Baton Rouge, La (NBC33) — 40 years ago today, President Nixon signed into law the creation of the Middle District Federal Courthouse.

The federal court house oversees the cases of nine parishes. The Middle District has seen cases ranging from the longest running civil action case in history, the Baton Rouge Parish School desegregation case to more recently, Operation: Blighted Officials, which convicted several government officials in a bribery case.

Current judge, James Bradey, says he's proud to be part of the continued excellence of the Middle District.

"I think we're an integral part of the Baton Rouge area and this district. We play a central role in the civil and the criminal goings on in this area," stated Bradey.