Ralph E. Tyson

Ralph Eric Tyson (August 13, 1948 – July 18, 2011) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

Education and career
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tyson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 1970 and a Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in 1973. He was in private practice from 1973 to 1988. He was an adjunct professor, Paul M. Hebert Law Center from 1989 to 1991. He was an Instructor, Sociology/Law Enforcement Department, Southern University from 1989 to 1998. He was a judge on the Baton Rouge City Court, Louisiana from 1988 to 1993. He was a judge of the 19th Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana from 1993 to 1998.

Federal judicial service
Tyson was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Tyson was nominated by President Bill Clinton on April 2, 1998, to a new seat reassigned from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana by 111 Stat. 1174. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 31, 1998, and received his commission on August 3, 1998. He served as chief judge from 2005 to 2011. His service was terminated by his death on July 18, 2011.