERTHELOT, BILLIOT,
STUART BISHOP, WESLEY BISHOP, BOUIE, BROADWATER,
BROWN, BURFORD, HENRY BURNS, TIM BURNS, BURRELL,
CARMODY, CARTER, CHANEY, CONNICK, COX, CROMER,
DANAHAY, DOVE, EDWARDS, FANNIN, FOIL, FRANKLIN,
GAINES, GAROFALO, GEYMANN, GISCLAIR, GUILLORY,
GUINN, HALL, HARRIS, HARRISON, HAVARD, HAZEL, HENRY,
HENSGENS, HILL, HODGES, HOFFMANN, HOLLIS, HONORE,
HOWARD, HUNTER, HUVAL, IVEY, JACKSON, JAMES,
JEFFERSON, MIKE JOHNSON, ROBERT JOHNSON, JONES,
KLECKLEY, LAMBERT, NANCY LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY,
LEBAS, LEGER, LEOPOLD, LOPINTO, LORUSSO, MACK,
MIGUEZ, MILLER, MONTOUCET, MORENO, JAY MORRIS, JIM
MORRIS, NORTON, ORTEGO, OURSO, PEARSON, PIERRE, PONTI,
POPE, PRICE, PUGH, PYLANT, REYNOLDS, RICHARD, RITCHIE,
ROBIDEAUX, SCHEXNAYDER, SCHRODER, SEABAUGH,
SHADOIN, SIMON, SMITH, ST. GERMAIN, STOKES, TALBOT,
THIBAUT, THIERRY, WHITNEY, ALFRED WILLIAMS, PATRICK
WILLIAMS, WILLMOTT AND WOODRUFF
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
passing of the Honorable Charles H. Grisbaum Jr., retired Chief Judge for the
Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal and former member of the Louisiana House
of Representatives representing District Seventy-nine, and to recognize his
paramount contributions to the legal process, to the state, and to his community.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Legislature of Louisiana have learned of the passing of a dear friend, former colleague, and
capable jurist, the Honorable Charles H. Grisbaum Jr., on September 6, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Judge Grisbaum faithfully deliberated the cases brought before the
Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal for nearly twenty years, from 1982 until his
retirement in 2001; and
Page 1 of 4 SCR NO. 64 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, Judge Grisbaum was elected, unopposed, as appellate court judge for
the Fifth Circuit, First District, Division F; he would later become chief judge in 1999; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure on the bench, Judge Grisbaum heard numerous cases
before the court and ruled each verdict on the merits of the case with intense concentration
on the letter of the law and with impartiality toward those defendants; and
WHEREAS, Judge Grisbaum displayed a genuine affinity for criminal law; he
attained a bachelor of arts degree in Business Administration from Loyola University of the
South in 1959 and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Loyola School of Law in 1961; he was
chosen as a member of the prestigious Loyola National Moot Court; and
WHEREAS, after graduation he organized the law partnership of Grisbaum and
Kleppner; and
WHEREAS, Charles "Charlie" Grisbaum was widely respected as an attorney and
proved to be a consummate political leader as well, when elected by the constituency of
West Metairie in Jefferson Parish as a member of the House of Representatives serving
District Seventy-nine; and
WHEREAS, during his term in office from election in 1971 until his judicial election
in 1982, Charlie Grisbaum served as a highly effective lawmaker with assignment to House
committees on Education, House and Governmental Affairs, Labor and Industrial Relations,
Natural Resources, and Judiciary D; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Grisbaum also served as chairman of the House Committee on
the Administration of Criminal Justice from 1980 until 1982 and as floor leader and as vice
chairman on the Governor's Commission on Criminal Justice for Governor David C. Treen;
and
WHEREAS, Charlie was one of a group of new reform-minded legislators known
as the "Young Turks"; his attitude was reflective of the changing face of Louisiana's political
scene; he challenged the status quo and embraced reform, he supported progressive changes
in the operations of state government that continue to benefit citizens today, he acted as a
leader for House Speaker, E. L. "Bubba" Henry, in efforts to streamline the Rules of Order
of the House of Representatives; and his leadership earned him the respect of his colleagues
on both sides of the aisle; and
Page 2 of 4 SCR NO. 64 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, Charlie Grisbaum steadfastly endeavored to improve the welfare of his
fellow citizens and his legislative accomplishments were numerous; he authored legislation
against pinball machine gambling, tax increases on individual income and the state sales tax,
fixed prices on dairy products, mandatory teacher union membership, and motor vehicle
repair fraud; and
WHEREAS, he adamantly supported consumer protection, no-fault automobile
insurance, emergency medical care, reapportionment of Jefferson Parish, campaign finance
disclosure, the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution,
annual cost-of-living raises for schoolteachers, Right to Life, fire protection, building safety
regulations, vocational training, educational funding for private schools, flood insurance, and
creation of governmental bodies such as the Atchafalaya Basin District, the Legislative
Budgetary Control Council, the Legislative Fiscal Office, and the Council on Environmental
Quality; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Grisbaum was a dynamic leader with a clear understanding of
the important issues of the day; he was committed to new ideas; and he represented his
constituents with equal passion and effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, Judge Grisbaum mediated the docket and upheld the integrity of the
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal for two decades, far longer than his ten years of service in the
House of Representatives, however, his legal expertise and legislative experience were
essential preparation that attributed to his extraordinary service on the appellate bench; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Grisbaum is survived by his loving wife, Beverly, and their
children, Ghant, Garic, Gevin, and Gretchen, two grandchildren, extended family and loving
friends; and
WHEREAS, Judge Charles Grisbaum was the kind of individual who represents what
is best about Louisiana, a man of wisdom and insight who used his talents, integrity, and
passion to change Louisiana for the better; and he leaves a remarkable legacy of bona fide
public service to the justice system, the legislature, and the citizenry of Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the passing of a fine statesman and
gentleman, the Honorable Charles H. Grisbaum Jr., retired Chief Judge for the Louisiana
Page 3 of 4 SCR NO. 64 ENROLLED
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal and former state legislator for House of Representatives
District Seventy-nine.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Judge Charles H. Grisbaum Jr.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 4 of 4