This event is a tour of the Port of New Orleans via fireboat on the Mississippi River, guided by members of the Port's executive team. The purpose of the event is to educate members of the public as to the current operations and future plans of the Port. The fireboat is comfortable and has an indoor viewing deck for guests. Attendees should wear close-toed shoes as you will be getting on and off the boat via a gangplank and moving about the deck. This event is offered at no charge to NOFBA members and their guests.

Space is limited to 20 guests, so please register early to ensure yourself a seat.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/evening-with-the-fba-port-of-new-orleans-private-boat-tour-tickets-866895266077

Join the Young Lawyers Division at its “Lunch with the Court” Program, featuring Judge Michael North

Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series CLE - Every Thursday in March!

Sign up for all four sessions here: Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - All Session Registration Tickets, Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

This year’s topics include:

• Session 1: 3/7 - Federal Court: We Don't Bite (Unless Provoked)

  • Geared towards infrequent visitors to federal court, this CLE hour is a primer on the important differences between state and federal courts, the rules that govern procedure and practice in federal court, common mistakes made in federal court, and how to avoid "getting bitten."

  • Instructors: Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown; Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 1 Tickets, Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 2: 3/14 - Recent Changes in Employment Law

  • This hour will address recent substantive changes to employment-law standards on viable adverse employment actions, causation, and protected characteristics/groups, among other relevant, developing issues for the courts and employment-law practitioners.

  • Instructors: EDLA Magistrate Judge Donna Currault; EEOC Asst. Regional Attorney Gregory Juge and McGlinchey Stafford Partner Camille Bryant

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 2 Tickets, Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 3: 3/21 - ESI Best Practices

  • Not every case involves voluminous electronically stored information (ESI) or justifies spending thousands of dollars on data-management software and vendor services. Nonetheless, ESI is present in many cases and with some preparation and cooperation, you can manage the collection and review efficiently. This hour-long CLE panel will discuss topics such as: early client engagement and best practices for data preservation and collection; making your Rule 26(f) conference effective; whether to bother with ESI protocol; privilege logging options for ESI vs. traditional documents; and technology for managing ESI.

  • Instructors: Margot Want and Judge Karen Wells Roby

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 3 Tickets, Thu, Mar 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 4: 3/28 - Legal Writing by the Numbers, Part Two: A follow-up to a survey on legal writing completed by EDLA district-court and magistrate judges, this hour will address additional legal-writing preferences and common pitfalls identified by the collective EDLA bench.

  • Instructors: Chloe Chetta and Amy McIntyre

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 4 Tickets, Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series CLE - Every Thursday in March!

Sign up for all four sessions here: Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - All Session Registration Tickets, Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

This year’s topics include:

• Session 1: 3/7 - Federal Court: We Don't Bite (Unless Provoked)

  • Geared towards infrequent visitors to federal court, this CLE hour is a primer on the important differences between state and federal courts, the rules that govern procedure and practice in federal court, common mistakes made in federal court, and how to avoid "getting bitten."

  • Instructors: Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown; Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 1 Tickets, Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 2: 3/14 - Recent Changes in Employment Law

  • This hour will address recent substantive changes to employment-law standards on viable adverse employment actions, causation, and protected characteristics/groups, among other relevant, developing issues for the courts and employment-law practitioners.

  • Instructors: EDLA Magistrate Judge Donna Currault; EEOC Asst. Regional Attorney Gregory Juge and McGlinchey Stafford Partner Camille Bryant

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 2 Tickets, Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 3: 3/21 - ESI Best Practices

  • Not every case involves voluminous electronically stored information (ESI) or justifies spending thousands of dollars on data-management software and vendor services. Nonetheless, ESI is present in many cases and with some preparation and cooperation, you can manage the collection and review efficiently. This hour-long CLE panel will discuss topics such as: early client engagement and best practices for data preservation and collection; making your Rule 26(f) conference effective; whether to bother with ESI protocol; privilege logging options for ESI vs. traditional documents; and technology for managing ESI.

  • Instructors: Margot Want and Judge Karen Wells Roby

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 3 Tickets, Thu, Mar 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 4: 3/28 - Legal Writing by the Numbers, Part Two: A follow-up to a survey on legal writing completed by EDLA district-court and magistrate judges, this hour will address additional legal-writing preferences and common pitfalls identified by the collective EDLA bench.

  • Instructors: Chloe Chetta and Amy McIntyre

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 4 Tickets, Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series CLE - Every Thursday in March!

Sign up for all four sessions here: Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - All Session Registration Tickets, Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

This year’s topics include:

• Session 1: 3/7 - Federal Court: We Don't Bite (Unless Provoked)

  • Geared towards infrequent visitors to federal court, this CLE hour is a primer on the important differences between state and federal courts, the rules that govern procedure and practice in federal court, common mistakes made in federal court, and how to avoid "getting bitten."

  • Instructors: Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown; Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 1 Tickets, Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 2: 3/14 - Recent Changes in Employment Law

  • This hour will address recent substantive changes to employment-law standards on viable adverse employment actions, causation, and protected characteristics/groups, among other relevant, developing issues for the courts and employment-law practitioners.

  • Instructors: EDLA Magistrate Judge Donna Currault; EEOC Asst. Regional Attorney Gregory Juge and McGlinchey Stafford Partner Camille Bryant

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 2 Tickets, Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 3: 3/21 - ESI Best Practices

  • Not every case involves voluminous electronically stored information (ESI) or justifies spending thousands of dollars on data-management software and vendor services. Nonetheless, ESI is present in many cases and with some preparation and cooperation, you can manage the collection and review efficiently. This hour-long CLE panel will discuss topics such as: early client engagement and best practices for data preservation and collection; making your Rule 26(f) conference effective; whether to bother with ESI protocol; privilege logging options for ESI vs. traditional documents; and technology for managing ESI.

  • Instructors: Margot Want and Judge Karen Wells Roby

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 3 Tickets, Thu, Mar 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 4: 3/28 - Legal Writing by the Numbers, Part Two: A follow-up to a survey on legal writing completed by EDLA district-court and magistrate judges, this hour will address additional legal-writing preferences and common pitfalls identified by the collective EDLA bench.

  • Instructors: Chloe Chetta and Amy McIntyre

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 4 Tickets, Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

The Young Lawyers Division of the Federal Bar Association invites you to Cocktails with the Court on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at The Eliza Jane. Cocktails with the Court is a great opportunity that brings together the bench and bar in our community. This event is free for FBA members. We welcome non-members for a $25.00 charge. Please RSVP through the ticket link to ensure we have an accurate head count.

Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series CLE - Every Thursday in March!

Sign up for all four sessions here: Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - All Session Registration Tickets, Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

This year’s topics include:

• Session 1: 3/7 - Federal Court: We Don't Bite (Unless Provoked)

  • Geared towards infrequent visitors to federal court, this CLE hour is a primer on the important differences between state and federal courts, the rules that govern procedure and practice in federal court, common mistakes made in federal court, and how to avoid "getting bitten."

  • Instructors: Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown; Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 1 Tickets, Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 2: 3/14 - Recent Changes in Employment Law

  • This hour will address recent substantive changes to employment-law standards on viable adverse employment actions, causation, and protected characteristics/groups, among other relevant, developing issues for the courts and employment-law practitioners.

  • Instructors: EDLA Magistrate Judge Donna Currault; EEOC Asst. Regional Attorney Gregory Juge and McGlinchey Stafford Partner Camille Bryant

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 2 Tickets, Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 3: 3/21 - ESI Best Practices

  • Not every case involves voluminous electronically stored information (ESI) or justifies spending thousands of dollars on data-management software and vendor services. Nonetheless, ESI is present in many cases and with some preparation and cooperation, you can manage the collection and review efficiently. This hour-long CLE panel will discuss topics such as: early client engagement and best practices for data preservation and collection; making your Rule 26(f) conference effective; whether to bother with ESI protocol; privilege logging options for ESI vs. traditional documents; and technology for managing ESI.

  • Instructors: Margot Want and Judge Karen Wells Roby

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 3 Tickets, Thu, Mar 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

• Session 4: 3/28 - Legal Writing by the Numbers, Part Two: A follow-up to a survey on legal writing completed by EDLA district-court and magistrate judges, this hour will address additional legal-writing preferences and common pitfalls identified by the collective EDLA bench.

  • Instructors: Chloe Chetta and Amy McIntyre

  • Judge Martin Feldman Federal Practice Series - Session 4 Tickets, Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

Join the Young Lawyers Division at its “Lunch with the Court” Program, featuring Judge Barry Ashe

Lunch with the Court with the Honorable Judge Barry W. Ashe Tickets, Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

The Young Lawyers Division of the Federal Bar Association invites you to Cocktails with the Court on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at The Eliza Jane. Cocktails with the Court is a great opportunity that brings together the bench and bar in our community. This event is free for FBA members. We welcome non-members for a $25.00 charge. Please RSVP through the ticket link to ensure we have an accurate head count.

Register here!

A Lunch with the Court with the Hon. Judge Dana Douglas is scheduled for Thursday, January 31, 2023, at 12 p.m. The lunch, which is arranged by the Younger Lawyers Division of the Federal Bar Association, is open to FBA members at no cost. The Lunch with the Court program is an excellent opportunity to meet federal practitioners, to socialize with other attorneys new to the practice, and to gain valuable insights and perspectives from members of the federal bench. Space is limited.

Our next Day of Service is Friday, December 22, 2023 at the Rebuild Center from 11:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. To sign up to volunteer email Chris Zainey at czainey@lambertzainey.com and/or Cayce Peterson at cayce@jjclaw.com. 

Approved for 1 Hour of CLE credit or 1 Hour of Family Law Specialization Credit

REGISTER HERE!

This series is in honor of the late Honorable Jerry A. Brown, who served as a bankruptcy judge in the Eastern District of Louisiana for 28 years. Judge Brown was a steadfast supporter of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, giving his time both as a member of the Board of Directors, as president of the Chapter from 1980-81, and later as a judge, hosting many sessions of the popular Lunch with the Court program, speaking at various CLE programs, and participating in many of the Chapter’s other functions over the years.

On September 14, 2023 from 3-4 p.m. the New Orleans Chapter of the FBA will host a Bankruptcy CLE for non-bankruptcy and bankruptcy practitioners focused on Louisiana family law issues that arise in bankruptcy matters. Please join practitioners Alicia Bendana, Lugenbuhl, and Fernand “Ferdie” L. Laudumiey, IV, Chaffe McCall, for a discussion on the interplay between bankruptcy law and family law issues, the impact of a bankruptcy filing on pending domestic proceedings, and the resulting property and creditor claim issues that could affect you or your clients.

The CLE will be held at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 500 Poydras Street in B-709 followed by a wine reception at 4 p.m. This is an in-person CLE. Registration is required. Contact the New Orleans Chapter at fbaneworleans@gmail.com or call 504-589-7990 with any questions.

Speaker Bios:

Alicia M. Bendana practices business bankruptcy law and commercial litigation with an emphasis on prosecuting and defending complex and multi-layered litigation claims on behalf of trustees, debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, and other interested parties in Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy proceedings. She represents clients as lead or co-lead counsel in the prosecution of officer and director liability litigation, legal and accounting malpractice liability litigation, fraud and RICO litigation, fraudulent transfer/preference avoidance litigation, contract disputes, insurance disputes, the partitioning of marital property in bankruptcy court, the excepting of debts from discharge, the opposing of plans of reorganization and the proposing of competing plans, and the purchase of assets from bankruptcy estates.

Alicia has authored numerous articles for professional publications, is a frequent lecturer at professional programs, and is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor of Trial Advocacy at Tulane University School of Law.

Fernand “Ferdie” Laudumiey’s practice primarily focuses on the areas of bankruptcy law and complex bankruptcy litigation. He has successfully advised and represented a wide range of clients in both Chapter 11 reorganization and Chapter 7 liquidation proceedings, including bankruptcy trustees, debtors, debtors in possession, and creditors in Louisiana, Texas and other jurisdictions. Ferdie’s extensive experience in his representation of bankruptcy trustees has encompassed the prosecution of preference, fraudulent conveyance, and other avoidance action proceedings, prosecution of discharge complaints, objections to exemptions and claims, executory contract matters, and various other aspects of the general administration of bankruptcy estates.

Ferdie has also concentrated his practice on real estate law and property matters, advising and representing appraisers, lenders, and title insurance companies in both federal and state court. He has handled breach of contract and title claims, breach of professional duty issues, foreclosures, and he has represented clients in matters before the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board.

Ferdie earned his J.D. from Louisiana State University Law Center, where he was the recipient of the Austin W. Lewis Scholarship Award. Upon graduation, he clerked two years for the Honorable Marcel Livaudais, Jr., U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Cocktails and Career Conversations: Leveraging Technology to Improve your Practice

Register here!

The Younger Lawyers Division invites you to join Jessica Engler and Scott Sternberg for a small-group discussion about how to utilize technology to strengthen your work product and make your practice more efficient.  Whether you are a Luddite or the most tech-savvy young lawyer in your firm, you are sure to learn some tips and tricks on how technology can help you gain a competitive edge—or just stay sane—in a changing legal landscape.

The YLD’s Cocktails and Career Conversations is series aimed at helping younger attorneys learn about specific aspects of legal practice from experienced practitioners.  In these sessions, participants are encouraged to share any questions or topics, regardless of their size or apparent insignificance. The belief is that no question is too foolish and no topic is too small when it comes to learning and developing together. These discussions provide an excellent opportunity to connect with industry peers, exchange experiences, and gain valuable insights from experienced professionals. It's a relaxed setting where you can freely share ideas, seek guidance, and establish meaningful connections. 

Registration is free, but space is limited. 

Register here!

Approved for 2 hours of General CLE Credit

This session will cover the 2023 Guideline Amendments, including a discussion of the possible retroactivity of the criminal history amendment. Mr. Dorhoffer will also discuss recent Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit cases related to federal sentencing.

Presenter: Alan Dorhoffer is the Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice and worked at the Commission for over 28 years. He has conducted hundreds of training programs for judges, attorneys, law clerks, probation officers, and federal bar associations on federal sentencing. Alan has also conducted numerous webcasts and broadcasts on the Federal Judicial Training Network (FJTN). During his time at the Commission, Alan has chaired policy teams on Sex Offenses, Criminal History, and Firearms, and been a member of several other teams. Alan specializes in analyzing Supreme Court and appellate court decisions interpreting the federal sentencing issues, and in presenting complex legal concepts in terms guideline users can readily understand. Alan has been an Adjunct Professor at the George Mason School of Law, and was law clerk to the Honorable Edmund A. Sargus, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Ohio, in Columbus. Alan is a graduate of Binghamton University and the George Washington University School of Law.

Practical and Intentional Strategies: Managing Unreasonable Expectations to Improve Your Wellness and Increase Your Competency

1 Professionalism CLE - VIA ZOOM

REGISTER HERE!

Speaker Sheila M. Wilkinson, LMSW, Esq. will guide Louisiana Attorneys through an inquisitive and interactive primer of lawyer well-being, based on the foundations of professional competency as outlined in Rule XXX, 3(c) CLE Requirement (Rules of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, Part H. Rules for Continuing Legal Education), and in Rule 1.1, Competence (Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct), and more particularly, Rule 1.1(a).

Participants will actively engage through a number of mechanisms by:

• Completing an initial activity to stabilize their nervous systems through breathwork and the setting of a common intention, which will help (re)focus their attention and to shift from work-mode to explore-mode; repeating revised versions of that activity at appropriate intervals to allow participants the opportunity to integrate and incorporate what they’ve learned about themselves and professionalism/competency expectations

• Learning from the Speaker’s personal and professional journey, as well as the ebbs and flows of health and wellness throughout 20+ years in the legal industry 

• Exploring the foundations for the unique requirements of professional competency that lie outside of legal knowledge and skill - particularly, “thoroughness and preparation” - with an eye towards understanding the underlying needs of emotional health and wellness as an integral form of competence, and creating a nexus between improving emotional health and wellness as a form of competence, safeguarding attorneys against malpractice on the basis of health, including but not limited to:

• the major facets of health, with actionable items to improve their quality of life

• the most basic requirements for health that attorneys most often shun (most often embodied in the based tier of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs)

• the role expectations play in day-to-day decisions and how to manage them 

• differentiating between boundaries, prioritization, procrastination, and delay, and how to distinguish each in their practical application and maintain competency and professionalism expectations as an attorney

• Exploring the symptoms of unreasonable expectations (e.g. unmet billables, overachieving on billables, unreasonable response times, inability to shut off and/or unplug, neverending to do lists, overwhelm, burnout, extreme stress (as distinguished from burnout), addiction - alcohol, drugs, and gambling, and the most severe: suicide

• Completing multiple, mindfulness reflection exercises that call for participants’ brutal honesty about why they chose the legal profession, who they help, who they serve, and to explore where they can start to improve their levels of competency through small, strategic shifts in their mindset about what it means to be an attorney. Activities are built to encourage attorneys to explore their current physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and overall health, and what they want that health to look like in the future as it relates to their ability to practice with competence. Where appropriate, the exercises may be modified as appropriate for accessibility and mobility limitations. 

About the Speaker

SHEILA M. WILKINSON combines her love for the law, social work, and education to help lawyers transform pain, frustration, and unreasonable expectations at work into happiness, success, and healthy boundaries, so that they can achieve their personal and professional goals. She is a Louisiana Licensed Attorney, Louisiana Licensed Master Social Worker, an Educator, and Empowerment Coach. Sheila earned her Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of New Orleans (with a minor in Women’s Studies, focusing on surveys and systems), her Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University (focusing on community health and development), her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University (focusing on Civil Law, International Law, and the interplay of international systems on the development of society), and her Advanced LL.M. in International and European Business Law from the Institute of European Studies in Brussels, Belgium. Since 2007, Sheila has lived between Europe and the United States, and she was a Belgian Resident from 2013 to 2016. Currently splitting her time between New Orleans and Brussels, Sheila teaches Creative Entrepreneurship at Loyola University New Orleans and in the BBA and MBA Programmes at United Business Institutes – Brussels. Sheila is heavily involved in community development, and provides continuing education opportunities to lawyers and social workers, serves on several nonprofit boards, and provides legal, consulting, and coaching services across the globe.

The Younger Lawyer’s Division invites you to the Annual Holiday party to celebrate the holiday season and to welcome all of our new members that will be arriving immediately after the Malcolm Monroe Seminar and Swearing-In Ceremony.

RSVP HERE

Great Hall of the U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit

600 Camp St., New Orleans

If you have any questions contact Elena Perez at eperez@nofba.org or call (504)-589-7990

This year you have two options to give back to the community. The YLD is partnering with the EDLA's Annual Holiday Toy Drive to benefit Ozanam Inn & the City's Homeless Community. Please bring new unwrapped gifts to the holiday party for children ages from newborn to 14 years old. The Younger Lawyer’s Division is also doing a Second Harvest Food Bank Fundraiser! Go to http://support.no-hunger.org/goto/FBAHoliday .

Agenda

Register For CLE Only Here

Attendance at the Malcolm W. Monroe Seminar provides four hours of CLE, including one hour each of ethics, professionalism, and law practice management. Registration includes membership in the largest Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of practice in federal courts and facilitating interaction and communications between the bar and the judiciary. As an added bonus, the seminar culminates with a ceremony at which attendees can be sworn into all federal courts in Louisiana, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Register here!

A Lunch with the Court with the Hon. Judge Darrel Papillion is scheduled for Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 12 p.m. The lunch, which is arranged by the Younger Lawyers Division of the Federal Bar Association, is open to FBA members at no cost. The Lunch with the Court program is an excellent opportunity to meet federal practitioners, to socialize with other attorneys new to the practice, and to gain valuable insights and perspectives from members of the federal bench. Space is limited.

Register here!

Please join the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association on Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. for the Annual Alvin B. Rubin Symposium: A Night at the (Courthouse) Theater: Reenacting and Reflecting on Constance Baker Motley, James Meredith, and the University of Mississippi. This ethics and professionalism program is a living memorial to Judge Alvin Rubin’s contribution to federal jurisprudence and legal scholarship.

Performing a script co-authored by United States Second Circuit Judge Denny Chin, a cast of federal judges and other distinguished guests will reenact the historic court proceedings involved in James Meredith’s quest to become the first Black student admitted to the University of Mississippi in the 1960s. Represented by Constance Baker Motley and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Meredith sued in Mississippi federal court, alleging that the University denied him admission because of his race. The ensuing legal battle required repeated trips to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, intervention by the Supreme Court of the United States, and ultimately the deployment of federal troops.

This historic courtroom theater will use real excerpts from transcripts and will be accompanied by slides of historic photographs, drawings, and documents to be projected as the script is performed, transporting viewers back to the historical context of the time. Following the play, select cast members will lead a panel discussion of relevant ethics and professionalism issues illustrated in the performance. The two-hour event will conclude with brief remarks from James Meredith, who, along with his wife, will attend the reenactment of his historic legal struggle.

Directed by Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld, the play’s all-star cast includes: United States Fifth Circuit Judge Dana Douglas, Eastern District of Louisiana Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, District Judges Susie Morgan, Wendy Vitter, Jane Triche Milazzo, and Darrel James Papillion; Eastern District of Louisiana Magistrate Judges Karen Wells Roby and Donna Phillips Currault; Eastern District of Louisiana Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill; as well as Federal Public Defender Claude Kelly and United States Attorney Duane Evans, Brandon Long, Eva Dossier, FBA New Orleans Chapter Past President Michael Ecuyer, and President Brian Capitelli.

The program will be followed by a light reception, from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.  The program will also be accessible via zoom.  

Purchase an individual ticket or sponsorship level online here.

Download paper registration form here.

The New Orleans Chapter of the FBA requests your presence at its annual tribute honoring the federal judiciary's contribution to the community.  Sponsorship levels are available at the following levels:  Silver: $750; Gold: $900; and Platinum: $1,500.  Individual tickets can be purchased for $75 per person. For information, please contact Executive Director, Elena Perez, at eperez@nofba.org or call (504) 589-7990.

*Sponsorship pledges and payments must be received by November 3, 2023, to be listed on the sponsor board. Sponsors will be featured on social media and our quarterly newsletter. To be listed as a sponsor please select a sponsorship level.

Thank you for your support!

Register online here!!

Download registration form here.

Join the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association on Thursday, October 26, 2023 for 7 hours of continuing legal education on ethics, professionalism, and recent developments in federal criminal law. Speakers will explore recent developments in the law with an eye on defending clients in federal criminal cases. Deep discounts for Government/CJA Panel Attorneys. Free for FBA members and the Federal Public Defender's Office. Includes 1 hour of ethics and 1 hour of professionalism.. 

8:30 a.m. Registration & Light Breakfast; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CLE. Please allow sufficient time for parking. Lunch and refreshments provided.

AGENDA

8:30 – 9:00 am Registration , Coffee and Pastries

9:00 – 10:00 am Are You Stuck In The Waiting Place? How To Keep Things Moving (And Maybe Even Win Release) For Your Incompetent Clients (1 Ethics Credit )

Panelists: Jaclyn L. Tarlton and Joseph H. Craven, Assistant Federal Public Defenders, Eastern District of North Carolina

Any of us can find ourselves with an incompetent client, whether we handle revocations, misdemeanors, or felonies. But too often, these most vulnerable clients fall to the wayside because courts, prosecutors, and unfortunately sometimes even defense lawyers aren’t sure how to keep these cases moving. The bad news is that there is an egregious nationwide backlog in obtaining competency evaluations and restoration treatment. The good news is that this is a place where the statute and case law are actually good for us! In this presentation, we will walk through the governing statute, 18 USC 4241; nationwide caselaw; and sample pleadings that can protect these clients from languishing indefinitely in competency and restoration proceedings, avoid civil commitment, and perhaps even get these cases dismissed.

Incompetent clients are especially vulnerable, and the federal government’s authority to hold a defendant is expressly limited by statute and by due process.  Our job, and ethical duty, as defense lawyers, is to learn the statutory and constitutional constraints on that authority and advocate for our client in court as part of our duty of competence (R 1.1) and diligence (R 1.3).  We also have a duty to expedite litigation (R 3.2), especially where—as here—our client’s liberty is often infringed while the BOP/Court/Government allow egregious delays to persist.

10:00 – 10:10 am Break

10:10 – 11:10 am Back to the Future: Challenges to Federal Firearm Prosecutions Based on Recent Supreme Court Decisions in Bruen and Rehaif

Panelist: Adeel Bashir, Assistant Federal Public Defender and Appellate Supervisor for the Office of the Federal Public Defender, Middle District of Florida

This presentation will provide a refresher on Bruen and Rehaif, discuss recent challenges to federal firearm offenses after Bruen, and help practitioners to identify and challenge legal issues in federal firearm prosecutions.  This presentation will also review the post-Rehaif landscape of “status” offenses related to firearm possession. Finally, Mr. Bashir will guide practitioners through an action plan for defending federal firearm offenses and how to develop a record for successful challenges.

11:10 am –12:10 pm Immigration Law that Criminal Defense Lawyers Need to Know

Kathleen Gasparian, Gasparian Spivey Immigration, Roman Maney, Deputy Chief Counsel, U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

This basic and practical panel will provide practitioners with an overview of how immigration issues impact your criminal client.  Topics will include detention and removal issues, understanding immigration documents and status, and information on local processes and procedures.

12:10 – 12:45 pm Lunch – provided the FBA

12:45 – 1:45 pm When Your Client is also a Victim

Stanislav “Stas” Moroz, Assistant Professor of Law, Tulane University Law School

Almost all defense attorneys will at some point represent a survivor of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or trafficking who is being prosecuted for actions they took as a result of abuse or coercion. This CLE will focus on representing those clients. We will discuss how an understanding of the dynamics of abuse and coercive control can help you represent criminalized survivors, focusing on client interviewing, investigation, consulting with expert witnesses, developing a case theory, addressing seemingly “bad facts,” and negotiating with prosecutors.

1:45 – 2:45 pm But I’m Not a Social Worker: Release Planning in Public Defense (1 Professionalism Credit)

Mick Kliger, Facilitator with the Center for Restorative Approaches; Wan Qi Kong, Senior Client Advocate at the Orleans Public Defenders Office

This presentation will cover the why and how of release planning with incarcerated clients, including: assessing for underlying issues; collaborating with clients to determine their needs/priorities; identifying appropriate community resources; making referrals; using plans for release advocacy with system actors; and facilitating release/following up with clients. There will be an emphasis on relevant supportive services in the Greater New Orleans area.

2:45 pm – 2:55 pm Break

2:55 pm – 3:55 pm What’s New in the 2023 Amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines

Panelists: Alan Dorhoffer, Director, Office of Education and Sentencing Practice, United States Sentencing Commission

This session will discuss the 2023 Guideline Amendments, including a discussion of the possible retroactivity of the criminal history amendment.

3:55 pm – 4:55 pm Fifth Circuit Sentencing Update

Alan Dorhoffer, Office of Education and Sentencing Commission, U.S. Sentencing Commission

This session will discuss recent Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit cases related to federal sentencing.

Register online here!

Download the registration form here!

The New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association will host its Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at the InterContinental Hotel New Orleans. 

Dr. Ron Faucheux is a nationally respected pollster, author and nonpartisan political analyst with a unique background in politics and government. He graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, holds a Ph.D. degree in Political Science from the University of New Orleans and a law degree from LSU.

A former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, he also served as editor and publisher of Campaigns & Elections magazine. He now publishes the popular national newsletter that covers polls and public opinion called Lunchtime Politics.

Dr. Faucheux has taught at Georgetown and George Washington Universities. He’s appeared over 300 times on national network television programs as an expert analyst and has been interviewed by hundreds of newspapers, radio stations and magazines across the globe.

Currently, he writes a weekly column for the Times Picayune and Advocate newspapers. His articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, New York Newsday, The Hill and the Washington Examiner. Author of Running for Office the Debate Book, Winning Elections and Campaign Battle Lines, he served as a member of the U.S. National Historical Publications and Records Commission of the National Archives.

The father of two sons Ron, Jr. and Jon, he has two grandchildren, Porter and Brice, and a friendly dog named Clipper. He lives in New Orleans.

A cocktail hour will begin at 11 a.m., with the luncheon to follow at noon.   The President's Award, the Jack Martzell Professionalism Award, and the Camille Gravel Pro-Bono/Public Service Award recipients will be recognized at the luncheon. 

The cost to attend the luncheon is $65 per person.  Reserved tables, seating ten people, may be reserved for $650 per table (please email eperez@nofba.org with the names of each attendee and any dietary restrictions). There will be open seating for those who are attending individually.  Please note that there is limited seating and reservations will be accepted on a first-come basis. Table seating locations will be determined by the date of payment.  Reservations should be made no later than August 16, 2023. There will be no refunds for cancellations received after August 14, 2023.

Register Here!

Senior Judge William Alsup, U.S. N. D. Cal., recently wrote a book title "The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald". He will be visiting New Orleans on August 17, 2023, to talk about his book. The discussion will take place at 4907 Magazine Street, which is one of the places where Lee Harvey Oswald resided during his time in New Orleans. This location is mentioned several times in his book. Today the location is home to the Shlosman Law Firm. Lunch will be provided by the Shlosman Law Firm. Space is limited and open to Chapter members.

Register here!

1.5 Hours CLE (pending) or 1.5 Hours of Bankruptcy Specialization Credit (pending)

Reception to follow at 7:15 p.m. at Espiritu, 520 Capdeville Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130

The CLE by Judge David R. Jones of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas will focus on an array of issues arising in chapter 11, including but not limited to, critical vendor motions, prepetition payments of employee incentives, effective use of proffers v. live testimony, the use of “authorized but not ordered” language in bid procedures and other orders, managing difficult clients, and the art of working with non-bankruptcy attorneys in a bankruptcy case.

This event is co-sponsored by the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Jerry A. Brown, Louisiana Bankruptcy Inn of Court.

Register here!

Approved for 2 hours of CLE Credit or 2 Appellate Practice Specialization Credits

Reception to follow.

This event is being co-sponsored by the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit.

This two-hour CLE program will address aspects of appellate practice at the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. In the first hour, Clerk of Court Lyle W. Cayce will offer attendees a view behind the curtain. His presentation will address the lifecycle of a Fifth Circuit appeal, the allotment of cases and handling of ancillary motions, and resources the clerk’s office offers for helping lawyers comply with court rules. Mr. Cayce will also present up-to-date statistics on case outcomes and outline the court’s mediation program. In the second hour, U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt will moderate a panel that includes two other active judges on the Fifth Circuit. The panel will address some pre-selected topics on appellate advocacy, with a specific focus on best practices in brief writing and oral argument.