William J. Crain

William Jerrol "Will" Crain (born 1961) is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana since 2025. He was previously an associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from 2019 to 2025. He is a 1979 graduate of Bogalusa High School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 1983. He received his Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1986.

Career

Crain served for 22 years as a partner and lawyer at the Jones Fussell Law Firm in Covington, where he litigated cases in both state and federal courts.

Louisiana Supreme Court service

On June 26, 2019, Crain announced his intention to run for a seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court vacated by Greg G. Guidry. Crain headed to a runoff against Hans Liljeberg on November 16, 2019. On November 16, 2019, he went on to win the election, 57% to 43%. Crain was sworn in on December 11, 2019, by his father Judge Hillary Crain.

Federal judicial service

On October 20, 2025, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Crain to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Crain would fill the seat vacated by Eldon E. Fallon. On October 22, 2025, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on his nomination. On November 20, 2025, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee reported his nomination by a 12–10 vote. On December 9, 2025, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 51–46 vote. Later that day, his nomination was confirmed by a 49–46 vote. He received his judicial commission on December 19, 2025.

Memberships and affiliations

Crain is a member of the 2011 inaugural class of the Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute.

Personal life He and his wife, Cheri Hackett Crain, have four children. He is a parishioner at St. Timothy United Methodist Church. |Year |Republican |Votes |Pct |Republican |Votes |Pct |Republican |Votes |Pct |Republican |Votes |Pct 2019 |Will Crain

|38.61% |Richard Ducote

|11.45% |Hans Liljeberg | 61,859 | 32.48% |Scott Schlegel

|17.45%