Albert Brault

Mr. Albert E. Brault, 96, of Thurmont, died Thursday, June 13, in Frederick.

He was the husband of Dr. Margaret Callan Brault, his wife of 51 years.

Born Feb. 7, 1906, in Waterbury, Conn., he was a son of the late Ernest and Mary Lanouette Brault.

Mr. Brault moved to Washington with his family in 1919. He attended Holy Trinity Parochial School and Gonzaga High School. He entered Georgetown University pre-law and obtained his law degree from Georgetown in 1928. He practiced as a trial lawyer in Washington and Montgomery County.

During World War II, he was appointed director of Civilian Defense for Montgomery County. He was also a judge of the Trial Magistrate Court in Rockville, and served as utility commissioner for Montgomery County.

In 1952, Mr. Brault organized his own law firm with Denver H. Graham. The firm grew and became known as Brault, Graham, Scott and Brault with offices in Washington and Rockville.

He was elected a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and became a regent of the College for Maryland, Washington and Virginia. He also served as treasurer of the college.

In 1971, Mr. Brault was appointed by the D.C. Court of Appeals to chair a hand-picked commission to organize the D.C. Bar, the first and only unified bar in this area. Through his guidance and efforts, the transfer to the D.C. Court of Appeals of all authority over the practice of law in Washington was smoothly and efficiently completed. For his work in establishing the unified bar, he was named Lawyer of the Year in 1972 by his colleagues.

He was a member of the American Bar Association, the D.C. Bar, a life member of the American Bar Foundation, and the American College of Trial Lawyers.

After nearly 60 years of trial law practice, Mr. Brault retired in 1986.

He was active for many years in the Bethesda and later the Thurmont Lions clubs and was voted a life member in 1997. He was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Thurmont, and St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Frederick.

Surviving in addition to his wife are three children, Albert D. Brault of Rockville, Carol Parker of Washington, and Charles E. Brault of Thurmont; 20 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Adelard Brault of Sun City, Fla.

Mr. Brault was preceded in death by one brother, two sisters, his first wife, Margaret Catherine Higgens; one daughter, Margaret Ann Derby; and two grandsons.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 16, at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 17, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 116 E. Second St., Frederick, with Monsignor James Hobbs as celebrant.

Interment will be in Blue Ridge Cemetery, Thurmont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1730 N. Market St., Frederick, Md. 21701.