Page 59 - 2022AprilBOG

Judge Morvant is a member of the Baton Rouge Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar
Association, Louisiana Supreme Court’s Judicial Compensation Fund Committee, Louisiana
Law Institute, and serves on various committees, including the Civil Procedure Committee. He
received multiple awards and honors over the years including the 2010 and 2015 President’s
Award from the Baton Rouge Bar Association, 2011 President’s Award from the State Bar
Association and the 2002 Leadership Award from the Louisiana Association of Drug Court
Professionals. Judge Morvant also teaches Louisiana Civil Procedure at LSU Law School.

Judicial Career and the Administration of Justice

As a judge, Morvant appreciated promptness and exhibited genuine concern for his litigants. He
upheld the law regardless of what public opinion of him might be. While on the bench and as a
retired judge, he believes in professionalism and is respectful to all lawyers and litigants coming
before the court. He is mindful of the pressures and demands under which they practice and
treated lawyers that appeared before him with the upmost respect. More importantly, he treated
the members of the public with care and guidance. He understood that the citizens appearing in
his court generally were not familiar with court procedures but he took his time to make sure
everyone understood how the process worked and treated everyone the same.

From 1997 through 2002, he presided over the Drug Treatment Court for the 19th Judicial
District Court. As the "Drug Court Judge" for East Baton Rouge Parish, Morvant worked hard to
ensure the individuals who appeared in front of him were treated respectfully and that proper
addiction treatment options were made available. It is significant to note that while in private
practice as a commercial litigator he had little to no exposure to the criminal bench. However,
th
upon his election to the 19 JDC he was assigned to the Drug Treatment Court, which, at the
time, handled every felony drug case in East Baton Rouge Parish. Judge Morvant served with
distinction on this court for five years until moving to the civil bench. During his tenure on the
bench, Judge Morvant presided over high profile trials including one wherein his ruling on the
constitutionality of a statue made him the subject of multiple threats.

He understood that lawyers sometimes make mistakes. He exceled at helping lawyers and
litigants seek out the proper legal solution for each problem. He accommodated the lawyers'
schedules and worked hard to see that the cases in his court move at a proper pace.

Judge Morvant is a community and bar leader who is interested in improving the image of the
legal profession. As a community leader, his focus has been primarily on issues affecting
children. He served on the I-Care Advisory Council and the boards of Family Services of Greater
Baton Rouge, the Paula Manship Y.M.C.A. and the Baton Rouge C.Y.O. For each of these
organizations he contributed his time and talents to make Baton Rouge a better place to live,
work and play. He and his wife, Rhonda, are active parishioners of St. Aloysuis Church.

Judge Billy Morvant is one of the finest members to serve on the bench in East Baton Rouge
Parish. Even in retirement, he actively participates in the local Bar Association activities. He
has always been helpful to new members of the bar and has always been gracious in helping new