Harry Connick Sr. was the district attorney for Orleans Parish (New Orleans) from 1973 to 2003 and the father of musician and actor Harry Connick Jr.
- Died: January 24, 2024 (Who else died on January 24?)
- Details of death: Died of natural causes in New Orleans at the age of 97.
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Harry Connick Sr.’s legacy
After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Connick got a degree in business administration and spent time working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Later, while owning and operating two record stores with his wife, the late Anita Connick, he attended law school and earned his degree from Tulane University.
Connick was first elected district attorney in 1973 and was reelected four times, serving until 2003 and becoming the longest-serving district attorney in New Orleans history. He was a powerful part of New Orleans civic life, wielding influence over the city’s political and legal affairs. However, his elevated status in the city was somewhat tarnished by accusations that his office had failed to turn over evidence that could have exonerated defendants.
In 2011, these accusations went as far as the U.S. Supreme Court. In Connick v. Thompson, Connick was sued by John Thompson, who had spent years in prison for a murder that he was later exonerated from having committed. Connick was accused of having withheld a critical blood sample that would have proved Thompson’s innocence. The Supreme Court ruled in Connick’s favor in a high-profile 5-4 decision.
In addition to his work in the law, Connick was also a singer, like his famous son. He performed in nightclubs in the city’s French Quarter, including Maxwell’s Toulouse Cabaret, and his side gig earned him the nickname “The Singing District Attorney.” Connick and his son co-founded the Mardi Gras superkrewe the Krewe of Orpheus.
Tributes to Harry Connick Sr.
Full obituary: NOLA.com
