Jack Cornelius Peebles

Jack was born in Livingston, Texas, on September 16, 1934, and grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was stationed in Germany during his two years of military service. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin University with a Bachelor’s of Art degree in history, and in 1961, earned his juris doctorate from Tulane Law School. He later went on to earn a master’s degree in history.

Jack practiced law in New Orleans for 35 years. His first 19 years were in private practice, where he served as a civil rights activist, First Amendment advocate, and freedom fighter defending wrongly persecuted African Americans throughout the South during the 1960's. He was one of the first recipients of the ACLU Ben Smith award, and his role and arguments in landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases such as Dombrowski vs. Pfister, Peacock vs. City of Greenwood, and Burch vs. Louisiana helped pave the way for protections that today are commonly taken for granted. Jack also fought on behalf of victims of crime as an assistant district attorney in New Orleans for 16 years, six of which were as the First Assistant to former district attorney Harry Connick. Jack retired in 1996, having argued in the U.S. Supreme Court five times.

Jack was an avid photographer who loved to capture and develop images of his favorite scenes and people in the New Orleans area. He also wrote during his retirement and published the book: “The Legend of the Nightriders” – a narrative about the legend and historical accounts of a group of outlaw families who controlled and terrorized parts of North-Central Louisiana after the Civil War.

Jack is survived by his wife of 54 years – Nydia Peebles, by his three children – Claire (Michael), Carol, and Scott, by his three grandchildren – Grant, Sophia, and Julianna, and by his brother Philip Peebles.

Friends and family invite you to celebrate Jack’s life on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 5033 Danneel St. New Orleans, Louisiana 70115.