Herman C. Clause

The path Herman chose to achieve success in his professional career was not an easy one, but it helped forge the respected politician, commissioner, and district judge he became. He is the son of sharecroppers, born in rural St. Landry Parish in Prairie Basse, Louisiana. His family later moved south to Carencro in north Lafayette Parish.

Motivated by an intense desire to advance past his rural upbringing, Herman went to college and then law school. After graduation from Carencro High School, he attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana) and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with Highest Distinction. He received his law degree from Tulane University in 1966 and was admitted to the Louisiana Bar.

He practiced law in Lafayette until 1984 when he was selected by the state district judges for the 15th Judicial District in Acadia, Vermilion, and Lafayette parishes to serve as Commissioner. He remained in that position until being elected to the district bench for those same parishes in 1996, presiding over a variety of cases – civil, domestic, juvenile, and criminal. He served as a state district judge until his retirement in 2015. He also served 12 years on the Lafayette Parish School Board.

A thoughtful jurist, Herman brought to the court not only abundant wisdom and fairness, but also passion for the truth, enormous capacity to listen, grace, humor, and courage to make difficult decisions. A mentor to many, he was a sounding board and a voice of reason. Today he brings that same compassion and conviction as of counsel to Sallinger Melancon.