Biography

Nick Lorusso, 43, is a life-long resident of District 94. He graduated magna cum laude from Jesuit High School in 1985, where he played football and wrestled. As the captain of the wrestling team his senior year, he won the Louisiana state championship in his weight class. He later graduated from the University of New Orleans with a degree in History and took several classes with the late Dr. Stephen Ambrose. In 1992, he graduated from LSU law school in Baton Rouge.

After receiving his law degree, he was commissioned as an active duty officer in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Upon completion of U.S. Army Airborne School and receiving his Basic Parachutist wings, he was stationed at Fort Drum, New York with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) and served as a Military Prosecutor and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. Nick deployed to the Republic of Haiti during OPERATION UPHOLD DEMOCRACY as an International Law and Detention Operations Attorney.

After returning to New Orleans in 1996 and transferring to the Army Reserves, he began a general civil defense litigation law practice. Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Nick was recalled to active duty by the U.S. Army as part of the Global War on Terrorism. In 2004 he was mobilized to serve as the Chief of the Legal Assistance Division for III Corps (Rear) at Fort Hood, Texas. While serving at Fort Hood, he was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the Pentagon to serve at the al-Qaida terrorist tribunals.

After a brief return to his civilian law practice in 2005, he was once again called back to active duty with the U.S. Army following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He served at Fort Polk, Louisiana and Camp Shelby, Mississippi as the Command Judge Advocate of a hurricane recovery task force, which assisted over 3,200 soldiers and their families who lost their jobs or homes as a result of the hurricanes. In the summer of 2006, he returned to his civilian law practice.

In March 2007, Nick was elected as the State Representative for District 94 in a special election. In November 2007, he was re-elected for a full four-year term and was appointed by the Speaker of the House as the Vice-Chairman of the Civil Law & Procedure committee. Nick also serves on the Judiciary, House & Governmental Affairs and Military & Veterans Affairs committees.

In 2009, Nick was recalled to active duty for the third time since 9/11. He served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate of I Corps (Rear) at Fort Lewis in Washington State, where he was as the second-in-charge of a 130-person legal office. He currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. In 2010, Nick was awarded the National Medal of Civic Honor by the National Conference of State Legislators and the Outstanding Family Advocate Award by the Louisiana Family Forum.

Nick has coached numerous youth sporting teams, including flag football, soccer and wrestling for the St. Pius X Men’s Club sports program and baseball at Lakeview Playground. He is a member of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Mayor’s Military Advisory Committee, St. Pius X Men’s Club, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He has also hosted fund raiser events for the National World War II Museum and served as a guest lecturer on military topics at the museum.

Nick has been married to his wife Michelle for eighteen years. They live in Lake Vista with their three children – Nicholas (14), Sophia (12) and Katherine (7) – and attend St. Pius X Catholic Church.