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Last month, Louisiana voters amended Article 1, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution when they voted to abolish the split-jury rule. Prior to the election, Louisiana was one of two states that did not require a unanimous jury verdict in noncapital criminal cases. The split-jury rule only re...

source : Bloomberg News Companies making and distributing opioid painkillers opposed a proposal to separate lawsuits filed on behalf of addicted babies from local governments' cases aimed at recouping costs of battling the public-health crisis spawned by the drugs. Attorneys for thousands of...

Unfortunately, a DUI charge in Louisiana could affect a student's college career in more ways than one. In addition to sentencing requirements, you could also face future implications. Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities A single DUI charge should not affect a student's eligibility for f...

Louisiana is one of two states, the former being Oregon, that still has a split-jury rule in their constitution. However, that could change next month, because the public will have the opportunity to vote to amend the state constitution. What is Louisiana's Split-Jury Rule? A split-jury ru...

In Louisiana, there are many ways in which an officer can legally search your vehicle without a warrant: Your consent: Unless other reasons outlined below apply, an officer must have your voluntary consent to search the vehicle. You have the right to refuse an officer from searching your...

Bloomberg Law News Sep 21, 2018 Lawyers for Opioid-Addicted Babies Push For Separate Legal Proceedings By Julie Steinberg Sep 21, 2018 • Concerns include that potential settlements won't provide sufficient medical monitoring, treatment funds • Attorneys for government-entity plaintiffs, d...

Comedian John Oliver used Louisiana as an example of poor decision making in his HBO segment “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” After discussing prosecutors' role in the criminal justice system and the heavy influence they can have, Oliver focused on what he considers misused power by prosecu...

Labor Day Weekend in NOLA brings in hundreds of thousands of people each year from all over the United States. With free concerts around the city, college football kicking off, and the annual, four-day Southern Decadence Festival in the French Quarter (which is estimated to bring in over 200,000...

New Orleans district prosecutors are using recorded jail calls between attorneys and their jailed clients as evidence in court. These calls are thought to be under a confidentiality clause that protects client and attorney conversations. Attorney-client privilege was created so that lawyers can ...

When it comes to DWI cases here in Louisiana, a conviction can often come down to an officer's testimony versus the testimony of the person charged with a crime. This means that the police officer's would has to be trusted if a judge is expected to may a proper ruling, but what if that officer's...

The Orleans Parish District Attorney's office has a problem, and it has now led to a federal lawsuit. As prosecutors now fight allegations of fake subpoenas, some are claiming the practice goes back decades. What do these accusations mean? Who was complicit in the supposed deceptions? Were peopl...

Just a few weeks ago, a state judge made a startling claim against New Orleans prosecutors. She accused the prosecutor's office of hiding evidence-grand jury testimonies-from the defense in a case. Such an accusation has serious implications. Could this behavior change the way criminal prosecuti...

A Ball State University professor led a field trip to New Orleans. In addition to his students, his 18-year-old son also accompanied the group. They arrived at the French Quarter, but the son and father got separated. What happened next proves why it is important for tourists to be ready to face...

Louisiana State University is now a hazing-free campus, or at least that is the impression being conveyed by recent policy changes. Any student involved in a hazing incident will be expelled. Any fraternity or student organization involved will be banned from the university. These zero tolerance...

Another school shooting has captured national headlines and stirred a national debate that will continue for years to come. Here in Louisiana, law enforcement not only braces for potential copy cat crimes, but from the increase in terroristic threats that usually follow events like this. However...

Do you know who Robert Kelley is? A former running back for Tulane, Kelley now plays for the Washington Redskins and is an accomplished player in the National Football League. However, did you know his NFL career almost ended before it began? Here's the story of how one criminal accusation almos...

Here in the United States, everyone has the right to attorney-client confidentiality. Did you know that some phone conversations may not fall under that protection? Here in Louisiana, some jails have figured out a way around attorney-client confidentiality. And if you aren't careful, you could f...

New Orleans is known for being a center of partying, revelry and fun, but sometimes fun can get out of hand, especially late at night. This reality often catches young people by surprise when they look for a good time in the big easy. However, if they are not careful, they could end up paying a ...

A family from East New Orleans had just bought a house when they were caught up in an altercation that would change their lives forever. Double homicide charges, a confession, and delay tactics from the district attorney may have ruined their promising future. Can their lives recover from this l...

It was around 6:34 on the morning of June 11, 2017 when Kenner police found a wrecked Jeep Wrangler sitting in the eastbound lanes of Joe Yenni Boulevard. In the driver's seat they found a 24-year-old NFL receiver for the New Orleans Saints. What happened next would not only put the young man's ...

Over 60,000 people were taken to the ER for fatal opioid overdoses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2016. This is the latest sign that opioid addiction is worsening even with the efforts of public health authorities in place. The data confirms that the drug crisi...

In October of last year, President Trump ordered that the opioid epidemic currently raging across our nation be declared a public health emergency. The president also signed orders that gave states more flexibility to combat the opioid epidemic with federal funding. The president has a good reas...

The opioid epidemic continues to rage across rural California, but the California Department of Justice has not yet certified a database that could stop doctors from overprescribing opioids. This lag has angered consumers and law enforcement groups who argue that the California Department of Jus...

A report by Altarum examined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s mortality data through June of 2017. The report concluded that the opioid epidemic plaguing the U.S. has cost the country more than a trillion dollars since 2001 and may increase by another $500 billion over the ...