The following is an expanded version of a memorial published in the May 11, 2016, issue.
Cheney died Dec. 18, 2015, after a short illness. He was a proud lifelong resident of his beloved Baton Rouge, La.
At Princeton, Cheney majored in philosophy and religion and graduated with honors. A member of Cottage Club, he lettered in varsity crew. Cheney also served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1960 to 1966. He graduated from Louisiana State University’s law school in 1969, where he was a member of the Law Review and Order of the Coif.
Cheney joined the faculty of LSU’s law school in 1972. He was a brilliant scholar and teacher in criminal law, criminal procedure, and evidence. In addition to teaching three, four, or even five classes a semester, Cheney advised the legislature through his work at the Louisiana State Law Institute. Recently, the Louisiana Supreme Court named him executive director emeritus of the Louisiana Judicial College, which provides ongoing legal education for all judges in the state.
Cheney also served as an investigator, prosecutor, and district attorney in East Baton Rouge Parish, La. Current district attorney Hillar Moore III called him “one of the finest men I have ever known,” adding, “men of his character, intelligenc,e and integrity are extremely rare. With Cheney’s loss goes a fountain of institutional knowledge of Louisiana criminal law.”
He was the attorney for Louisiana’s Middle District from 1976 to 1977. Cheney also served as judge pro tempore for the 16th Judicial District Court in 1992 and as judge pro tempore for the 40th Judicial District Court in 1993. He was executive counsel to Gov. Murphy “Mike” Foster Jr. from 1996 to 2000.
Additionally, Cheney served many years as the executive director of the Louisiana Judicial College, overseeing the continuing legal education of the state’s judiciary.
Suffice to say, he had a long and distinguished career in the law, virtually unmatched in the state of Louisiana, as a revered law professor, law school dean, state and federal prosecutor, state court judge, and in many other roles. At the time of his death, Cheney was acting co-dean of the LSU law school, where he was described as the “heart and soul” of the law school community.
Cheney was a true giant of the legal profession in Louisiana. With a twinkle in his eye and an entertaining story at the ready, Cheney taught and mentored generations of lawyers and judges in his illustrious tenure of more 40 years on the faculty of LSU law.
Cheney is survived by his wife, Mary, who is also an attorney; sons John and Allan; and three grandchildren. The class sends sincere condolences to them all.