May 8, 1998

University and law commencements set

Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jeannette Theriot Knoll will be the keynote speaker at the School of Law commencement on Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m. in the La Louisiane Ballroom of the Convention Center.

The university commencement will be held on Sunday, May 17, beginning at 10 a.m. in Hall A of the Convention Center. University President, the Rev. Bernard P. Knoth, S.J., will deliver the address. Honorary degrees will not be presented at the ceremony.

Knoll, one of ten children, earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science with a minor in history in 1966 and in 1969 a juris doctor degree, both from Loyola. In 1996 she received a master of laws degree in the judicial process from the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville.

The winner of a Metropolitan Opera Association and New Orleans Opera Guild Scholarship at the age of 18, Knoll studied voice under the direction of Maestro Adler of the Metropolitan Opera Company and at Mannes College of Music in New York City. Prior to her studies in New York, she attended Loyola College of Music on a voice scholarship and was a guest soloist with the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony and the New Orleans Summer Pops.

Knoll took office on the Louisiana Supreme Court on January 1, 1997. Prior to her election to the Supreme Court, she served as a judge of the Court of Appeal, Third Circuit. She was elected to the Third Circuit in 1982 and was reelected in 1992.

As a member of the legal community, Knoll is an instructor for the Louisiana Judicial College and served as chair of Continuing Legal Education for Louisiana Court of Appeals Judges. As an active civic leader, Knoll served as president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club and chair of the March of Dimes. In 1995, she received the Outstanding Judicial Award from Victims and Citizens Against Crime, Inc. Currently, she is on the board of directors of the Arts and Humanities Council of Avoyelles.

Knoll is a member of the visiting committees of Loyola University School of Law and the College of Music; of LSUA Criminal Justice Advisory Committee; Loyola University Alumni Association Board of Directors; American Legion Auxiliary - Prevost Johnson #130; Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association; and Marksville Chamber of Commerce.