[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish Judge Manual 'Manny' Fernandez retires

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish Judge Manual 'Manny' Fernandez retires

St. Bernard Parish Judge Manual "Manny" Fernandez officially has stepped
down from his Division B seat on the state 34th Judicial District Court.
Fernandez, a former state representative who served on the bench for 12
years, said Monday that it was time for him to step down, spend time with
his grandchildren and fish.

"I have enjoyed it tremendously," Fernandez said. "It is one of the most
honored professions that someone can aspire to - to be able to sit and try
to help decide cases that citizens can't decide on their own."

"Thurgood Marshall said, when asked why he had retired from the Supreme
Court, 'Well, I am old.'"

The Louisiana Supreme Court has appointed retired Judge Robert "Bobby"
Klees, a former chief judge of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and St.
Bernard resident, to fill Fernandez's former seat on an interim basis.
Fernandez served his last day on Friday and Klees officially took over the
post on Monday.

Fernandez is 70 and state law dictates that a person more than 69 years old
cannot be elected to a state judgeship, although if they turn 70 while in
office then they can complete their term. Fernandez's six-year-term would
have expired in December 2014.

There have been legislative efforts to remove that judicial age limit, but
Fernandez said "that while that could be possible for someone else, that's
not in the cards for me."

"It was just time for me to move on," Fernandez added. "One of the things
that I think is most important is knowing when it is time to move on, when
it is time to say goodbye."

In May 2001, Fernandez beat Sharon Williams by only 158 votes in a runoff to
finish out the year left in Judge David Gorbaty's term after he was elevated
to an appeals court position. At that time, the judgeship race was called
the closest in St. Bernard history.

But about 16 months later in October 2002, when Fernandez ran for the full
six-year judicial post, he easily garnered the seat with more than 5,000
votes more than his closest rival.

Fernandez officially was sworn in as judge on June 1, 2001, and he
officially retired on June 1, 2013, giving himself 12 years in office to the
day, Fernandez noted.

During his lifetime, Fernandez has served in all three branches of state
government: legislative, executive and judicial. He served as 104th District
state representative from 1976 to 1988 and also was an assistant chief of
staff to former Gov. Buddy Roemer.

As a legislator, Fernandez said he is most proud of helping to rewrite the
law on community property so that wives had equal management rights of
community property. He said that he also helped develop current joint
custody rights of children, as when he took office the preference was always
given to the mother instead of being decided based on the best interest of
the child.

Klees, 72, retired from the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Dec. 31, 2000.
In a twist, Klees also temporarily filled the Div. B seat 12 years ago when
Gorbaty left the bench, keeping it warm until Fernandez took over.

St. Bernard Clerk of Court Randy Nunez said on Monday that he expects the
election to fill the remainder year of Fernandez's term will be held on Oct.
19.

Nunez, who often served as a lawyer in front of Fernandez, said he recalled
that Fernandez "was always prepared and would always challenge you mentally,
challenging you to ask questions beyond what were in your briefs."

"He made you do what a lawyer should do - ask good questions."

Fernandez said that in addition to more leisurely activities, he also
attends to do some private practice work.