Ronald Lagueux
| Ronald Lagueux | |
| Current Court Information: | |
| District of Rhode Island | |
| Title: | Senior Judge |
| Position: | Seat #3 |
| Service: | |
| Appointed by: | Ronald Reagan |
| Active: | 3/4/1986 - 11/30/2001 |
| Chief: | 1992 - 1999 |
| Senior: | 11/30/2001 - Present |
| Preceded by: | 98 Stat. 333 |
| Succeeded by: | William E. Smith |
| Past post: | Rhode Island Supreme Court |
| Past term: | 1968-1986 |
| Personal History | |
| Born: | 1931 |
| Home State: | Lewiston, ME |
| Bachelors: | Bowdoin College, 1953 |
| Law School: | Harvard Law, 1956 |
Contents |
Early life and education
A native of Maine, Lageux graduated from Bowdoin College with his Bachelor's Degree in 1953 and later graduated from the Harvard Law School with his law degree in 1956. [1]
Professional career
Lageux served as a private practice attorney licensed in the State of Rhode Island from 1956 to 1968 before serving as the Associate justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1968 to 1986. [1]
Judicial career
District of Rhode Island
Lageux was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on January 21, 1986 to a new seat created by 98 Stat. 333 which was approved by Congress. Lageux was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 3, 1986 and received commission on March 4, 1986. Lagueux served as the chief judge of the court from 1992 to 1999 before later assuming senior status on November 30, 2001. He was succeeded to this post by William E. Smith.[1]
Notable cases
A notable case on this page needs to be updated.
Nightclub fire case
| United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island *GRAY vs. DERDERIAN 1-04CV0312L |
|---|
| Judge Lagueux on January 7, 2010 approved a settlement of $176 million to family members of the victims of a night club fire that killed 100 people in Providence, Rhode Island in 2003.
The fire was caused by a pyrotechnics display used in a rock concert. The pyrotechnics hit the soundproof foam which led to a fire resulting in 100 deaths. The settlement ended nearly seven years of litigation in the case in which the club's owners pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges in 2006.[2] |
High School prayer banner
| United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island *AHLQUIST vs. CRANSTON 1-11CV0138L |
|---|
On January 11, 2012 Judge Lagueux issued his ruling in AHLQUIST vs. CRANSTON, deciding that a prayer banner that hung on the gym wall of a public high school violated the First Amendment. Lagueux ordered that the banner be removed within 10 days, barring an appeal from the school district. Lagueux felt that there was no way to construe the prayer as anything but Christian in nature. He defended this in his opinion, stating "The Prayer concludes with the indisputably religious closing: 'Amen;' a Hebrew word used by Jews, Christians and Muslims to conclude prayers. In between, the Prayer espouses values of honesty, kindness, friendship and sportsmanship. While these goals are commendable, the reliance on God’s intervention as the way to achieve those goals is not consistent with a secular purpose." He also lauded Jessica Ahlquist , the student who brought the suit, stating that she "is clearly an articulate and courageous young woman, who took a brave stand, particularly in the light of the hostile response she has received from the community."[3] The school will determine if it will appeal the decision at an open meeting on February 16. The prayer reads:
"Our Heavenly Father,The author of the prayer has continued to express dismay at the ruling, telling the press, “It’s a shame that some judge with an appointment out of a Cracker Jack box can make a ruling like that." [3] |
See also
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lagueux Biography from the Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ "The Boston Globe" RI judge OKs $176M settlement in deadly club fire, January 7, 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Stonington Mystic-Patch, "Judge Orders Prayer Banner Written By Stonington Man Removed" 1/13/2012
- ↑ Catholic Online, "Atheist teen stands behind her position after school prayer banner taken down" 1/30/2012
| Federal judicial offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: NA |
District of Rhode Island 1986–2001 Seat #3 |
Succeeded by: William E. Smith |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active judges | |||
| Senior judges |
Ronald Lagueux • | ||
| Magistrate judges | Lincoln Almond • Robert Lovegreen • Patricia A. Sullivan • | ||
| Former Article III judges |
Ernest Torres • Bruce Marshall Selya • Benjamin Bourne • Henry Marchant • David Leonard Barnes • David Howell • John Pitman • Jonathan Russell Bullock • John Power Knowles • LeBaron Bradford Colt • George Moulton Carpenter • Arthur Lewis Brown • Ira Lloyd Letts • John Christopher Mahoney • Francis Boyle • Edward Day • John Patrick Hartigan • Edward Leahy • Raymond Pettine • | ||
| Former Chief judges |
Ronald Lagueux • Ernest Torres • Francis Boyle • Edward Day • Raymond Pettine • | ||
