On the bench: The Senate today confirmed the recommendation for Baton Rouge attorney John “Johnny” W. deGravelles, to serve as an Article III judge for the U.S. Middle District Court in Louisiana by a unanimous vote. deGravelles, an attorney and founding partner at Baton Rouge-based deGravelles, Palmintier, Holthaus & Frugé, will take the seat formerly held by Judge James Brady, who assumed senior status in 2014. “I will be joining a stellar group of judges in the Middle District,” says deGravelles in a prepared statement. “I will work extremely hard not only to merit the confidence placed in me by Senator Landrieu, but to make a meaningful contribution to the fine work already being done by the judges and court staff in this District.”
Congratulations: Baton Rouge native Sanjay Sharma has been named the first president and chief operating officer of All Def Digital, a YouTube channel launched last year by Def Jam co-founder and music mogul Russell Simmons. As Variety reports, Sharma will be responsible for working with the company’s founders on overall strategic direction as well as running all day-to-day business and operational affairs. He will also join the board of directors. Sharma, who now resides in Los Angeles, was one of the first employees at Machinima, one of YouTube’s largest network providers, and also formerly worked in the business and legal affairs department of Warner Bros. Pictures. Read the full story.
New kid on the block: Republican Garret Graves is hosting a grand opening event from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at his new campaign headquarters in Baton Rouge. Graves, who is among a number of candidates vying for the 6th Congressional District seat, will speak at the event, and his campaign says a new ad will also be unveiled. Lunch will also be provided. The campaign headquarters is located in a strip center at 660 Jefferson Highway that is anchored by Reginelli’s Pizzeria. Graves, a Baton Rouge native, stepped down from his post as chairman of the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and director of the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities in late April after six years.
