Berault, Judge St. Maurice

Submitted by Mike Miller

Judge St. Maurice Berault, attorney, New Orleans, La., was originally from the Empire state, born in New York city, May 6, 1815, but has been a resident of the state of Louisiana since 1837, and one of its ablest attorneys since 1848. His parents, Charles Berault de St. Maurice and Caroline Desabaye, were both natives of the island of St. Domingo and members of wealthy families. They were married in New York city. The father was a professor of French literature, and the mother was a sister of the celebrated Mdme. Chegaraye, of New York.

Judge St. Maurice Berault received a thorough education in both the English and French, and in 1839 took up the study of law in Louisiana, to which state he had come in 1837. His legal preceptors were Judge Thomas Gibbs Morgan, of Baton Rouge, and Judge Edward Simon, of St. Martinsville. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, and at once began to practice in the parish of St. James. On the 27th of April, 1861, he was appointed by Gov. Thomas O. Moore as judge of the Fourth Judicial district of Louisiana, composed of five parishes, and acted as such about three years or until the state passed under federal control. While holding that responsible position Judge Berault was prompt, industrious, laborious, and strictly upright and impartial. In his hands the scale of justice turned only in obedience to the demands of the law. His opinions were terse, clear, forcible, accurate and well supported by authority. He was joint senator from the parishes of Ascension, St. James and St. John Baptist before the war, and immediately afterward he served another term. In politics he is a stanch democrat.

In 1874 he removed to New Orleans and is now attorney for the New Orleans & Texas railroad. He is a member of the Catholic church. In 1847 he was married and two living children-a son and daughter were the fruits of this union.

From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, p. 284.