The Honorable Steven R. Plotkin

The Honorable Steven R. Plotkin, former Louisiana Civil District Judge and 4th Circuit Appellate Judge, passed away on August 25, 2025. He was 89 and resided in New Orleans Louisiana all his life. His philosophy of life was "A sound mind, a healthy body, a productive life, and a loving family." To that end, he never stopped exploring, reading, exercising, and learning.

Judge Plotkin was born of humble beginnings on April 19, 1936. He was a graduate of Alcee Fortier High School and a 1956 graduate of Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He received his Juris Doctorate from Tulane Law School in 1959 and went on earn his Master of Laws Degree from the University of Virginia Law School in 1986. He also served in the United States Army Reserve as an enlisted soldier and received an honorable discharge in 1961.

He married the love of his life, Lynn Gertler, in July of 1965. Judge Plotkin began his legal career by starting his own firm and remained the senior partner until 1978. He tried over 500criminal and civil trials. He served as President of the Greater New Orleans Trial Lawyers Association and was appointed an Assistant District Attorney in New Orleans in 1961, working in this role until 1965.

Judge Plotkin was appointed Judge Ad Hoc to the New Orleans Municipal Court in 1977. He then was elected to the Civil District Court in 1978 and reelected in 1982, serving until 1988. He was well known for having the fastest trial docket on the trial court. In 1988, he was elected to the Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal, reelected for a 10-year term without opposition in 1998, and retired in 2002.

During Judge Plotkin's legal career he published thirty-five law articles, three law review articles, two book reviews and a three-volume, authoritative tome on Louisiana Civil Procedure. During his tenure as a district judge he decided hundreds of civil cases. As an appellate judge, he was the author of numerous significant judicial opinions, many of which were published and reviewed in national legal journals.

Judge Plotkin was directly involved in teaching other judges. He was a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Louisiana Judicial College; chairman, creator and lecturer of the Orientation for all new judges from inception to retirement (1989-2002), as well as numerous other programs sponsored by the Judicial College. At the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, he served for 14 years as professor and director of all civil law courses and received the Distinguished Teaching Award multiple times.

Judge Plotkin, throughout his life, also taught and lectured for several academic institutions. He became an Adjunct Professor of Law at Tulane Law School, first serving as co-director of Trial Advocacy. After 15 years he was selected to teach a course on Louisiana Tort Law. He taught regularly for 29 years at Tulane Law School. While working with Tulane Law School, and serving as a full-time judge, he was selected to teach Trial Advocacy at Harvard Law School and lectured at Harvard Law for 33 years. After Hurricane Katrina, he was invited to teach business Law at the University of New Orleans where he taught for 10 years as an Adjunct Professor of Law.

Judge Plotkin was also deeply involved in teaching internationally. He was the first and only full time sitting Louisiana Judge to receive a Fulbright Foreign Scholarship award to teach law in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1999. Thereafter, he received two more Fulbright awards to Thessaloniki, Greece, and the Republic of Moldova, teaching American and International Law to undergraduates, graduate students, and judges. In addition, he received three special Fulbright grants for short term teaching appointments. As an Adjunct Professor of Law for Tulane Law School he taught in Rhodes, Greece for 20 summers and once in London, England and Jerusalem, Israel.

Judge Plotkin also devoted 15 years to the New Orleans Bar Association as host of the locally televised TV series "It's the Law," which won numerous journalism awards. In addition, he served on the Bar Association’s long-range planning committee, its Bench-Bar Conference, and the Committee to Improve the Administration of Justice.

The honors, accolades and awards garnered by Judge Plotkin over the years were quite numerous, and include the Louisiana State Bar Foundation's Distinguished Jurist Award, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America's Judicial Achievement Award for the State of Louisiana, New Orleans Bar Association's Distinguished Judicial Award, Tulane Law School's Distinguished Teacher Award, an Honorary Order of the Coif from Tulane Law School, Jefferson Bar Association Auxiliary's Outstanding Judge in Louisiana Award, and the Republic of Moldova's Distinguished Teaching Award.

Judge Plotkin delighted in being a mentor, advisor, and guide for his students and was proud of their accomplishments. Throughout his 40-year academic career he developed lifelong friendships with his students, colleagues, and staff. He enjoyed receiving birthday cards, emails, and occasional visits from them over the years. His national and international students remained in close contact with the Judge until his death.

Judge Plotkin was especially proud of his staff, including distinguished law clerks, particularly the brilliant and talented Beth Akin who dedicated 16 years to serve as his chief clerk. His devoted, outstanding, and invaluable secretary, Dianne Cassioppi, worked with him for 18 years managing his legal obligations, professional engagements, and his many responsibilities.

He cherished his many friendships with a variety of friend groups and enjoyed dining and socializing with them into his retirement. His friends were especially important to him, and he loved being in their company. He enjoyed a special relationship with Dr. Alvin Merlin who he met at Fortier High School in 1949 and they were best friends for more than 75 years.

Judge Plotkin was a 33rd degree Mason. He was past Master of Jefferson Lodge 191, District Deputy Grand Master for the 17th Masonic District, a 32nd degree Mason and a member of Jerusalem Temple as a Shriner. He was a mason for over 60 years and remained active until his death.

Judge Plotkin was extraordinarily active in community activities. He was immensely proud of the fact that he ran three marathons, including the New York and New Orleans marathons. He chartered and was an original member of the Pete Fountain Half Fast Walking Club and remained an active member throughout his life. He served on the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Opera Association, the New Orleans Symphony, the Louisiana Geriatric Education Center, the American Lung Association nationally and locally, YMCA. He was chairman of the City of New Orleans Hospitality Committee under Mayors Dutch Morial and Sidney Barthelemy.

Over the years, he became enthusiastic about duplicate bridge as a hobby. During the shutdown due to the corona virus, he began to play bridge online and became proficient in his play. He served on the Board of Directors for the Bridge Association of Louisiana. He was proud to become a Bridge Life Master at 87.

Judge Plotkin enjoyed his Jewish life which influenced him in many ways. Jewish values shaped his ideas of justice, morality, and ethics. He was a third-generation member of Congregation Gates of Prayer, a board of trustee member for over 50 years and was president of the congregation for 3 years. Under his leadership as president, the congregation raised the funds to purchase land, design, and construct the new synagogue in Metairie. He remained active and supportive in the Temple throughout his life. Three generations of Plotkins have led the congregation as president during its more than 175-year history. His grandchildren are now fifth generation members.

All of Judge Plotkin's accomplishments and accolades pale in comparison to his pride in, and love for his family, particularly his devoted wife of 60 years, Lynn Gertler Plotkin. Throughout their marriage, Judge Plotkin and his wife enjoyed car and mobile home trips which they shared with their children throughout America. They traveled together all over the world, had adventures in backpacking and hiking, taking cruises, and enjoying time in foreign countries. She was his loving sweetheart, patient and understanding partner, inspiration, advisor, critic, and the glue that kept the family together while he engaged in his diversified activities.

He was particularly proud of his children and their spouses, Louis "Lee" L. Plotkin (Jill), Dr. Scott R. Plotkin (Candace) of Brookline, MA and Rachel M. Plotkin Jaffe (Mark) all of whom are distinguished and accomplished in their profession and endeavors. They were an essential part of his life. He cherished his seven grandchildren Sydney R. Plotkin Brosler (Jason), Georgia G. Plotkin, Samara J. Plotkin, Leo D. Jaffe, Eli S. Jaffe, Serena L. Plotkin and Jacob L. Plotkin and one great grandchild Ari E. Brosler, all of whom brought extraordinary joy to him during his life. He loved all his children, and the grandchildren loved him and were remarkably close to him during his lifetime. He enjoyed spending time with them and regaling them with stories from his career, listening to their adventures and was not shy about giving them grandfatherly advice about life.

He is also survived by his sister Elinor "Hedy" P. Sussman (Gerald) and brother R. Ronald Plotkin (Caren).

Funeral services for Judge Plotkin will be held from the Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Chapel, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans on Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 12:00 Noon, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. Rabbi David Gerber of Congregation Gates of Prayer will officiate. Interment will follow in Gates of Prayer Joseph Street Cemetery in New Orleans.

Kindly omit flowers. Gifts in memory of Judge Steven Plotkin may be made to support Dr. Scott Plotkin's Fund for Support of Neuro-Oncology and Neurofibromatosis (NF) Activities at Mass General Cancer Center. Checks may be made out to Massachusetts General Hospital C/0 MGH Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston MA. 02114 with "In Memory of Judge Steven Plotkin" in the memo section. Gifts can be made online at: https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/ and under the tribute section, please insert Judge Plotkin’s name. Memorials may be also made to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be expressed online at www.lakelawnmetairie.com. Information please call (504) 486-6331