Louisiana’s first African-American justice on the state’s Supreme Court died Sunday from complications of a stroke.

WWL

Retired Supreme Court Justice Revius Ortique

Revius Ortique, who served two years beginning in 1992 before stepping down as a justice at the age of 70, was 84.

Ortique moved to Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina and had planned to move back to New Orleans when repairs were complete.

After serving on the court, New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial appointed Ortique to the Aviation Board. He became the chairman shortly after.

Ortique had a distinguished legal career that spanned nearly four decades. The New Orleans native became president of the National Bar Association, and after he lobbied then President Lyndon B. Johnson for more African-American judicial nominations, Thurgood Marshall was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 1979, Ortique was elected the first African-American judge on the Civil District Court of New Orleans.

He also served five full terms as president of the Urban League of Greater New Orleans.

But it was his appointment to the Supreme Court that stood out in his mind.

“I’m so pleased that hundreds of people have told my committee, not only me, but my committee, that I’ve earned a place on the Supreme Court,” Ortique said.

In his two years on the court, and many more in the New Orleans community, Ortique earned the respect of many, if not all, of his colleagues.

“He served with distinction. He was well respected. He was a professional of the highest sort,” Chief Justice Pascal Calogero said.

Ortique served five U.S. presidents who appointed him to a variety of presidential boards and commissions.

Friends remember him as a hard-working, disciplined and focused individual.