Elmer Gordon West

Who was Elmer Gordon West?

Elmer Gordon West was a United States federal judge.

Born in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, West received a B.S. from Louisiana State University in 1941 and an LL.B. from Louisiana State University Law School in 1942. He was in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II, from 1942 to 1945. He was an attorney for the Louisiana State Department of Revenue from 1945 to 1946, and was an inheritance tax collector for the State of Louisiana from 1948 to 1952. He was in private practice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from 1946 to 1961.

On September 5, 1961, West was nominated by President John F. Kennedy to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana created by 75 Stat. 80. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 14, 1961, and received his commission on September 15, 1961. He served as chief judge from 1967 to 1972. West served in that capacity until April 16, 1972, when he was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. He served as chief judge of that court from 1978 to 1979, assuming senior status on November 27, 1979. West served in that capacity until his death, in 1992.