John Malach Shaw

Who was John Malach Shaw?

John Malach Shaw was a United States federal judge.

Born in Beaumont, Texas, Shaw received a B.S. from Washington and Lee University in 1953 and a J.D. from Louisiana State University Law School in 1956. He was in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958, and then in the United States Army Reserve until 1964, achieving the rank of Captain. He was in private practice in Opelousas, Louisiana from 1958 to 1979.

On June 5, 1979, Shaw was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 25, 1979, and received his commission on September 26, 1979. He served as chief judge from 1991 to 1996, assuming senior status on November 15, 1996. He served in that capacity until his death, in 1999, in Lafayette, Louisiana.