Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
William Kline Jr., of Clinton, who served as a judge on Louisiana's 20th Judicial District Court for 20 years, died Sunday at the age of 96. Kline earned a bachelor's degree and a master's in education from LSU and taught for two years at Clinton Junior High before serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. He attained the rank of captain during the war, returning home to attend LSU law school, where he served as president of the student bar association. He went on to practice law in Clinton for 16 years before being elected to the 20th Judicial District Court in 1976. "As a judge, he was known for his humility, kindness and fairness," his family said in his obituary Tuesday. "Everyone left the courthouse believing that justice had been served." After Kline retired from the district court bench, he was appointed as a judge pro tempore, appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to step into various jurisdictions in the state temporarily. Kline retired from the bench at the age of 84. He was a lifelong member of Clinton United Methodist Church. In 2017, Kline, then 88, was recognized by the Boy Scouts Istrouma Area Council as its oldest living Eagle Scout, according to an Advocate story, having earned the rank in 1947. Visitation is Sat., Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Clinton United Methodist Church, followed by a memorial service. He will be laid to rest in Rosehill Cemetery in a private family service.
