Changes

In 1969, Stagg continued to challenge political corruption and asked: "Government improprieties are a feature of our daily newspapers. ... Will it require revelation of further scandals, corruption, misgovernment, [[nepotism]], and just plain crookedness to gain reform in government?" His remarks came when the 28,000-member Louisiana GOP was seeking to increase membership to 200,000 in time for the 1972 election cycle.<ref>"Louisiana Republicans Push for 200,000 State Members," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 4, 1969, p. 2.</ref>

In 1969, Stagg continued to challenge political corruption and asked: "Government improprieties are a feature of our daily newspapers. ... Will it require revelation of further scandals, corruption, misgovernment, [[nepotism]], and just plain crookedness to gain reform in government?" His remarks came when the 28,000-member Louisiana GOP was seeking to increase membership to 200,000 in time for the 1972 election cycle.<ref>"Louisiana Republicans Push for 200,000 State Members," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 4, 1969, p. 2.</ref>

​==Candidacy for Louisiana attorney general, 1972==​

==Candidacy for Louisiana attorney general, 1972==​

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In 1972, Stagg was the Republican nominee for state attorney general on a ticket headed by [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate David Treen. Stagg was seeking to fill the seat being vacated by long-term Democratic [[incumbent]] Jack Paul; Faustin Gremillion (1914-2001), a protégé of the late [[Earl Kemp Long]]. Gremillion had been eliminated in the 1971 party primary because of corrupt practices in office.​

In 1972, Stagg was the Republican nominee for state attorney general on a ticket headed by [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate David Treen. Stagg was seeking to fill the seat being vacated by long-term Democratic [[incumbent]] Jack Paul; Faustin Gremillion (1914-2001), a protégé of the late [[Earl Kemp Long]]. Gremillion had been eliminated in the 1971 party primary because of corrupt practices in office.​

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After this campaign, Stagg vacated the position of Republican national committeeman in favor of David Treen. Stagg also announced that he was considering running for the U.S. Senate in 1972 for the seat held by Democrat [[Allen J. Ellender]], who died during the primary campaign. Stagg said that he would need "money, support, and possibilities of success, rather than just running as an exercise."<ref>"Treen Named State GOP Committeeman," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 6, 1972, p. 1.</ref> Stagg never ran for the Senate; the Republican nominee was [[Ben  C. Toledano]], a lawyer and author, who had carried the party's banner in 1970 in a race for [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]]. Victory in the Senate race, however, went to Stagg's former rival for the state Senate, J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. Stagg did win one election, a [[nonpartisan]] contest in the summer of 1972 for delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1973. He served as chairman of both the Temporary Rules and the Executive Department committees.​

After this campaign, Stagg vacated the position of Republican national committeeman in favor of David Treen. Stagg also announced that he was considering running for the U.S. Senate in 1972 for the seat held by Democrat [[Allen J. Ellender]], who died during the primary campaign. Stagg said that he would need "money, support, and possibilities of success, rather than just running as an exercise."<ref>"Treen Named State GOP Committeeman," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 6, 1972, p. 1.</ref> Stagg never ran for the Senate; the Republican nominee was [[Ben  C. Toledano]], a lawyer and author, who had carried the party's banner in 1970 in a race for [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]]. Victory in the Senate race, however, went to Stagg's former rival for the state Senate, J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. Stagg did win one election, a [[nonpartisan]] contest in the summer of 1972 for delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1973. He served as chairman of both the Temporary Rules and the Executive Department committees.​

 

==Federal judicial service==​

==Federal judicial service==

On February 18, 1974, Stagg was nominated to the judicial seat vacated by Benjamin Cornell Dawkins, Jr. (1911-1984). Stagg was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on March 7, 1974, and received his commission a day later. He was sworn in as judge on April 26, 1974. He served as chief judge from 1984 to 1991, and assumed senior status on February 29, 1992, but still maintained a full staff and case assignment. In addition to trial court duties, he has served on panels in several federal circuit courts of appeal. His full-time position was filled in 1994 by Tucker L. Melancon, appointee of Democrat President [[Bill Clinton]]. As a judge, Stagg handled a plethora of cases in his long career.​

 

On February 18, 1974, Stagg was nominated to the judicial seat vacated by Benjamin Cornell Dawkins, Jr. (1911-1984). Stagg was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on March 7, 1974, and received his commission a day later. He was sworn in as judge on April 26, 1974. He served as chief judge from 1984 to 1991, and assumed senior status on February 29, 1992, but still maintained a full staff and case assignment. In addition to trial court duties, he has served on panels in several federal circuit courts of appeal. His full-time position was filled in 1994 by Tucker L. Melancon, appointee of Democrat President [[Bill Clinton]]. As a judge, Stagg handled a plethora of cases in his long career.

 

In 2006, Stagg sentenced Chevelle "Big Mook" Hamilton (born 1978) to sixteen years in federal prison without parole for his role in drug trafficking and weapons violations in the Shreveport area. Hamilton had pleaded guilty to the charges. Stagg denounced Hamilton from the bench as "the worst drug dealer that's been in this room this year, if he thinks I'm going to slap him on the hand, he's wrong."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksla.com/story/4862414/convicted-drug-dealer-big-mook-sentenced-to-sixteen-years|title=Convicted Drug Dealer "Big Mook" Sentenced to Sixteen Years|publisher=KSLA-TV ([[Shreveport]]) |accessdate=June 24, 2015}}</ref> Federal indictments had been brought against Hamilton and six others in August 2005, as a result of an intense investigation that spanned some eighteen months and involved several law enforcement agencies. Police said that they had broken up a major drug-trafficking ring that had a propensity toward violence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dea.gov/pubs/states/newsrel/neworleans072005.html|title=Police Bust Drug Trafficking Ring|publisher=dea.gov|date=July 20, 2005|accessdate=June 24, 2015}}</ref>​

In 2006, Stagg sentenced Chevelle "Big Mook" Hamilton (born 1978) to sixteen years in federal prison without parole for his role in drug trafficking and weapons violations in the Shreveport area. Hamilton had pleaded guilty to the charges. Stagg denounced Hamilton from the bench as "the worst drug dealer that's been in this room this year, if he thinks I'm going to slap him on the hand, he's wrong."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksla.com/story/4862414/convicted-drug-dealer-big-mook-sentenced-to-sixteen-years|title=Convicted Drug Dealer "Big Mook" Sentenced to Sixteen Years|publisher=KSLA-TV ([[Shreveport]]) |accessdate=June 24, 2015}}</ref> Federal indictments had been brought against Hamilton and six others in August 2005, as a result of an intense investigation that spanned some eighteen months and involved several law enforcement agencies. Police said that they had broken up a major drug-trafficking ring that had a propensity toward violence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dea.gov/pubs/states/newsrel/neworleans072005.html|title=Police Bust Drug Trafficking Ring|publisher=dea.gov|date=July 20, 2005|accessdate=June 24, 2015}}</ref>​

 

Federal Judge Maury Hicks called his mentor, Stagg, "the finest trial judge I had ever met. Without ever knowing it, he had served as my silent mentor, a role model. I told him of his role as a teacher and role model after joining him on the bench, and he volunteered to serve as my judicial mentor, always available to discuss an evidence problem, or judicial philosophy, or the world in general. He became a close friend. To have served with Judge Tom Stagg on the federal bench for twelve years is a singular honor."<ref name=staggbio/>​

Federal Judge Maury Hicks called his mentor, Stagg, "the finest trial judge I had ever met. Without ever knowing it, he had served as my silent mentor, a role model. I told him of his role as a teacher and role model after joining him on the bench, and he volunteered to serve as my judicial mentor, always available to discuss an evidence problem, or judicial philosophy, or the world in general. He became a close friend. To have served with Judge Tom Stagg on the federal bench for twelve years is a singular honor."<ref name=staggbio/>​

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Stagg came under fire from ''[[The Washington Post]]'' for his attendance at a Law and Economics Center seminar in 1993, when he was in his second year of senior status. The judge defied his critics, dismissed complaints about propriety, and declared that he would be eager for a second stay at the resort, Hilton Head Island, [[South Carolina]]. "The food was wonderful; the teachers were wonderful. If somebody doesn't like it, I'm sorry."<ref name=junkets>{{cite web|url=​

Stagg came under fire from ''[[The Washington Post]]'' for his attendance at a Law and Economics Center seminar in 1993, when he was in his second year of senior status. The judge defied his critics, dismissed complaints about propriety, and declared that he would be eager for a second stay at the resort, Hilton Head Island, [[South Carolina]]. "The food was wonderful; the teachers were wonderful. If somebody doesn't like it, I'm sorry."<ref name=junkets>{{cite web|url=​

http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju76383.000/hju76383_0f.htm|title=Junkets for Judges Undermine Public Confidence in the Judiciary ... Judge Tom Stagg of Louisiana responded...|publisher=commdocs.house.gov|accessdate=June 24, 2015}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' had revealed something which many citizens did not know: that federal judges, like congressmen, take "junkets", which are often never reported and that are sometimes of questionable value to the taxpayers who underwrite their salaries and benefits.<ref name=junkets/>​

http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju76383.000/hju76383_0f.htm|title=Junkets for Judges Undermine Public Confidence in the Judiciary ... Judge Tom Stagg of Louisiana responded...|publisher=commdocs.house.gov|accessdate=June 24, 2015}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' had revealed something which many citizens did not know: that federal judges, like congressmen, take "junkets", which are often never reported and that are sometimes of questionable value to the taxpayers who underwrite their salaries and benefits.<ref name=junkets/>​

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.law.lsu.edu/globals/onthemove/OnTheMove_v04n02.pdf|title=Pugh and Stagg Named Distinguished Alumni|publisher=law.lsu.edu|date=Fall 2004|accessdate=June 24, 2015}}</ref>  

In 1990, Stagg was named to the Byrd High School Hall of Fame. In 2004, he received the LSU [[Paul M. Hebert]] Law Center's Distinguished Alumnus award, which came on the 30th anniversary of his judicial service. A fellow Shreveporter, [[Robert Pugh]], who had served with Stagg at the Constitutional Convention, received the honor in 2003. Therefore, a joint recognition service was held at the Shreveport Petroleum Club on October 14, 2004. Stagg expressed surprise upon his selection: "Upon considering the merit of those recipients who have preceded me, I am very proud to be named the distinguished alumnus for 2004."​<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.law.lsu.edu/globals/onthemove/OnTheMove_v04n02.pdf|title=Pugh and Stagg Named Distinguished Alumni|publisher=law.lsu.edu|date=Fall 2004|accessdate=June 24, 2015}}</ref>  

==Legacy==​

 

==Legacy==

Stagg died of a lengthy illness at his home in Shreveport at the age of ninety-two.<ref name=staggbio/> His funeral mass was held on June 27 at St. John Berchmans Cathedral, 939 Jordan Street in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2015/06/25/services-set-judge-tom-stagg/29287027/|title=Services set for Judge Tom Stagg|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=June 25, 2015}}</ref>​

Stagg died of a lengthy illness at his home in Shreveport at the age of ninety-two.<ref name=staggbio/> His funeral mass was held on June 27 at St. John Berchmans Cathedral, 939 Jordan Street in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2015/06/25/services-set-judge-tom-stagg/29287027/|title=Services set for Judge Tom Stagg|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=June 25, 2015}}</ref>​

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