J. Minos Simon

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J. Minos Simon
J. Minos Simon

Joseph Minos Simon (February 27, 1922 -- March 11, 2004) was a Louisiana attorney known for his courtroom theatrics and demeanor. Simon was also a author, lecturer, aviator, and sportsman.

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[edit] Early years and education

J. Minos Simon (pronounced MY NOCE SEE MOAN) was born to Amar Simon and the former Elvina Bouillion in the community of Nunez in western Vermilion Parish. He was reared in a poor family and spoke only French as a child, but he learned to speak English in grade school. As was typical of early Cajun life, he worked in rice and cotton fields and traveled in horse-drawn buggies and wagons. His early childhood memories were of a carefree life hunting rabbits with dogs and riding calves and hogs when his parents were preoccupied with making a living.

When Simon was a fourth-grader, his parents moved to Kaplan. He hence graduated from Kaplan High School in 1939. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was medically discharged after a year. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin near the state Capitol in Madison and then transferred to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

He graduated from LSU Law School in 1946 and was admitted to the bar by the Louisiana Supreme Court in that same year. He was admitted to practice before the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans in 1949 and before the United States Supreme Court in 1960.

[edit] A man of many talents

Simon was a breeder of thoroughbred horses on his ranch. After his death, the Simon estate was still running a thoroughbred named "Boyish Charm." He was an avid jogger and participated in scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and hunting large and small game, including alligators. He was an airplane pilot and boat captain for more than two decades.

He was the author of two books about Louisiana and its legal heritage: Law in the Cajun Nation (1993), in collaboration with David Leon Chandler, and The Devil in the Law: A Judicial Moral Juridicial Decline (1999). The latter book, with legal scales on the cover, was well-received in the prolife community. Simon was a strong opponent of abortion.

Simon was an acclaimed lecturer on topics dear to Acadiana. Prior to his death, the "Living Legends" executive committee inducted Simon into the "Order of Living Legends." "Living Legends" lectures, which are free and open to the public, recognize and honor those persons who have helped to mold and define Cajun culture. The program is sponsored by the Acadian Museum of Erath.

Simon also lectured at many legal seminars and symposia. Warren A. Perrin, President of the interest group known as the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, or CODOFIL, said that Simon had "been a mentor and inspiration for many young attorneys . . . [who was] always willing to share his experience with others and [had] been a guest lecturer for the Francophone Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association."

[edit] Trial lawyer for 56 years

Simon served as a trial lawyer in both civil and criminal cases in both state and federal courts in a career that exceeded a half century. He handled thousands of cases. He was known for his high profile civil and criminal cases throughout Louisiana. A computer search several years ago disclosed that he presented to higher courts for adjudication more than 551 reported cases, 459 of which were presented to the Appellate and Supreme courts of Louisiana and 105 cases to the federal courts, 29 of which went to the United States Supreme Court.

In 1981, Simon was the attorney for three junior high school girls who sought to remain in Buckeye High School in Rapides Parish, despite a desegregation order to the contrary from U.S. District Judge Nauman Scott of Alexandria. In order to remain at the Buckeye school, the custody of the girls, who the media dubbed "the Buckeye Three," was transferred to the late state Judge Richard "Dick" Lee.

In the mid-1970s, Simon represented John Kenneth Snyder, Sr., (1922-1993), who was mayor of Alexandria from 1973-1977 and again from 1982-1986, in a series of city and personal legal matters which stemmed from grievances that Snyder had against various public agencies or political opponents. Snyder, who stood in awe of Simon's legal talents, once jokingly said that his opponents would be in "fear and trembling" if he "sicked Simon" upon them.

[edit] Defending chiropractors and children

As early as 1965, Simon was working to permit chiropractors to have the same standing in the medical profession as other doctors of medicine. He represented a chiropractor known as Jerry England. Simon devoted eight years pressing to overturn a Louisiana statute which limited the licensed, legal practice of chiropractics to those who held a doctorate from a school of medicine. Although Simon was not successful, and the England case was ultimately decided in favor of the state medical board, Simon was credited by the Louisiana Chropractic Association for laying the groundwork for the eventual recognition of chiropractors as bona fide medical professionals.

Simon also took an early lead in the filing of numerous civil suits against the Roman Catholic Church on behalf of children who were sexually-abused by priests and other church workers. Simon once named Pope John Paul II as a defendant in a legal motion. Suing the pope was a technicality; but the damaging headlines were a sign at the Vatican Embassy that church officials in Louisiana were unaware of the extent of the problem.

[edit] Running for attorney general, 1971

In 1971, Simon entered the Democratic primary for Louisiana attorney general in an unsuccessful effort to succeed scandal-plagued incumbent Jack P.F. Gremillion. Simon was not well known statewide at the time of the campaign, and he failed to make the pivotal runoff primary. Instead, the nomination was secured by a state senator from New Orleans, William J. Guste, Jr., who then went on to defeat the Republican nominee, Tom Stagg, in the general election. Stagg instead became a U.S. District judge in 1974.

[edit] Simon's obituary

Simon died at his residence in Arnaudville near Lafayette but in St. Landry Parish. A private memorial service was held to celebrate his diverse life. His obituary said that he was "a trial attorney of 56 years, who actively engaged life in many respects. While his legendary legal talents speak for themselves, he was an avid sportsman who was as comfortable quoting the great philosophers, as he was hunting alligators in the marshes of Louisiana. He loved hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and horse racing. He was a published author and an accomplished aviator, and without question, a man who fully embraced life on all levels. He expressly wanted to be remembered as one who dearly loved his family, friends, clients, and country."

Simon was survived by his wife, Jeanie Holmes Simon of Arnaudville; two daughters, Michelle Simon Eckert of Baton Rouge and Suzette Simon Tardo of Lafayette; three sons, Joseph Minos "Jay" Simon, Jr., of Baton Rouge, Joseph Clemille "Cle" Simon of Lafayette, and Joseph Quentin Simon of Lafayette; two step-daughters, Jodi Fulton Benton of Baton Rouge and Jennifer Reeves Sylvester of Pensacola, Florida; ten grandchildren; ten step-grandchildren; thirty-two step-great-grandchildren.

[edit] References

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