Photo: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana — Public domainSource
A. J. McNamara
politician
- June 9, 1936
- December 2, 2014
- 78 years
- progressive supranuclear palsy
About A. J. McNamara
A. J. McNamara, 78, American legislator and federal judge, progressive supranuclear palsy.
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Full Biography
|Abel John "A. J." McNamara (June 9, 1936 – December 2, 2014), was a Louisiana politician and judge who served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1976 to 1980 and as a United States district judge of the New Orleans–based United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 1982 to 2001.
Early life, education and career
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Henry D. and Ruby (née Price), McNamara graduated from the Roman Catholic Jesuit High School in 1954. He received a B.S. in engineering from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1959, and thereafter served in the United States Navy until 1962. He received a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 1968. From 1966 to 1968 he was a bailiff and law clerk for United States District Judge Herbert William Christenberry. After gaining admission to the bar in 1968, he entered private practice until 1982.
Political life
In 1975, McNamara was elected to represent Jefferson Parish in suburban New Orleans in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He was elected in the first-ever nonpartisan blanket primary (also called the jungle primary), and was a Democrat from 1976 to 1977, and a Republican from 1977 to 1980. He did not seek reelection in 1979.
Federal judicial service
On May 5, 1982, President Reagan nominated McNamara to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana vacated by Judge Edward James Boyle Sr. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 18, 1982, and received his commission on June 21, 1982. He served as Chief Judge from 1999 to 2001, assuming senior status on June 9, 2001. His service terminated on December 2, 2014, due to his death. McNamara was succeeded on the court by Judge Jay C. Zainey, a nominee of President George W. Bush, who was confirmed on October 10, 2001.
Private life
McNamara married Alma J. Loisel (c. 1939–2023), with whom he had had two sons, John Price McNamara and Dwight Loisel McNamara, and two daughters, Joni McNamara Parent and Nancy Ann McNamara Miller. McNamara and his wife lived in Metairie, Louisiana.
McNamara died at his home of progressive supranuclear palsy at the age of 78. He was interred at Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._J._McNamara
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 13 questions
Questions drawn from A. J. McNamara's archived record and the sources above.
1.Between 1966 and 1968, what role did A. J. McNamara hold for Judge Herbert William Christenberry?
- A.Chief of staff
- B.Legal assistant
- C.Bailiff and law clerkcorrect
- D.Private practice attorney
A. J. McNamara served as a bailiff and law clerk for United States District Judge Herbert William Christenberry from 1966 to 1968.
Source: Early life, education and career
2.Which political party did A. J. McNamara represent from 1977 to 1980?
- A.Democratic
- B.Independent
- C.Republicancorrect
- D.Libertarian
A. J. McNamara was a Democrat from 1976 to 1977, and a Republican from 1977 to 1980.
Source: Political life
3.A. J. McNamara served in which branch of the military until 1962?
- A.United States Marine Corps
- B.United States Navycorrect
- C.United States Army
- D.United States Air Force
A. J. McNamara served in the United States Navy until 1962 after graduating from college.
Source: Early life, education and career
4.In what year did A. J. McNamara graduate from Jesuit High School?
- A.1954correct
- B.1958
- C.1950
- D.1962
A. J. McNamara graduated from the Roman Catholic Jesuit High School in 1954.
Source: Early life, education and career
5.What was the name of A. J. McNamara's wife?
- A.Nancy Ann Miller
- B.Ruby Price
- C.Alma J. Loiselcorrect
- D.Joni Parent
A. J. McNamara married Alma J. Loisel.
Source: Private life
6.What was the cause of death for A. J. McNamara?
- A.Pneumonia
- B.Cancer
- C.Heart failure
- D.Progressive supranuclear palsycorrect
A. J. McNamara died at his home of progressive supranuclear palsy at the age of 78.
Source: Private life
7.When did A. J. McNamara assume senior status as a judge?
- A.October 10, 2001
- B.December 2, 2014
- C.June 21, 1982
- D.June 9, 2001correct
A. J. McNamara assumed senior status on June 9, 2001.
Source: Federal judicial service
8.Who succeeded A. J. McNamara on the court after he left?
- A.Jay C. Zaineycorrect
- B.Edward James Boyle Sr.
- C.Herbert William Christenberry
- D.George W. Bush
A. J. McNamara was succeeded on the court by Judge Jay C. Zainey.
Source: Federal judicial service
9.Where was A. J. McNamara interred after his death?
- A.Jesuit High School Memorial
- B.Greenwood Cemeterycorrect
- C.Metairie Cemetery
- D.Louisiana State University Cemetery
A. J. McNamara was interred at Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans.
Source: Private life
10.In what year did A. J. McNamara receive his J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law?
- A.1968correct
- B.1962
- C.1970
- D.1966
A. J. McNamara received a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 1968.
Source: Early life, education and career
11.What was the date of A. J. McNamara's confirmation by the United States Senate?
- A.May 5, 1982
- B.June 21, 1982
- C.June 18, 1982correct
- D.October 10, 2001
A. J. McNamara was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 18, 1982.
Source: Federal judicial service
12.Which area of Louisiana did A. J. McNamara represent in the Louisiana House of Representatives?
- A.Baton Rouge
- B.New Orleans
- C.Metairie
- D.Jefferson Parishcorrect
In 1975, A. J. McNamara was elected to represent Jefferson Parish in suburban New Orleans.
Source: Political life
13.In what city was A. J. McNamara born?
- A.Baton Rouge
- B.New Orleanscorrect
- C.Jefferson Parish
- D.Metairie
A. J. McNamara was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Source: Early life, education and career
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