His father, Pierre Labauve, was a Louisiana Creole born in St. James Parish and his mother was a native of France.

In a brief biographical sketch of Constitutional Convention delegates, The Times-Picayune newspaper noted "His speeches are generally brief, but give evidence of a sound thinker.

[2] After the Civil War, Labauve was appointed by the Reconstruction-era governor Michael Hahn to an associate justice seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court.

[1] Prior to his appointment, Labauve had grown wealthy as a sugar planter and lawyer in the German Coast.

He and his fellow appointees were considered "safe" and "loyal" and in alignment with the Federal government.