▁from ▁ 1 9 7 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁On ▁March ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁S ear ▁was ▁nominated ▁by ▁President ▁Ger ald ▁Ford ▁to ▁a ▁seat ▁on ▁that ▁court ▁vac ated ▁by ▁Judge ▁James ▁August ▁Com is key . ▁S ear ▁was ▁confirmed ▁by ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Senate ▁on ▁May ▁ 6 , ▁ 1 9 7 6 , ▁and ▁received ▁his ▁commission ▁on ▁May ▁ 7 , ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁Judge ▁of ▁the ▁Tem por ary ▁Emer gency ▁Court ▁of ▁App e als ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 3 . ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁Chief ▁Judge ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁assuming ▁senior ▁status ▁on ▁October ▁ 3 1 , ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁and ▁serving ▁in ▁that ▁capacity ▁until ▁his ▁death ▁on ▁September ▁ 6 , ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁in ▁New ▁Orleans . ▁ ▁Notable ▁case ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁S ear ▁pres ided ▁over ▁the ▁three - month ▁B ri Lab ▁trial ▁of ▁Carlos ▁Marcel lo , ▁A ubre y ▁W . ▁Young , ▁and ▁Charles ▁E . ▁Ro emer , ▁II , ▁on ▁charges ▁of ▁consp i racy , ▁ra ck ete ering , ▁and ▁mail , ▁and ▁wire ▁fra ud ▁in ▁a ▁scheme ▁to ▁def ra ud ▁the ▁state ▁through ▁mult im ill ion - d ollar ▁ins