When it came time to retire as a bankruptcy judge, Judge Callaway took a very proactive and deliberative approach.  “A number of months before my retirement a number of persons began looking for things that I could do after I retired, and many suggestions were made.”  Steve Chiccarelli, one of his former law clerks and a member of the Disciplinary Board at the time, suggested that he volunteer as a committee member.  This suggestion led to Judge Callaway serving as a hearing committee member from 2015-2020.  “I had been a lawyer and then judge for 41 years and it seemed a significant waste to just let all of the things I had learned over those years and the skills and experience that I had gained to just stop and [serve no purpose].”

Although born in Olney, Illinois, Judge Callaway has called Shreveport home since the age of four.  He graduated from LSU in 1970 and from LSU Law School in 1973.  During that time, he also served in the Marine Corps Reserve, from 1969 to 1975, attaining the rank of E-5 Sergeant.

Upon admittance to the bar, Judge Callaway practiced law in Shreveport as a partner in the firm of Burnett, Sutton, Walker & Callaway from 1973 to 1986, specializing in commercial and insolvency law. In 1986, he was appointed as Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Louisiana at Shreveport.  He served in that capacity until his retirement in 2014.  Judge Callaway was very active with various organizations throughout his career.  He was a founding member of the Tax and Estate Planning Council of Shreveport, a member of the Bank Counsel Section of the Louisiana Bankers Association, a Circuit Governor of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, and President of the Harry V. Booth and Judge Henry A. Politz American Inn of Court.

Although he witnessed attorney misconduct as a judge, Judge Callaway did not grasp the full extent of harm that attorney misconduct could cause until he served as a committee member.  “[As a judge,] I had seen some of the damage that bad and very bad lawyers could inflict, but that had to do with their pleadings, their briefs and memorandums, and how they handled themselves in the courtroom during contested motions and trials.  I was seldom involved in ascertaining the extent of their [misconduct] or the damage that it caused the clients that they had not adequately represented.”

Retirement has also allowed Judge Callaway to spend more time with his family. He is married to Barbara B. Callaway and has two daughters, two step-daughters, and four grandchildren.

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