April 2025 Newsletter

Important News From Your Bar Association

• Many thanks to Lagarde Law and Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson for sponsoring the first 22nd JDC Bar Association Social of the year at the Seiler Bar on March 13. Be sure to read your newsletters and special notices- you never know when the next Pop Up Social will…pop up! A special thanks to our Young Lawyer Section Chairs, Alex Reed and Ashley Haddad for making it happen! If you are a lawyer or in a firm interested in providing sponsorships for CLE programs or social gatherings contact Reina at reina@22ndjdcbar.org.
• In case you missed it, the All Day Family Law CLE at Hornbeck on March 14 was a great success. We couldn’t have done it without the support of Hornbeck Offshore Services, SELA Co-Parenting Solutions, great speakers and our friends at Meribo. Big thanks go to Family Law Section chair Kathleen Legendre for her fabulous planning and organizational skills.
• We have not forgotten you if Family Law isn’t your thing- in addition to our other regularly scheduled CLEs, November 21 will be the general All Day Continuing Legal Education Seminar at the Southern Hotel and we are in the midst of planning the Criminal Law CLE Seminar. Stay tuned!
• Many members have expressed interest in establishing a Legal Mentoring- Protégé Program and the Board is actively determining how this program can be effective. Please email Reina if you have an interest in establishing or being a part of it.
• Don’t forget that statewide elections will take place on March 29, 2025, with local Municipal Primary candidates, constitutional amendments, and local sales tax/millage renewals on the ballot. The text of the Constitutional Amendments can be found here:
  https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/PublishedDocuments/Proposed_Constitutional_Amendment_03-29-2025.pdf

  Information for the Sales Tax Extension for District 3 can be found here:

  https://cms3.revize.com/revize/sttammanyparish/Documents/Government/Initiatives/Sales Tax District 3 Extension and Rededication Landing Page.pdf

A message from Amber Mitchell, Court Administrator for the 22nd Judicial District Court

Dear Members of the Bar:

We are pleased to announce that Jim Burke will be the new Criminal Commissioner for the 22nd Judicial District Court beginning March 31, 2025. In this role, Commissioner Burke will be responsible for conducting seventy-hour hearings, Gwen’s law hearings, bond condition court and juvenile traffic court. He will review post-arrest probable cause affidavits, establish bail, set bond conditions, and handle any other matters assigned by the 22nd JDC Judges. Commissioner Burke possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of criminal law, and we look forward to his service to the court and our community.

Looking ahead…get out your calendar!

April 4, 2025 at ZEA- Attorneys John Robert, In House Counsel for Acrisure, and Tim Brinks from Adams and Reese will present “Law Firm E and O: Recent Developments and Mitigating Risk”. This hour also counts towards Law Office Management. You can use this link to register and choose Bronzed Trout or Pepper Jelly Spinach Salad for lunch.

May 16, 2025 at ZEA- We look forward to welcoming Mr. Patrick Talley, President of LSBA, who will share some thoughts with us before we begin our CLE. Michele Avery, who is a forensic accountant and has experience with litigated matters and business valuations will present “Understanding Basic Accounting and Reading Financial Statements”. Click here to register and order either the Chicken Panini or House Salad.

June 20, 2025 at ZEA- How are your communication skills? Kristi Louque is here to help with “It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It- The Attorney’s-Mediators Guide To Powerful Public Speaking and Effective Communication”. This link gets you to registration and meal order- rotisserie beef sirloin or the hummus platter.

IF YOU PURCHASED ALL OF THE CLEs FOR $100, YOU MUST STILL REGISTER FOR EACH LUNCHEON-
YOUR SEAT IS NOT GUARANTEED UNTIL YOU REGISTER ON THE WEBSITE

CANCELLATION OF A MONTHLY CLE RESERVATION
MUST BE RECEIVED 7 DAYS BEFORE THE EVENT

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

LAW CLERK/RESEARCH ATTORNEY
The Court of Appeal, First Circuit, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana seeks a Law Clerk/Research Attorney to join the court’s Central Staff Department. Attorneys in the Central Staff Department perform professional legal work to aid the judges in rendering decisions in civil and criminal writs related to ongoing litigation and in the preparation of opinions in criminal appeals. Attorneys in this Department can expect to address a wide array of legal and procedural issues, including challenging and res nova issues, and to participate in in-depth discussions with the judges on issues presented in pending writs. Some examples of work include conducting legal research, reviewing records, and drafting legal memoranda.

Applicants must have strong academic credentials and computer skills, as well as demonstrated research and writing skills. A Juris Doctorate degree and LA Bar passage are required. Court experience is preferred.

The starting salary range is $52,800 – $70,000, or commensurate with experience. The First Circuit offers with this position a full slate of benefits—state holidays, a variety of health insurance options, dental insurance, vision insurance, monthly accrual of annual and sick leave, and retirement contributions into LASERS retirement system.

Please send resume, references, law school transcript, and recent writing sample (10 pages maximum):

• Email to Human Resources at hr@la-fcca.org; or
• US Mail to Human Resources, Court of Appeal, First Circuit, P.O. Box 4408, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4408; or
• Hand deliver to 1600 North Third Street, Baton Rouge.

Applications must be received by Monday, March 31, 2025. Please request accommodations if needed to participate in the process.

Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorney
Pugh, Accardo seeks an attorney licensed in Louisiana with a minimum of five (5) years of workers’ compensation defense and litigation experience. The candidate must have excellent academic credentials and be skilled in the following areas: researching various legal issues; drafting pleadings and memoranda in support of motions; preparing reports’ conducting depositions and inspections; appearing in court and arguing motions; along with attendance at mediation and litigating a case at trial. Appellate experience a plus. Some travel, almost exclusively within the State of Louisiana, is required. The position offers a comprehensive and competitive compensation package with a wide range of standard and optional benefits. Qualified candidates should e-mail Stephen at sbrooks@pugh-law.com with a cover, a resume’ and writing sample.

Michael Nicaud, President michael.nicaud@hornbeckoffshore.com
Amanda Trosclair, Vice President atrosclair@stpgov.org
Luke Lancaster, Treasurer lmlancaster@22da.com
Reina Gardner, Executive Director reina@22ndjdcbar.org