Longtime judge dies of heart failure
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 15, 1999
LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / September 15, 1999
NEW ORLEANS – Retired 29th and 40th Judicial District Judge Charles William Bradley, 88, died Monday from congestive heart failure at Mercy Hospital in New Orleans. He was a member of the fifth generation of hisfamily to serve as a judge.
Bradley, a native of Covington and former resident of Good Hope and Edgard, presided over the 29th Judicial District Court, which emcompassed St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes, and later thenewly-established 40th Judicial District.
He graduated in 1936 from the Tulane College of Commerce and completed Tulane School of Law in 1939, attending college and law school while employed full time at Shell Oil Co. in Norco.In 1942, he entered the U.S. Army as a private, was later commissioned tosecond lieutenant, captain and major in the 42nd Infantry Division. He waswounded during the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Medal and four campaign medals.
From 1945 to 1948, he was appointed by Gen. Mark Clark as a Law Memberof the U.S. Tribunal for the Trial of War Criminals in Austria. He returnedto Louisiana and practiced law until 1959 when he was first elected judge in the 29th Judicial District at the age of 39.
He was re-elected unopposed in 1965, 1971 and 1977, serving until his retirement in 1984. From 1984 to 1993 he was appointed ad hocjudgeships in the 23rd, 24th, 29th and 40th judicial districts, serving until 1993.
He married Margaret Landry Bradley and they had four children: attorney Charles William Bradley Jr., of the firm of Lemle & Kelleher; chef BridgetMaugher; attorney Margaret Bradley, of the firm of Robert Birtel; and Adrian Henry, a paralegal with the firm of Howrey & Simon.
He is also survived by two grandchildren.
Bradley enjoyed reading, walking, hunting, fishing and playing poker at Club 99.
Services are scheduled tomorrow at 11 a.m. at St. Charles BorromeoCatholic Church in Destrehan. Visitation will begin today from 7 to 8:30p.m. and tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.
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