Changes

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/>​

 

===Defending a 1993 "junket"===​

===Defending a 1993 "junket"===

 

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/>​

==Recognition==​

===Recognition===​

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>  

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==