Louisiana Supreme Court issued the following announcement on Jan. 5
Chief Judge James F. McKay Ill has announced his retirement from the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, effective January 3, 2022. With the retirement of Chief Judge McKay, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Terri Fleming Love becomes the Chief Judge of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Chief Judge McKay is a native of New Orleans. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (currently the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1969. He earned his juris doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law in 1974. While enrolled in law school, he also worked as an adult probation and parole officer.
From 1974-1978, Chief Judge McKay worked at the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office where he served as a Senior Trial Attorney. From 1978-1982, he served as the Chief Prosecutor of the Criminal Division for the Metropolitan office of the State Attorney General's Office. On December 12, 1982, he was elected to the Orleans Criminal District Court bench where he served until 1998. Chief Judge McKay was elected to the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal on March 7, 1998, and since January 1, 2013, he has served as Chief Judge.
Chief Judge McKay is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Judges Association, serving as President in 2009. He previously served as Vice President and National Secretary, and was twice elected to the Board of Governors. In 2007 he received the Judge William H. Burnett Award from the American Judges Association. Chief Judge McKay is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Fourth and Fifth Circuit Judges Association, Francophone Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the American Judicature Society.
Chief Judge McKay is also active in a number of civic and fraternal organizations. In 2010, Chief Judge McKay was appointed as the Honorary Consul General of Ireland for the State of Louisiana. He served as National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians from 2016-2020, National Vice President from 2012-2016, and National Treasurer from 2008-2012. He remains Past National President for life. Chief Judge McKay is the current Chair of the National Oversite Committee for the National Ancient Order of Hibernians and National Hibernian Charity. He is married to Marie Soniat McKay and they are the parents of four children: James F., IV, Michael B., Katherine L. and Colleen S. McKay.
The Louisiana Supreme Court has appointed attorney Lynn Luker as judge pro tempore to the Fourth Circuit to fill the vacancy created by the retirement. That appointment is effective January 4, 2022 through May 31, 2022.
Original source can be found here.