Biography

PROFILE

A native of Louisiana, Judge Haik attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana on a football scholarship and earned his bachelor's degree in 1972. He later graduated from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law with his Juris Doctorate in 1975. Haik served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 1971 to 1978 obtaining the rank of Captain and company commander of the New Iberia unit. He then served in the United States Army Reserves as a Captain from 1980 to 1983.

Haik was 34 years old when elected in 1984 as a state court judge for the 16th Judicial District, which includes Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary Parishes. Six years later, in 1991, Judge Haik joined the federal court after being nominated by President George H.W. Bush. He was the chief judge of the court from 2002 to 2009. He assumed senior status on March 6, 2015, and retired on January 15, 2016. Judge Haik is Of Counsel with Morrow, Morrow, Ryan, Bassett & Haik, where he has the pleasure of practicing law with his son.

Having served over thirty (30) years on the bench, Haik is uniquely qualified to serve as a mediator in all matters. He’s knowledgeable of the law and understanding of human nature, which makes him a very effective neutral. In his mediation work, he employs his judicial expertise to help parties achieve settlements in complex cases requiring delicate negotiation or in matters where settlement seems unlikely.

Judge Haik is admitted to practice in U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana. He served as a trial court judge in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and also served on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by designation. Judge Haik is a member of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association, St. Landry Parish Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association and Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. He was recognized as a top lawyer by the Louisiana Super Lawyers® 2019.

TESTIMONIALS

"Thank you very much for your help last week in getting this matter resolved. It was good to get to know you. Great work – even in rehab!"

"I am extremely pleased with the skills and effort he made to lead this matter to mutually agreeable conclusion. He went way beyond the call and eventually got the case settled several days after the mediation date... It goes without saying that Judge Haik is a great asset to Perry Dampf. He was a wonderful Judge for many years possessing tremendous communication skills with total veracity. He is trusted by all sides. I hope to utilize his services in the future."