Inside: - Baton Rouge Bar Association
Inside: - Baton Rouge Bar Association
Inside: - Baton Rouge Bar Association
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<strong>Bar</strong> Luncheon<br />
Thursday, Feb. 3<br />
<strong>Inside</strong>:<br />
Inventory searches of automobiles<br />
Attorney spotlight:<br />
Amy Groves Lowe<br />
Getting to know the BRBA staff<br />
2011 BRBA Luncheon<br />
& Symposium Committee
2011 BRBA Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Conference<br />
April 28-30<br />
Early Bird<br />
Discount<br />
Deadline:<br />
Feb. 15<br />
Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Point Clear, Ala.<br />
For more information, contact Ann G. Scarle: 225-214-5563 / ann@brba.org<br />
For sponsorship information:<br />
http://www.brba.org/forms/BBCsponsorship.pdf<br />
To register for the conference:<br />
http://www.brba.org/forms/BBC2011.pdf<br />
2011 Conference sponsors:<br />
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC<br />
Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson<br />
Chaffe McCall, LLP<br />
DeCuir, Clark & Adams, LLP<br />
Dr. Michael Goff / Louisiana Health & Injury Centers<br />
Kantrow, Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer, APLC<br />
Keogh, Cox & Wilson<br />
Lexis Nexis<br />
Louisiana State <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC<br />
Newman, Mathis, Brady & Spedale<br />
Pendley, Baudin & Coffi n, LLP<br />
Perry, Atkinson, Balhoff, Mengis & Burns, LLC<br />
Phelps Dunbar<br />
Roedel, Parsons, Koch, Blache, Balhoff & McCollister<br />
Stone Pigman Walther Wittman, L.L.C.<br />
Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips, LLP<br />
USDC–Middle District Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Fund<br />
Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens, LLC<br />
West, a Thomson Reuters business<br />
Williamson, Fontenot & Campbell<br />
Attending judges:<br />
Judge Laura Davis<br />
Judge John Michael Guildry<br />
Judge Thomas Kliebert Jr.<br />
Judge Tony Marabella<br />
Judge Pamela Moses-Laramore<br />
Commissioner Rachel Morgan<br />
Judge Bill Morvant<br />
Judge Ralph Tureau<br />
Judge Alex “Brick” Wall<br />
Past presidents in attendance:<br />
Fred T. Crifasi • C. Kevin Hayes • Frank Holthaus • Jay Jalenak Jr. • Judge Tony Marabella<br />
Paul Marks • Mike Patterson • Ed Walters<br />
To reserve your room, go to http://www.marriottgrand.com<br />
and enter BABBABA in the box labeled “Group Code.”<br />
We have reserved a block of rooms from<br />
Wednesday, April 27,<br />
through Saturday, April 30, 2011.<br />
10.5 hours<br />
of CLE Credit<br />
available<br />
Featuring the<br />
Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Boogie Band<br />
Come boogie with the Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Boogie Band as they make<br />
their final appearance at a BRBA Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Conference.<br />
Featuring the<br />
Benjy Davis Project<br />
2 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
inside<br />
FEBRUARY 2011<br />
4 Contributors<br />
5 Letter from the president<br />
“Birds of a feather” BY PRESTON J. CASTILLE JR.<br />
6 <strong>Bar</strong> luncheon<br />
8 Tales from the bar side<br />
“Constitutional coupons” BY VINCENT P. FORNIAS<br />
On the cover:<br />
This month’s cover photo features a photograph of 2011 BRBA<br />
Luncheon & Symposium Committee members (L to R, front row)<br />
Gail S. Stephenson, Amy Groves Lowe (chair), Lyla N. DeBlieux;<br />
(L to R, back row) Eric R. Miller, BRBA President Preston J. Castille<br />
Jr., Laurie Marien and Nina Hunter. Committee members are<br />
standing behind the lunch counter at the Original Dearman’s<br />
Soda Shop on Jefferson Hwy.<br />
Cover photography by Pamela Labbe.<br />
9 YLS corner<br />
“Get involved: March Madness Thirsty Thursday scheduled”<br />
BY AMANDA STOUT<br />
10 Attorney spotlight<br />
“Interview with Amy Groves Lowe, Luncheon & Symposium<br />
Committee chair” BY PAMELA LABBE<br />
12 “Inventory searches of automobiles” BY JOHN McLINDON<br />
14 <strong>Bar</strong> news<br />
18 “Getting to know the BRBA staff” BY KELSEAY REED<br />
20 Gail’s grammar<br />
21 West’s Jury Verdicts – <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong><br />
22 Foundation footnotes<br />
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 3
contributors<br />
Preston J. Castille Jr., a partner with Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips,<br />
is the 2011 president of the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>.<br />
Vincent P. Fornias, an assistant editor of Around the <strong>Bar</strong>, is a solo<br />
practitioner whose practice focus is alternative dispute resolution.<br />
Pamela Labbe is the communications coordinator<br />
of the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>.<br />
John McLindon, a partner with Rainer, Anding & McLindon,<br />
is a member of the Publications Committee.<br />
Published by the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
P. O. Box 2241, <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>, LA 70821<br />
Phone (225) 344-4803 • Fax (225) 344-4805<br />
Web site: www.brba.org<br />
In three years, the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong> will be a<br />
diverse mix of young energy and old traditions in service to<br />
members, the community and the legal profession.<br />
OFFICERS<br />
Preston Castille Jr., President .......................................387-3221<br />
Gail S. Stephenson,<br />
President-elect .........................................771-4900, ext. 216<br />
Michael S. Walsh, Treasurer ..........................................344-0474<br />
Darrel Papillion, Secretary ............................................236-3636<br />
Fred Crifasi, Past President ...........................................766-0014<br />
DIRECTORS AT LARGE<br />
Robert “Bubby” Burns Jr.<br />
Linda Law Clark<br />
Jeanne Comeaux<br />
Amy C. Lambert<br />
Kyle Ferachi<br />
Karli Glascock Wilson<br />
Laurie Marien, Ex Officio<br />
Nina Hunter, Ex Officio<br />
Amanda Stout, Ex Officio<br />
Kelseay Reed was the Fall 2010 public relations intern of the BRBA.<br />
Emily Black Grey<br />
ABA DELEGATE<br />
Gail S. Stephenson, an assistant editor of Around the <strong>Bar</strong>,<br />
is the director of legal analysis and writing and an associate<br />
professor of law for the Southern University Law Center.<br />
Amanda Stout is the 2011 chair of the Young Lawyers<br />
Section Council of the BRBA.<br />
APPELLATE SECTION<br />
Eugene Groves ..........................................................................Chair<br />
CONSTRUCTION LAW SECTION<br />
Jason Bonaventure..................................................................Chair<br />
Steven Loeb ...................................................................... Past chair<br />
FAMILY LAW SECTION<br />
Laurie Marien ............................................................................Chair<br />
Wendy L. Edwards ........................................................Chair-elect<br />
Thomas Hessburg ............................................................Secretary<br />
Melanie N. Jones .............................................................Past Chair<br />
PUBLIC LAW PRACTICE SECTION<br />
Nina Hunter ...............................................................................Chair<br />
Henry Graham ...............................................................Chair-elect<br />
Kelly Haggar ........................................................................At Large<br />
Sheri Morris ....................................................................... Past chair<br />
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SECTION<br />
Robin L. Krumholt .............................................................Co-Chair<br />
Debra T. Parker ...................................................................Co-Chair<br />
Michelle M. Sorrells ..........................................................Co-Chair<br />
Judge Pamela Moses Laramore<br />
YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION OFFICERS<br />
Amanda Stout, Chairman .............................................382-3693<br />
Jamie Hurst Watts, Chairman-elect ...........................922-5110<br />
Lyla N. DeBlieux, Secretary. ..........................................382-3166<br />
Catherine S. Giering, Past Chair ..................................343-5290<br />
TEEN COURT OF GREATER BATON ROUGE<br />
needs attorneys to volunteer to<br />
assist with the program.<br />
To find out more, contact Donna Buuck at 225-214-5556 or donna@brba.org<br />
or R. Lynn Smith Haynes at 225-214-5564 or lynn@brba.org.<br />
YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION COUNCIL<br />
Sebastian Caballero Ashton<br />
Michael J. Busada<br />
Scotty Chabert<br />
Adam Thames<br />
Laranda Moffett Walker<br />
BATON ROUGE BAR ASSOCIATION STAFF<br />
Ann Gregorie Scarle, Executive Director 214-5563<br />
Donna Buuck, Youth Education Coordinator 214-5556<br />
R. Lynn S. Haynes, Asst. Teen Court Coordinator 214-5564<br />
Margaret Johnson, Administrative Assistant 344-4803<br />
Robin Kay, Pro Bono Coordinator 214-5561<br />
Susan Kelley, Office Manager 214-5559<br />
Pamela Labbe, Communications Coordinator 214-5560<br />
Carole McGehee, Lawyer Referral Coordinator 214-5557<br />
Trang Nguyen, Pro Bono Coordinator 214-5558<br />
Julie Ourso, Bookkeeper 214-5572<br />
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE<br />
Editor: Edward J. Walters Jr.— 236-3636<br />
Assistant Editors:<br />
Vincent P. Fornias — 769-4553<br />
Gail S. Stephenson — 771-4900, ext. 216<br />
AROUND THE BAR supports participation of the membership in its production. We encourage the submission of articles and letters to the<br />
editor. Articles should be less than 1,800 words, typed and single-spaced. A Microsoft Word file should be e-mailed as an attachment to:<br />
pamela@BRBA.org.<br />
For advertising information call Pamela Labbe at 225-214-5560. Display ads should be e-mailed as a high-resolution attachment as a<br />
.PDF, and classified ads as text only. Publication of any advertisement shall not be considered an endorsement of the product or service<br />
involved. The editor reserves the right to reject any advertisement, article or letter.<br />
Copyright © by the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. To<br />
request permission or for more information, contact Pamela Labbe at 225-214-5560 or pamela@BRBA.org.<br />
Graphic Design / Ad Sales:<br />
Pamela Labbe — 214-5560<br />
Robert Collins<br />
Amy E. Counce<br />
Lani Durio<br />
Katie Eckert<br />
Rachel Emanuel<br />
Greg Gouner<br />
Marshall Grodner<br />
Lexi Holinga<br />
Kate Bailey Labue<br />
Dale Lee<br />
John McLindon<br />
Jessica Orgeron<br />
All Rights Reserved • Copyright ©2011<br />
Darrel Papillion<br />
Gracella Simmons<br />
Art Vingiello<br />
Jeff Wittenbrink<br />
Monika Wright<br />
4 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
letter from<br />
the president<br />
BY PRESTON J. CASTILLE JR.<br />
Birds of a feather<br />
PHOTO BY DARIA DOYLE<br />
During orientation at Tulane Law School, John Kramer gave us the usual 1L speech: “Look<br />
to your left, look to your right, you will probably be sleeping with the person next to you by the<br />
end of the year.” What! What happened to the Kingsfield speech from The Paper Chase: “Look<br />
to your left, look to your right, because one of you won’t be here by the end of the year”? While<br />
Dean Kramer’s version was both funnier and more disturbing on many<br />
levels, he explained that the law school had raised its standards and did<br />
not expect the attrition that terrified most students. He then began to<br />
boast that our class not only had the highest academic credentials of any<br />
class in the history of the law school, but was the most diverse.<br />
I recently had lunch with Chancellor Jack Weiss, and he proudly<br />
touted a similar statistic about the LSU law school. The SU law center<br />
student population is nearly half white, and the Loyola law school<br />
recently selected its first female dean – the first of any Louisiana law<br />
school. In fact, women today make up more than half of all law school<br />
student enrollment. It is safe to say our Louisiana law schools aren’t our<br />
fathers’ law schools any more.<br />
All too often, we avoid differences and miss opportunities to grow<br />
personally and expand our understanding of others. This month we<br />
nationally celebrate our country’s great heritage of diversity and welcome<br />
all four of our Louisiana law school deans and chancellors. The deans and<br />
chancellors personally reflect the cultural metamorphosis our country is<br />
experiencing in terms of gender, racial and religious diversity. To share<br />
Preston J. Castille Jr.<br />
our experience, we are co-hosting our February luncheon and symposium<br />
with the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Association</strong> of Women Attorneys and the Louis A.<br />
Martinet Legal Society.<br />
I am often asked, “Why do we need specialty bar associations like Martinet and the BRAWA?<br />
Preston, if the goal is to become a more united society, why then do we have these separate<br />
organizations and institutions?” Aaahh, the great paradox! While this may be a great question<br />
for our panelists this month, I usually respond by saying, “For the same (or at least similar)<br />
reasons we have a Construction Law Section, a Family Law Section, a Young Lawyers Section,<br />
a Bankruptcy Law Section and practice groups and sections in our firms.” That is, while still<br />
part of the larger organization, we naturally have different interests and issues specific to our<br />
smaller groups. And, that’s not a bad thing… We should view these different organizations as<br />
an opportunity to make the entire bar association better, as we should embrace sub-groups of<br />
our society. In other words, while it’s true that “birds of a feather [sometimes] flock together,”<br />
lawyers and people (arguably, higher life forms) have the ability to have sub-groups (committees,<br />
sections and specialty bars, as well as different races, genders and religions) operate successfully<br />
and still function comfortably as an integral part of the greater organization and overall society.<br />
When birds flock together, it often provides an important nurturing and mentoring function<br />
for others. Think of our own immediate and extended families. Those smaller groups provide the<br />
support to help us build the skills and foundations for operating in the larger society. This month,<br />
we welcome all of our law school deans and chancellors. We also celebrate all of our “flocks”<br />
and hope their growing strength will make our larger bar association and society stronger, more<br />
productive and simply a better place.<br />
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 5
february<br />
bar luncheon<br />
THURSDAY, FEB. 3, 2011<br />
The BRBA will hold its February<br />
<strong>Bar</strong> Luncheon and Community Justice<br />
Symposium jointly with the Louis A.<br />
Martinet Legal Society and the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> of Women Attorneys at 11:45<br />
a.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, at De La<br />
Ronde Hall. A panel discussion of The State<br />
of Legal Education will be held featuring<br />
Loyola Dean Kathryn Venturatos Lorio,<br />
Tulane Dean David Meyer, Southern Loyola Dean Kathryn<br />
University Law Center Chancellor Freddie Venturatos Lorio<br />
Pitcher Jr. and LSU Law School Chancellor Jack Weiss.<br />
Preston Castille Jr. will moderate the discussion.<br />
All luncheon attendees will have a chance to win a<br />
gift certificate from Ruth’s Chris, donated by Walters,<br />
Papillion, Thomas, Cullens, and can have a photo taken<br />
with the dean or chancellor of his or her law school.<br />
Following the luncheon is a 2.0 hour CLE seminar<br />
starting at 1:30 p.m. Resources for Your Client: Sobriety<br />
2011 COMMUNITY JUSTICE SYMPOSIUM:<br />
The State of Legal Education<br />
Tulane Dean<br />
David Meyer<br />
SULC Chancellor<br />
Freddie Pitcher Jr.<br />
LSU Law Chancellor<br />
Jack Weiss<br />
Court and Drug Court. (Speakers listed below.) Seminar<br />
cost is $50 per BRBA member and $75 per non-member.<br />
Admittance to the bar luncheon is $20 per BRBA<br />
member and $30 per non-BRBA member. We accept payment<br />
in advance and at the door. VISA, MasterCard and American<br />
Express are accepted. Fax this form to 225-344-4805 before<br />
noon Monday, Jan. 31, 2011, to register. Checks are payable<br />
to the BRBA, P.O. Box 2241, <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>, LA 70821.<br />
SCHEDULE OF COMMUNITY JUSTICE SYMPOSIUM & BAR LUNCHEONS:<br />
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2011 — March <strong>Bar</strong> Luncheon: Legislating Justice; De La Ronde Hall at 11:45 a.m.<br />
Featuring: Sen. Dan Claitor, Sen. Rob Marionneaux, Rep. Franklin Foil, Rep. Hunter V. Greene, Rep. Michael L. Jackson<br />
and Rep. Eddie J. Lambert. Moderated by Kimberly Robinson. Sponsored by the BRBA Public Law Practice Section.<br />
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011 — April <strong>Bar</strong> Luncheon: Crime and the Criminal Justice System; De La Ronde Hall at 11:45 a.m.<br />
Featuring: EBR Public Defender Michael Mitchell, EBR District Attorney Hillar Moore and EBR Parish Attorney Mary Roper.<br />
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011 — May <strong>Bar</strong> Luncheon: Where Will the Children Go? Our Juvenile Justice System;<br />
De La Ronde Hall at 11:45 a.m. Speakers: Patrick Bella, Elizabeth Betz, Judge Laura Davis, Sherry Patrick and Judge Lisa Woodruff-White.<br />
Moderator: Laurie Marien. Sponsored by the BRBA Family Law Section, which will hold a brief business meeting<br />
for FLS members following the May luncheon.<br />
Please fax this page to the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, (225) 344-4805, by noon Monday, Jan. 31, 2011.<br />
<strong>Bar</strong> Roll No.__________________________<br />
Please check applicable boxes: ❏ BRBA member ❏ Martinet member ❏ BRAWA member ❏ guest<br />
Name____________________________________________________ Firm___________________________________________<br />
Address_________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
City ________________________________________________________ State ____________ Zip _______________________<br />
Phone ___________________________________________________ Fax ___________________________________________<br />
E-mail ___________________________________________________<br />
❏<br />
❏<br />
YES, register me for the FEBRUARY BAR LUNCHEON at DE LA RONDE HALL taking place Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, at a cost of $20 per BRBA member,<br />
and $30 per nonmember. Reservations may be transferred, but not canceled, after 12 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, 2011. “No shows” will be billed.<br />
YES, register me for the 2 HOUR CREDIT CLE SEMINAR at DE LA<br />
RONDE HALL, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, $50<br />
per BRBA member, and $75 per nonmember. Reservations may be<br />
transferred, but not canceled, after noon Monday, Jan. 31, 2011.<br />
“No shows” will be billed. Seminar title: Resources for Your Client.<br />
Discussion of Drug Court by Judge Tony Marabella, 1:30-2:30 p.m.<br />
Discussion of Sobriety Court by Cathy Childers (DWI Policy Specialist/<br />
DWI Court Liaison for the La. Highway Safety Commission), Judge<br />
Suzan Ponder (Sobiety Court Judge), James Cook (Sobriety Court<br />
Coordinator) and Lisa Freeman (Prosecutor), 2:30-3:30 p.m.<br />
If paying by credit card, please include the following:<br />
Name on credit card_________________________________<br />
Type of card: (circle one): MC VISA AmericanExpress<br />
Card Number:______________________________________<br />
Exp. Date: ___________________ Security code: _________<br />
6 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
7, 11 & 13 = $0.00<br />
Making the Chapters Add Up<br />
Bankruptcy and How It Relates to the Everyday Practice of Law<br />
A REDUCED COST CLE SPONSORED BY THE FAMILY LAW SECTION OF THE BATON ROUGE BAR ASSOCIATION<br />
AND HOSTED BY THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA<br />
FRIDAY, FEB. 18, 2011 — 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. — UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE<br />
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, 777 FLORIDA STREET<br />
8:30 - 9 a.m. Registration and breakfast<br />
9 - 10:30 am. Bankrupty for Dummies (Speaker: Judge Elizabeth Magner)<br />
10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. Automatic Stay (Speaker: Judge Robert Summerhays)<br />
12 - 1 p.m. Lunch<br />
1 - 2 p.m. Dischargeability (Speakers: Dwayne Murray, Elizabeth Hall and Stacie Butler)<br />
2:10 - 3:10 p.m. Ethics (Speakers: Michael Walsh and Judge Douglas Dodd)<br />
3:10 - 4:10 p.m. Training in Electronic Filing (Speaker: Nick Lorio)<br />
4:10 - 4:30 p.m. Swearing in to Middle District Ceremony (Optional)<br />
Optional admission to the Middle District is available<br />
for a separate fee of $180, paid directly to the court<br />
via the following link: www.lamd.uscourts.gov<br />
COST: $75 for Family Law Section members and pro bono volunteers who accept two cases between Jan. 15 and March 15, 2011; $125 for Family Law Section members<br />
who DO NOT accept cases; $150 for BRBA non-Family Law Section members; $175 for non-BRBA members.<br />
CREDIT HOURS: 5.75 hours will be offered, including 1.0 hour of Ethics. Law Practice Management credit pending. Materials will be distributed electronically<br />
in advance of the seminar. Reservations may be transferred, but not canceled, after noon Wednesday, Feb. 16. “No shows” will be billed. Fax this form to 225-344-4805<br />
before noon Wednesday, Feb. 16, to register. Checks are payable to the BRBA, P. O. Box 2241, <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>, LA 70821.<br />
<strong>Bar</strong> Roll No.__________________________ Please check applicable boxes: ❏ BRBA member ❏ Family Law Section member ❏ Yes, I’ll accept a case.<br />
Name____________________________________________________ Firm_____________________________________________________<br />
Address___________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
City ________________________________________________________________ State ____________ Zip _________________________<br />
Phone ___________________________________________________ Fax __________________________ E-mail _____________________<br />
If paying by credit card, please include the following:<br />
Name on credit card_________________________________ Type of card: (circle one): MC VISA AmericanExpress<br />
Card Number:______________________________________ Exp. Date: ___________________ Security code: _____________________<br />
MOCK<br />
TRIAL JUDGES<br />
&<br />
TIMEKEEPERS<br />
NEEDED<br />
The BRBF is in need of<br />
volunteers to be judges<br />
and timekeepers for the<br />
the High School Mock Trial<br />
Region III Competition<br />
Feb. 25 and Feb. 26.<br />
If you are interested,<br />
please contact<br />
Lynn Haynes at<br />
225-214-5564<br />
or lynn@brba.org.<br />
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 7
tales from<br />
the bar side<br />
BY VINCENT P. FORNIAS<br />
Constitutional coupons<br />
Recently our community had the distinct privilege of<br />
experiencing something christened a “Second Amendment<br />
Tax-Free Holiday.” What will these marketing mavens<br />
think of next?<br />
On its surface, this little constitutional buying<br />
opportunity was directed to those who worship the rights<br />
and privileges afforded by the Second Amendment to the<br />
Bill of Rights – the right to bear arms, to dress in head-totoe<br />
camouflage, to kill or maim all manner of mammals,<br />
and generally to engage in various and sundry violent<br />
shenanigans bearing little relevance to the modifying<br />
clause of said Amendment (“A well regulated Militia,<br />
being necessary to the security of a free State, …”).<br />
But since now we have opened up this little<br />
constitutional can of fishing worms, has anyone out there<br />
considered the Equal Protection Clause and its palpable<br />
violation by the abject favoritism that this economic boon<br />
shows to the Bass Pro crowd?<br />
What about the non-hunting artsy crowd? Isn’t there<br />
a fundamental right to buy watercolors and stained glass?<br />
Shouldn’t they get an occasional holiday from imposts at,<br />
say, Caffery Gallery or Circa 1857? Think about half-price<br />
day at a Bergman film festival at the Manship Theatre.<br />
And shouldn’t there be a First Amendment bargain<br />
day to enable thrifty freethinkers to get great deals at the<br />
local Cottonwood Books or <strong>Bar</strong>nes & Noble? Aren’t we<br />
slighting all those deserving protesters or public assemblers<br />
who deserve a break in outfitting themselves at Best Buy<br />
or Radio Shack?<br />
And while we are at this, why stop with the Bill of<br />
Rights? Can’t someone fashion an annual Magna Carta<br />
Day, with prices reduced by $12.15 to everyone named<br />
John? Don’t forget The Siete Partidas. Fair Play for the<br />
Code of Hammurabi!<br />
8 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
yls corner<br />
BY AMANDA STOUT, 2011 YLS COUNCIL CHAIR<br />
Get involved: March Madness<br />
Thirsty Thursday scheduled<br />
Come One, Come All! The first Thirsty Thursday of<br />
2011 is set to kick-off March Madness and celebrate St.<br />
Patty’s Day. Wear your favorite team color or wear green;<br />
just wear something and join the YLS for a fun evening.<br />
Our first Thirsty Thursday will be held March 17,<br />
2011, from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Blind Tiger (West Lee Drive).<br />
Come meet other young lawyers at what we promise will<br />
be a fun event. If you’ve never attended, Thirsty Thursdays<br />
are great happy-hour gatherings at various establishments<br />
around town where you can meet and mingle with other<br />
young lawyers in a casual setting. Following our March<br />
Madness Thirsty Thursday, we are planning Thirsty<br />
Thursdays in May, July and September.<br />
In addition to Thirsty Thursdays, the YLS offers<br />
several other ways for members to get involved. If you’ve<br />
never attended a Side <strong>Bar</strong> Luncheon, I encourage you to<br />
participate in one this year. These intimate lunches with<br />
local judiciary are a great way for you to get to know<br />
our judges, find out how they operate their courtrooms<br />
and obtain valuable insight on the practice of law from<br />
the bench. The YLS is also planning its annual Summer<br />
Sizzlin’ CLE to be held in mid-July and several other onehour<br />
CLEs, which are specifically geared toward young<br />
lawyers.<br />
If you are looking for more hands-on involvement,<br />
the YLS sponsors two great events: Belly Up with the<br />
<strong>Bar</strong> and the Holiday Star Project. Both events are run by<br />
committees that always need fresh faces and new ideas. If<br />
you are interested in serving on either of these committees,<br />
please contact any one of the YLS Council members or the<br />
BRBA office.<br />
Watch for your monthly e-mail from your YLS<br />
representative and check out next month’s YLS corner for<br />
more information about our upcoming events.<br />
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 9
attorney<br />
spotlight<br />
BY PAMELA LABBE<br />
Interview with<br />
Amy Groves Lowe, Luncheon<br />
& Symposium Committee chair<br />
ATB: When and how did you first<br />
become involved with the BRBA?<br />
AGL: During my first year as an attorney,<br />
I joined the Holiday Star Committee,<br />
which was a new BRBA committee. It<br />
was so much fun and so rewarding to<br />
volunteer and have such tangible results.<br />
ATB: What are you, as Luncheon<br />
Committee chair, and the committee<br />
doing differently in 2011 from what the<br />
BRBA has done in the past?<br />
3, and Charlotte, who is 20 months. I<br />
live one block from my parents and see<br />
them almost every day. You don’t get any<br />
luckier than I am.<br />
ATB: What was your first paying job?<br />
AGL: My first paying job was teaching<br />
neighborhood children how to read over<br />
the summer.<br />
ATB: Who or what inspired you to<br />
become a lawyer?<br />
AGL: The Luncheon Committee,<br />
which was renamed the Luncheon &<br />
Symposium Committee, adopted the<br />
theme of “community justice” and will attempt to have<br />
each luncheon focus on a specific issue of how we, as<br />
attorneys, serve our larger community in obtaining justice<br />
in all areas of life. As in years past, we will still have guest<br />
speakers to lead discussion, but this year we plan to have a<br />
panel of experts on a given topic at each luncheon who can<br />
provide more than one opinion and encourage dialogue.<br />
ATB: Where are you from and where did you grow up?<br />
Tell us about your family.<br />
AGL: I was born and raised in <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> and have<br />
never left. I love <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>! My mother Jan Groves<br />
was also raised in <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>. She has a great love for<br />
this city and not only sees its great potential, but works<br />
avidly for change as a volunteer to numerous non-profit<br />
groups. My father Eugene Groves is a partner at Taylor,<br />
Porter and is the best litigator I have ever seen – and I have<br />
seen a lot. My parents have been<br />
married for more than 40 years and<br />
are devoted to each other and to<br />
our family. My sister and brother<br />
both live in Dallas – Susannah is a<br />
corporate trainer for Fannie Mae<br />
and William is a portfolio manager<br />
at U.S. Trust. My husband David<br />
Lowe is a partner with Keegan,<br />
DeNicola, Kiesel, Bagwell, Juban<br />
and Lowe, and we have two precious<br />
children – Rebecca, who is almost<br />
Amy Groves Lowe<br />
Sexton ~ Hebert, Attorneys at Law<br />
Four decades of experience in the<br />
resolution of State Ethics, Campaign Finance<br />
and Lobbyist Registration issues and general Construction Law<br />
R. GRAY SEXTON<br />
AGL: My dad was, and continues to be,<br />
my inspiration professionally. He is not<br />
only a great writer and litigator, but he<br />
absolutely loves being a lawyer. He gives 100 percent to<br />
every case and continues to find the process of working<br />
on a case intriguing. He brings such passion to his work<br />
and really enjoys his job. He is also extremely professional<br />
and, therefore, has the respect of his colleagues. It is a joy<br />
to watch him work and a privilege to get to work with<br />
him.<br />
ATB: Tell us about your education.<br />
AGL: I received my B.S. and M.A. in psychology from<br />
LSU. I graduated from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law<br />
Center in 1997.<br />
ATB: Describe your legal career up until now.<br />
AGL: My focus throughout my legal career has always<br />
been civil litigation. My favorite cases are those that I am<br />
10715 N. Oak Hills Parkway<br />
<strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>, LA 70810<br />
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TODD HEBERT<br />
10 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
involved in at the very early stages, try before a judge or<br />
jury and then argue on appeal. Recently, I have combined<br />
my background in psychology with my experience as a<br />
litigator to assist other attorneys in jury selection. I have<br />
been hired to meet with attorneys to assist in developing<br />
strategies for jury selection and in presenting a case to a<br />
jury, and have been hired to actually handle the voir dire<br />
for specific trials. I also assist attorneys in creating jury<br />
questionnaires and participating in mock trials in larger<br />
cases, such as class actions and mass tort cases.<br />
ATB: How long have you been practicing with Taylor,<br />
Porter, Brooks & Phillips, LLP?<br />
AGL: I have been practicing with Taylor, Porter since I<br />
graduated from law school.<br />
ATB: When did you become a partner?<br />
AGL: I became a partner in 2002.<br />
ATB: What do you consider the most challenging part of<br />
your job?<br />
AGL: Because so many cases settle, the most challenging<br />
part of my job is that most of my cases do not get to trial.<br />
I love trying cases, but it is often in my client’s best interest<br />
to settle prior to trial.<br />
ATB: Are you on any boards, committees or a member of<br />
any other organization?<br />
AGL: I currently serve as the sustaining advisor to the<br />
Marketing Council of the Junior League of <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>,<br />
where I was also a past president. I also teach first grade<br />
through third grade Sunday School at St. James Episcopal<br />
Church and am a member of their Youth Education<br />
Committee.<br />
ATB: What book have you read lately for pleasure?<br />
AGL: The Fall of the House of Zeus: The Rise and Ruin of<br />
America’s Most Powerful Trial Lawyer by Curtis Wilkie.<br />
ATB: What is your favorite vacation destination?<br />
AGL: Rosemary Beach, Florida.<br />
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February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 11
Inventory<br />
searches of<br />
automobiles<br />
BY JOHN McLINDON<br />
When the United States Supreme Court handed down<br />
the decision of Arizona v. Gant, 129 S. Ct. 1710 (2009),<br />
several criminal law commentators predicted that there<br />
would be a rise in inventory searches by police officers.<br />
Gant held that police officers may search a vehicle incident<br />
to a recent occupant’s arrest only if the arrestee is within<br />
reaching distance of the passenger compartment at the time<br />
of the search, or it is reasonable to believe that the vehicle<br />
contains evidence of the offense of arrest. Absent these<br />
circumstances, officers can no longer search an arrestee’s<br />
vehicle as an “incident to an arrest” – one of the generally<br />
recognized exceptions to the search warrant requirement.<br />
In a recent case, State v. Escoto, 41 So.3d 1160 (La.<br />
2010), the Louisiana Supreme Court analyzed a stop and<br />
search of a vehicle and determined that the search of an<br />
unmarked pill bottle found in the vehicle was reasonable<br />
and was a valid inventory search.<br />
On Dec. 26, 2008, two Covington police officers<br />
pulled over a vehicle for speeding. The driver and sole<br />
occupant of the car was Porfirio Escoto. He was unable to<br />
produce a valid driver’s license or proof of his legal status<br />
in the United States. He was arrested for operating a motor<br />
vehicle in the United States without lawful presence, which<br />
is a violation of La. R.S. 14:100.13. Prior to Gant arguably<br />
the officers could have searched the car as a search incident<br />
to arrest. However, because Mr. Escoto was removed from<br />
the car and because there was no reason to believe that the<br />
vehicle contained evidence of the offense of arrest, such a<br />
search could not legally be conducted.<br />
The defendant did not have a cell phone, and he had<br />
no phone number to contact anyone to retrieve or move<br />
his vehicle. It was parked near the shoulder of Highway<br />
190 close to Covington High School. The officers called<br />
a tow truck, but before the tow truck arrived the officers<br />
conducted an inventory search of the vehicle. During the<br />
search one of the officers came across an opaque blue<br />
non-prescription pill bottle sitting in the center console<br />
cup holder. The officer opened the pill bottle and found<br />
a variety of pills. The officer then called a Walgreen’s<br />
Pharmacy to identify the pills. Walgreen’s indicated that<br />
some of the pills in the bottle required a prescription. The<br />
defendant was questioned about this and was unable to<br />
produce a prescription, stating that he had purchased the<br />
pills from a co-worker because he had hurt his hand.<br />
Thereafter, the tow truck arrived on the scene. At the<br />
same time a woman identifying herself as the defendant’s<br />
girlfriend arrived on the scene. The girlfriend had been<br />
out looking for the Mr. Escoto because he was late<br />
coming home from work. The vehicle was released to the<br />
girlfriend, and she parked it in the Covington High School<br />
parking lot until she could return with someone to bring<br />
the vehicle home. Because the vehicle was not towed, an<br />
inventory form was never executed.<br />
Escoto was charged with possession of illegal narcotics.<br />
He filed a motion to suppress the drugs on the ground that<br />
they were obtained without a valid search warrant. The<br />
trial court granted the motion to suppress, finding that the<br />
officers were probably in good faith in commencing the<br />
inventory search, but also finding that they exceeded the<br />
scope of a true inventory search by opening and searching<br />
the blue pill bottle, which the court found did not have any<br />
inherent value for inventory purposes. The First Circuit<br />
denied the writ application of the state and thereafter the<br />
supreme court granted writs.<br />
The court began by noting that there were several<br />
exceptions to the search warrant requirements of both the<br />
Louisiana and the United States constitutions. The court<br />
cited South Dakota v. Opperman, 96 S.Ct. 3092 (1976),<br />
which recognized that one such exception to the warrant<br />
requirement is an inventory search of an automobile<br />
pursuant to standard police procedures. The court in<br />
Opperman ruled that inventory procedures have developed<br />
in response to three distinct needs: the protection of the<br />
owner’s property while it remains in police custody; the<br />
protection of the police against claims or disputes over<br />
lost or stolen property; and the protection of the police<br />
from potential danger. The Louisiana Supreme Court has<br />
adopted this reasoning. See State v. La Rue, 368 So.2d.<br />
1048 (La. 1979). The court in Escoto, quoting from State<br />
v. Jewell, 338 So.2d 633 (La. 1976), held that an essential<br />
requirement to a valid inventory search is that the police<br />
must have acted in good faith in conducting the inventory<br />
search and must not have used the inventory process as a<br />
subterfuge for a warrantless search.<br />
The court went on to note that an inventory<br />
search is examined under a totality of circumstances<br />
test. Traditionally the court considers six factors in<br />
determining whether a true inventory search has taken<br />
12 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
place: 1) whether the vehicle<br />
could not have remained safely<br />
where it was located; 2) whether<br />
the search was conducted in the<br />
field; 3) whether a tow truck was<br />
called before the search commenced; 4) whether formal<br />
impoundment procedures were followed; 5) whether the<br />
vehicle operator was asked if he consented to a search, or if<br />
the car contained any valuables, or if he would consent to<br />
a waiver of the protections afforded by inventory search;<br />
and 6) whether the operator was given an opportunity to<br />
make arrangements for someone to pick up the vehicle.<br />
The trial court, in granting the motion to suppress,<br />
ruled that the officers<br />
went beyond the scope<br />
of a true inventory search<br />
by opening the nonprescription<br />
pill bottle.<br />
The court reasoned that<br />
an innocuous bottle did<br />
not rise to the level of<br />
having any inherent value<br />
for inventory purposes.<br />
The trial court relied<br />
on Jewell, supra, which<br />
involved the search of<br />
a small Excedrin bottle<br />
found in the ashtray<br />
of a car. In Jewell the<br />
Louisiana Supreme Court<br />
determined that the inventory search was not conducted in<br />
good faith and found that the police officers were searching<br />
for incriminating evidence. The Escoto court distinguished<br />
Jewell. In the present case the officers felt that the vehicle’s<br />
location was a potential danger for traffic. Although the<br />
search was conducted in the field, the tow truck was called<br />
before the inventory search commenced. Also one of the<br />
officers testified that he filled out the standard wreckerinventory<br />
sheet, documenting all of the belongings inside<br />
the vehicle. However, the inventory form was never<br />
executed because the car was not loaded and taken away by<br />
the wrecker company due to the arrival of the defendant’s<br />
girlfriend. The court also distinguished State v. Rome, 354<br />
So.2d 504 (La. 1978), which involved an invalid, illegal<br />
inventory search.<br />
After determining that the officers in Escoto<br />
commenced the inventory search in good faith, the court<br />
then turned its attention to<br />
whether the officers exceeded the<br />
scope of a valid inventory search<br />
by opening the unmarked pill<br />
bottle. Citing a few U.S. Supreme<br />
Court cases, the court held that it was not unreasonable<br />
for a police department to search any and all containers<br />
pursuant to an inventory search as long as it was part of a<br />
routine, procedure or policy. The court held that it would<br />
be unreasonable to expect police officers in the everyday<br />
course of business to make “fine and subtle distinctions in<br />
deciding which containers or items may be searched and<br />
which may be sealed as a unit.” 41 So3d at 1166, citing<br />
Colorado v. Bertine, 107<br />
S.Ct. 738 (1987).<br />
The officer who<br />
found the pill bottle<br />
in Escoto testified that<br />
“they are instructed to<br />
open containers like<br />
that.” Accordingly, the<br />
Louisiana Supreme Court<br />
found that the search was<br />
pursuant to the Covington<br />
Police Department’s<br />
practice of instructing<br />
their officers to search<br />
closed containers during<br />
inventory searches. The<br />
Louisiana Supreme Court<br />
also found that contrary to what the trial court ruled, an<br />
unmarked pill bottle can have inherent value as it could<br />
contain prescription medication or small valuables, such<br />
as jewelry.<br />
Finally, the court held that unconstitutional searches<br />
cannot be “constitutionalized by standardizing them as<br />
a part of normal practice.” However, when discretion is<br />
exercised according to standard criteria and on the basis<br />
of something other than suspicion of evidence of criminal<br />
activity, an established routine governing the opening of<br />
containers found during inventory searches is acceptable.<br />
With the Gant decision disallowing most searches<br />
incident to arrest, it can be expected that there will be a<br />
rise in inventory searches. Defense counsel and the courts<br />
should scrutinize these searches to be sure that they are true<br />
inventory searches and not a subterfuge for a warrantless,<br />
illegal search.<br />
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 13
ar news<br />
BY PAMELA LABBE<br />
Mock Trial Competition set for Feb. 25 & 26<br />
The BRBF will host the Region III High School Mock<br />
Trial Competition Friday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 26,<br />
2011, at the new 19th Judicial District Courthouse at 300<br />
North Blvd. Lauren Byrd Reed is the chair of this year’s<br />
Mock Trial Committee.<br />
The BRBF formerly handled the Region V competition,<br />
but due to a recent reorganization, Region III now includes<br />
Ascension, Assumption, Iberville, East <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>, West<br />
<strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>, Livingston, Point Coupee, St. Tammany and<br />
Tangipahoa parishes. The winning team will represent<br />
Region III at the state level competition to be held in<br />
Gretna, La., March 19, 2011.<br />
R. Lynn S. Haynes, staff liaison to the committee, needs<br />
volunteer judges and timekeepers to assist with this year’s<br />
Mock Trial Competition. Contact her at 225-214-5564 or<br />
lynn@brba.org to volunteer.<br />
March Luncheon & Symposium to feature panel<br />
discussion on legislating justice<br />
Beer @ da <strong>Bar</strong> reception series to offer networking<br />
opportunities quarterly at Middleton <strong>Bar</strong> Center<br />
The BRBA will host a new reception series – Beer @<br />
da <strong>Bar</strong> – beginning Feb. 22 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the<br />
Middleton <strong>Bar</strong> Center. All BRBA members are invited to<br />
attend. This networking opportunity is a chance for the<br />
BRBA to honor members of the legal community who are<br />
“making a difference.” This first Beer @ da <strong>Bar</strong> is being<br />
sponsored by Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips.<br />
The BRBA/Auxiliary scholarship recipients attending<br />
LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center and Southern University<br />
Law Center are confirmed as honorees for the February<br />
Beer @ da <strong>Bar</strong> event. Timothy Brinks is the LSU recipient<br />
of the spring 2011 scholarship and Krystin Frazier is the<br />
2011 recipient from SULC.<br />
Other honorees include V. Charles Cusimano, Erin<br />
Monroe Wesley and Vanessa LaFleur. A bulletin board to<br />
post job openings will be on hand. Future Beer @ da <strong>Bar</strong><br />
events are tentatively scheduled for May 12, Aug. 23 and<br />
Nov. 10, 2011.<br />
The BRBA luncheon set for Thursday,<br />
March 3, will involve a panel discussion<br />
titled “Legislating Justice” and will feature<br />
Sen. Dan Claitor, Sen. Rob Marionneaux,<br />
Rep. Franklin Foil, Rep. Hunter Greene,<br />
Rep. Michael L. Jackson and Rep. Eddie<br />
J. Lambert. This event is sponsored by the<br />
BRBA Public Law Practice Section.<br />
The luncheon will be held at De La<br />
Ronde Hall and will begin at 11:45 a.m.<br />
A two-hour CLE seminar on lobbying<br />
issues is scheduled to take place following<br />
the panel discussion. C. Kevin Hayes and<br />
Jimmy Burland will speak. For details,<br />
contact Ann G. Scarle at 225-214-5563.<br />
Law Day 2011 activities to be held<br />
Friday, March 25<br />
The BRBF Law Day program will take<br />
place Friday, March 25, 2011, much earlier<br />
than in past years. The chairperson of the<br />
Law Day Committee is Al Perkins. Beau<br />
Brock is the vice chair. For more information,<br />
to join the committee or to volunteer to<br />
assist with this year’s event, please contact<br />
Donna Buuck at 225-214-5556 or donna@<br />
brba.org.<br />
14 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
PHOTO BY MARGARET JOHNSON<br />
PHOTO BY PAIGE DAMPF<br />
Fred T. Crifasi, Joe Giglio Jr, Maggie Simar, Kyle Gideon and Trenton J. Oubre<br />
attended a joint meeting of the Lafayette <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong> and the BRBA Nov.<br />
17, 2010, at the Middleton <strong>Bar</strong> Center.<br />
PHOTO BY MARGARET JOHNSON<br />
Newly installed First Circuit Judge Toni Higginbotham officiates Jack<br />
Dampf’s installation as ad hoc judge for EBR Family Court Jan. 5, 2011.<br />
Standing beside Dampf and holding the Bible is his wife Susan.<br />
Installation Ceremony for First Circuit Judge<br />
Higginbotham held Jan. 5; Dampf to serve as EBR<br />
Family Court ad hoc judge until April<br />
Attending a joint meeting of the Lafayette <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong> and the BRBA<br />
were Dona Renegar, Tricia Pierre and Preston J. Castille Jr.<br />
Judge Toni Higginbotham, elected to the Louisiana<br />
First Circuit Court of Appeal, was sworn in during a<br />
ceremony at the First Circuit Court Wednesday, Jan. 5,<br />
2011. Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine<br />
“Kitty” Kimball officiated the ceremony.<br />
Jack Dampf, a past president of the<br />
BRBA and a partner in the firm of Dampf,<br />
Thibaut & Hessburg, was appointed as<br />
a judge in the East <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> Family<br />
Court to replace Judge Toni Higginbotham.<br />
Dampf, who will serve on the bench until<br />
the election in April to select a permanent<br />
judge, was selected by Justice Kimball.<br />
Judge Higginbotham officiated Dampf’s<br />
installation as ad hoc judge in a ceremony<br />
at the First Circuit Court of Appeal that<br />
followed her own installation.<br />
Register today for Bench <strong>Bar</strong> 2011<br />
Register for the 2011 Bench <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Conference today: www.brba.org/forms/<br />
BBC2011.pdf. Early bird discount ends<br />
Feb. 15, 2011. Call 225-344-4803 with<br />
any questions.<br />
Junior Partners Academy needs<br />
more attorney volunteers<br />
The Junior Partners Academy is a<br />
new program that has been developed<br />
by the BRBF. Training will be provided<br />
for volunteer attorneys. Contact Donna<br />
Buuck at 225-214-5556 for details.<br />
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 15
Dean Henry George McMahon chapter of American<br />
Inns of Court wins national honor<br />
The Dean Henry George McMahon chapter of the<br />
American Inns of Court was honored in Washington, D.C.,<br />
by the National American Inns of Court at its Celebration<br />
of Excellence ceremony.<br />
On behalf of the Dean Henry George McMahon<br />
chapter, President Judge Jewell “Duke” Welch accepted<br />
the 2010 Achieving Excellence Award, Platinum Level,<br />
at the ceremony recognizing the chapter, along with 14<br />
others from around the country for the highest level of<br />
achievement. This is the third consecutive year that the<br />
chapter has been recognized for excellence by the national<br />
foundation.<br />
Thirst for Justice legal clinic needs volunteers<br />
The Pro Bono Project of the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Foundation organizes two community outreach legal<br />
clinics each Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. at<br />
the St. Vincent de Paul Center. The Project is still in need<br />
of attorney volunteers for its 2011 schedule.<br />
To volunteer, contact Pro Bono Coordinator Trang<br />
Nguyen at 225-214-5558 or trang@brba.org.<br />
Members of the Holiday Star Committee, BRBA staff and volunteers arrived<br />
at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, to help load gifts into a Diesel Driving<br />
Academy 18-wheeler on Holiday Star gift distribution day.<br />
In Washington, D.C., United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas<br />
(left) presents the 2010 Achieving Excellence Award, Platinum Level, to<br />
Judge Jewel “Duke” Welch.<br />
BRBA is now using social media<br />
If you use social media, you can follow the BRBA<br />
on Twitter: twitter.com/brBAR. On Facebook, search the<br />
keywords “<strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>” for both the<br />
BRBA fan page and the BRBA group.<br />
Ask-A-Lawyer workshop schedule for<br />
2011 is set; volunteers are needed<br />
A total of 27 Ask-A-Lawyer workshops<br />
are scheduled for 2011, five of which will<br />
take place in February and March.<br />
The scheduled February legal clinics are<br />
Feb. 3 at Delmont Service Center and Feb.<br />
16 at Catholic Charities.<br />
In March, Zachary Library will host<br />
the March 5 workshop, Catholic Charities<br />
will host the March 16 workshop, and the<br />
Eden Park Library will host the March 19<br />
workshop.<br />
If you are an attorney who would like<br />
to volunteer your time toward making a<br />
difference in the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> community,<br />
contact Trang Nguyen at 225-214-5558 or<br />
trang@brba.org.<br />
MEETING ROOM FACILITIES<br />
AVAILABLE FOR<br />
DEPOSITIONS & MEDIATIONS<br />
For more information,<br />
contact Margaret Johnson at the BRBA:<br />
225-344-4803<br />
16 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
PHOTO BY PAMELA LABBE<br />
PHOTO BY PAMELA LABBE<br />
Scott Huffstetler, Erin Kilgore and Judge Brian A. Jackson attended the Dec.<br />
13, 2010, Swearing In Ceremony and reception, sponsored by the Federal<br />
<strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> Chapter. Huffstetler is an FBA officer.<br />
BRBA hosts day-long Practicing in <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong><br />
CLE seminar, followed by federal court swearing in<br />
ceremony and FBA, BR chapter reception<br />
The BRBA and Federal <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong><br />
Chapter, partnered to host a day-long event Monday, Dec.<br />
13, 2010. CLE seminars were held in the Middle District<br />
of Louisiana building for new lawyers, followed by a<br />
swearing in ceremony in Courtroom 1 of Federal Court.<br />
Afterward, the Federal <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong><br />
Chapter, held a business meeting and the installation of its<br />
officers. Outgoing chapter president, Christine Goldberg,<br />
led the meeting. Two law student scholarship winners<br />
were introduced, Jack Stanley from the LSU Paul M.<br />
Hebert Law Center and Angelica Evans from the Southern<br />
University Law Center.<br />
Family Law Section hosts bankruptcy CLE seminar<br />
Friday, Feb. 18 at U.S. District Court for the MDLA<br />
The BRBA Family Law Section is hosting a CLE<br />
seminar titled “7, 11, & 13 = $0.00. Making the Chapters<br />
Add Up: Bankruptcy and How It Relates to the Everyday<br />
Practice of Law .” It will take place Friday, Feb. 18,<br />
2011, at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of<br />
Louisiana, 777 Florida Street. Registration and breakfast<br />
begins at 8:30 a.m. The 5.75 hour CLE concludes at 4:10<br />
p.m., followed by an optional swearing in ceremony. See<br />
page 7, or call 225-344-4803 for more information.<br />
BRBA Volunteer Committee provides free lunch<br />
Thursday, Feb. 10 to recruitment lunch attendees<br />
Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch? The<br />
BRBA Volunteer Committee is hosting a recruitment lunch<br />
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at the Middleton <strong>Bar</strong> Center to<br />
encourage more BRBA members to join the Volunteer<br />
Committee. If you are interested in attending or would<br />
like more information, please contact Carole McGehee at<br />
225-214-5557 or carole@brba.org.<br />
Judge Frank Polozola, Outgoing Federal <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong> President Christine<br />
Goldberg, Chief Judge Ralph Tyson and 2010 BRBA President Fred T. Crifasi<br />
attended the reception following the Federal Court Swearing In Ceremony<br />
Monday, Dec. 13, 2010.<br />
Photographed above are Judge Stephen C. Riedlinger, Jack Stanley and<br />
Linda Law Clark. Stanley, a law student with the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law<br />
Center, received a scholarship from the Federal <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, <strong>Baton</strong><br />
<strong>Rouge</strong> Chapter, during the Dec. 13, 2010, reception at the Federal Court.<br />
Lee J. Ledet, Jonathan Perry, Judge James Brady, Mary E. Colvin and Laura<br />
Haris attended the Swearing In Ceremony and the reception following it<br />
Monday, Dec. 13, 2010.<br />
Photographed above are Karleen Green, Eric Miller, Christine Goldberg, Susie<br />
Furr and Betty Burke Uzee, who also attended the Swearing In Ceremony.<br />
PHOTO BY PAMELA LABBE PHOTO BY PAMELA LABBE<br />
PHOTO BY PAMELA LABBE<br />
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 17
Getting to know the BRBA staff BY KELSEAY REED<br />
As the saying goes, it’s not what you know, but who<br />
you know that makes the difference. The purpose of this<br />
article is to provide you with a directory of BRBA staff<br />
contact information along with each employee’s primary<br />
responsibilities and committees they assist. For more<br />
information regarding the projects and committees of the<br />
BRBA, refer to the information below to contact the go-to<br />
person for the project or committee that interests you.<br />
Ann G. Scarle is in<br />
charge of managing the<br />
<strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
and <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong><br />
Foundation. She supports<br />
the Board of Directors<br />
and supervises the staff.<br />
Her role is to implement<br />
the policies of the Board<br />
of Directors and its long-range plan. Scarle handles the<br />
Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Conference and CLE committees and assures<br />
the goals and objectives set in the organization are met.<br />
In addition, she works with the following sections: Public<br />
Law, Construction Law, Workers’ Compensation, Apellate<br />
and Bankruptcy. Scarle, only the second executive director<br />
the BRBA has ever had, was selected for this position in<br />
May 1991. She has been employed with the BRBA since<br />
February 1988.<br />
Ann G. Scarle, Executive Director<br />
ann@brba.org • 225-214-5563<br />
Donna Buuck coordinates<br />
Teen Court, Youth Education,<br />
Belly Up with the <strong>Bar</strong> and Law<br />
Day committees as well as the<br />
new Junior Partners Academy.<br />
Buuck is in charge of recruiting<br />
volunteers, organizing activities<br />
and completing grant and status<br />
reports. She is jointly responsible<br />
for setting up hearings, trainings,<br />
client interviews and community services for juvenile<br />
defendants for the Teen Court of Greater <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong><br />
program. She has been employed by BRBA for 19 years.<br />
Donna Buuck, Youth Education Coordinator<br />
donna@brba.org • 225-214-5556<br />
R. Lynn S. Haynes is staff liaison to the Mock Trial<br />
Committee and assists with the Teen Court and Youth<br />
Education committees. She manages the Teen Court<br />
database and is jointly responsible for Teen Court sessions,<br />
including group and parent-child sessions, trainings, client<br />
interviews and community<br />
services for juvenile defendants.<br />
For Mock Trial, she secures<br />
the venue, judges, volunteers and<br />
students. Haynes also assists in<br />
securing attorneys to teach lesson<br />
plans in the classroom. Haynes<br />
also coordinates counselor<br />
education graduate students for<br />
Teen Court. She has been with the BRBA for 12 years.<br />
R. Lynn S. Haynes, Assistant Teen Court Coordinator<br />
lynn@brba.org • 225-214-5564<br />
Margaret Johnson, assistant<br />
to the executive director,<br />
provides staff support to the<br />
Board of Directors, the monthly<br />
bar luncheons and all court<br />
receptions. Johnson is the staff<br />
liaison to the Continuing Legal<br />
Education, Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Conference<br />
and Ball Maul committees.<br />
She coordinates the annual Softball Tournament and<br />
serves aas the staff liaison to several sections: Workers’<br />
Compensation, Construction Law and Public Law<br />
Practice. Johnson coordinates Middleton <strong>Bar</strong> Center’s<br />
room rentals, answers the main phone line and greets the<br />
public and BRBA members. She is responsible for handling<br />
mail and updating BRBA’s master and website calendars.<br />
She processes event and CLE registrations, reports hours<br />
and submits courses for accreditation to Mandatory<br />
Continuing Legal Education and prepares and distributes<br />
the weekly e-newsletter. Johnson began her BRBA career<br />
in May 2010.<br />
Margaret Johnson, Administrative Assistant<br />
margaret@brba.org • 225-344-4803<br />
Robin Kay organizes the<br />
activities of the Pro Bono<br />
Committee and Family Law<br />
Section. She provides grant<br />
reporting and prepares monthly<br />
status reports for the Pro Bono<br />
Project. Kay recruits attorney<br />
and law student volunteers for<br />
the various programs of the Pro<br />
Bono Project, which includes Thirst for Justice, Ask-A-<br />
Lawyer, Wills for Heroes and case placements. She also<br />
manages the pro bono database and is jointly responsible<br />
for placing pro bono clients with volunteer attorneys. Kay<br />
has been with BRBA for three and a half years.<br />
18 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
Robin Kay, Pro Bono Coordinator<br />
robin@brba.org • 225-214-5561<br />
Susan S. Kelley, office<br />
manager, coordinates the<br />
activities of the Young Lawyers<br />
Section, Holiday Star and<br />
Membership committees. Kelley<br />
is in charge of ordering office<br />
supplies, making deposits,<br />
processing new members and<br />
handling building maintenance<br />
and the <strong>Association</strong>’s database software. She has been with<br />
the BRBA for 21 years, with a few breaks in between.<br />
Susan S. Kelley, Office Manager<br />
susan@brba.org • 225-214-5559<br />
Pamela Labbe is the staff<br />
liaison to the Publications, Law<br />
Expo and Technology committees.<br />
She helps plan, design and edit 10<br />
issues of Around the <strong>Bar</strong> a year with<br />
the guidance of volunteer editors.<br />
Her tasks include photography,<br />
magazine advertising sales, website<br />
updates, form creation and design of the printed legal<br />
directory. She secures Law Expo sponsors, designs print<br />
ads, answers queries from the BRBA website and listserv,<br />
prepares signage for all BRBA events and supervises a<br />
communications intern each semester. Labbe administers<br />
BRBA’s social media (Facebook and Twitter), markets<br />
<strong>Association</strong> programs, and writes/distributes press releases<br />
to the media. She has been with BRBA for 11 years.<br />
Pamela Labbe, Communications Coordinator<br />
pamela@brba.org • 225-214-5560<br />
Carole McGeheee handles the<br />
Lawyer Referral and Information<br />
Service as well as the Volunteer and<br />
Easter Eggstravaganza committees.<br />
She answers approximately 400<br />
calls monthly, sets up appointments<br />
with panel members and manages<br />
the <strong>Association</strong>’s Lawyer Referral<br />
database. She is responsible for<br />
coordinating paralegal interns, monthly Volunteer<br />
Committee events and the annual Easter egg hunts. She<br />
has been with BRBA for 10 years.<br />
Carole McGehee, Lawyer Referral Coordinator<br />
carole@brba.org • 225-214-5557<br />
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 19
GAIL’S GRAMMAR<br />
Trang Nguyen provides<br />
staff support to the Pro Bono<br />
Committee. Nguyen coordinates<br />
the Thirst for Justice legal clinics<br />
and Ask-A-Lawyer workshops.<br />
She manages the pro bono<br />
database and coordinates law<br />
student volunteers. Nguyen is<br />
also jointly responsible for placing pro bono clients with<br />
volunteer attorneys. In addition, she is responsible for<br />
the Pro Bono Project’s report in Foundation Footnotes<br />
in Around the <strong>Bar</strong> each month. She has been with BRBA<br />
since April 2010.<br />
Trang Nguyen, Pro Bono Coordinator<br />
trang@brba.org • 225-214-5558<br />
Julie Ourso is staff liaison<br />
to the Operations and Finance<br />
Committee. Julie assists in<br />
answering the phone, sets up all<br />
new events in the <strong>Association</strong>’s<br />
database, prepares monthly<br />
financial reports, handles the<br />
accounting system,<br />
accounts payable, accounts receivable and<br />
payroll, and coordinates the annual audit.<br />
She has been employed by the BRBA for<br />
nine years.<br />
We are all familiar with the concept that to<br />
compare two things, we use the comparative “er”<br />
or “more,” but for three or more things we use the<br />
superlative “est” or “most.” But is it wrong to use<br />
the superlative with two items? Although some<br />
hold the fi rm belief, probably drilled into their heads<br />
in elementary school, that one who has only two<br />
daughters could never say “Sara is my youngest<br />
daughter,” many would disagree. Writers who have<br />
used “the superlative of two” include Hemingway,<br />
Shakespeare, Milton and Defoe. Merriam-Webster’s<br />
Dictionary of English Usage states, “The rule serves<br />
no ... practical function except to separate those who<br />
observe the rule from those who do not.” So instead<br />
of trying to be hypertechnical, just use whichever one<br />
sounds better [or best] to you. It’s all right to put your<br />
best foot forward, even though you have only two.<br />
Thanks to Lorraine Crifasi for suggesting this topic. Send<br />
suggestions for future Gail’s Grammar columns to Gail<br />
Stephenson at GStephenson@sulc.edu, or call Gail at<br />
225.771.4900 x 216.<br />
Julie Ourso, Bookkeeper<br />
julie@brba.org • 225-214-5572<br />
And, of course, BRBA staff members<br />
pitch in during all events and receptions, in<br />
addition to their usual duties listed above.<br />
REQUESTED:<br />
LEGAL ARTICLE<br />
SUBMISSIONS<br />
Let us know if you<br />
would like to write<br />
an article to be published<br />
in Around the <strong>Bar</strong>.<br />
Please contact:<br />
Pamela Labbe at 225-214-5560<br />
or pamela@brba.org<br />
20 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 21
foundation footnotes<br />
PRO BONO PROJECT & TEEN COURT REPORTS<br />
PRO BONO PROJECT REPORT —<br />
We would like to thank all volunteers who donated<br />
their time to the Pro Bono Project during November and<br />
December.<br />
Solo practitioners who volunteered for Thirst for<br />
Justice were Terry Bonnie, Allen Posey, Byron Kantrow,<br />
and Judge Melvin Shortess (Ret.). Volunteers for Thirst<br />
for Justice with firms were Durward Casteel, Casteel &<br />
Associates; Chad Dudley, Chris Keyser and Paul Wilkins,<br />
Dudley DeBosier; Stephen Strohschein, McGlinchey<br />
Stafford, PLLC; Alvin Washington, Southern University<br />
Law Center; and Cyrus Greco, Ann Halphen, William<br />
Kaufman, Harry Philips, Margaret Tooke and W. Luther<br />
Wilson, Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips.<br />
The law student intake volunteers were Jennifer Dietz,<br />
L.B. Graham and Mandisa Moore, LSU Paul M. Hebert<br />
Law Center; Sawyer Halbrook, Cleveland Patterson and<br />
Christopher White, Southern University Law Center.<br />
The <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Foundation interns were Trey<br />
Dominique, Sawyer Halbrook, Cleveland Patterson and<br />
Christopher White, Southern University Law Center.<br />
The Ask-A-Lawyer workshop solo practitioner<br />
volunteers were Terry Bonnie, Scott Gaspard, and Emily<br />
Ziober. Ask-A-Lawyer volunteers from law firms were<br />
Durward Casteel, Casteel & Associates; Paul Wilkins,<br />
Dudley DeBosier; and Todd Gaudin, Kuehne, Foote &<br />
Gaudin, APLC.<br />
The following solo practitioners accepted cases in<br />
November and December: Samantha R. Ackers, George<br />
Bayhi, Laura Bergeron-Hart, Arax Brumfield, Jimmie<br />
Brumfield, Erik Burns, Rick Caballero, Taylor Caffery,<br />
Fred Crifasi, Shannon Fay, Deborah Gibbs, Joanna<br />
Hynes, Mark Lazarre, Sharon Lee, David Marquette,<br />
Rusty Messer, <strong>Bar</strong>rington Neil, Melanie Newkome-Jones,<br />
Amanda Rogers, Robert Savage, Dan Scheuermann,<br />
Doreen Taravella, Michael Theriot, Mary Thompson and<br />
James Zito.<br />
Attorneys from law firms who accepted cases in<br />
November and December were Alesia Ardoin, The<br />
Louisiana Board of Ethics; James Austin, Richard<br />
Easterling and William Shea, Adams & Reese; Rebecca<br />
Wisbar, Akers & Wisbar, LLC; Jarvis Antwine, Antwine,<br />
Harvey & Ruth, LLC; Stephen Babcock, Babcock Law<br />
Firm; Sharon Williams, <strong>Bar</strong>rister Litigation Support<br />
Solutions, Inc.; William Thies, Beall & Thies, LLC; Paul<br />
Hebert Jr., Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson; Henri Saunders,<br />
Cardenas & Saunders; David Cohn, The Cohn Law Firm;<br />
Linda Law Clark, Decuir, Clark & Adams, LLP; Lisa Leslie<br />
Boudreaux, Laurie Marien and Vincent Saffiotti, Downs,<br />
Saffiotti & Boudreaux; Tiffany Foxworth, Foxworth Law<br />
Firm; David Andress, Grand Law Firm; John DeGeneres,<br />
Herpin and DeGeneres; Connell Archey, Kantrow,<br />
Spaht, Weaver & Blitzer, APLC; Jason Brown, Kean,<br />
Miller; Todd Gaudin, Kuehne, Foote & Gaudin APLC;<br />
Eric Miller, The Kullman Firm; Lorraine McCormick,<br />
McCormick & McCormick; Michael Ferachi and L’Kenya<br />
Jackson, McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC; Benjamin Mouton,<br />
McGlynn, Glisson & Mouton; Anne Myles, Myles,<br />
Cook & Day; John Brady, Newman, Mathis, Brady &<br />
Spedale; Robert Lancaster, Paul M. Hebert Law Center;<br />
Lisa Prater Bailey, Prater Bailey & Associates, LLC;<br />
Brian Prendergast, Prendergast Law Firm, LLC; Jeffrey<br />
Wittenbrink, Rowe Law Firm; Alfred Shapiro, Shapiro<br />
and Shapiro; Ronnie Berthelot, Shows, Cali, Berthelot<br />
& Walsh, LLP; Cynthia Reed, Southern University Law<br />
Center; Gary McKenzie, Steffes, Vingiello & McKenzie;<br />
and Victor Woods, Woods Holloway, LLP.<br />
The Pro Bono Project is financially assisted by the Interest on Lawyers’<br />
Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program of the Louisiana <strong>Bar</strong> Foundation;<br />
Capital Area Legal Services; Family, District and City Court Filing Fees<br />
and the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Foundation.<br />
TEEN COURT REPORT—<br />
During December, Teen Court defendants participated<br />
in a community service project with the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong><br />
Constable’s Office and Holiday Helpers, Inc. The teens<br />
assisted with organizing and wrapping gifts for a toy<br />
distribution.<br />
Volunteers are needed to serve as judges for the<br />
Teen Court hearings and to assist<br />
with training sessions. If you are<br />
interested in volunteering, contact<br />
Donna Buuck at 225-214-5556 or<br />
donna@brba.org.<br />
Teen Court of Greater <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> is funded by a grant from the<br />
Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (formerly the Office of Youth<br />
Development), a grant from the Louisiana <strong>Bar</strong> Foundation’s IOLTA<br />
program and from the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Foundation. This project is<br />
also supported in part by Grant No. 2009-JF-FX-0059 awarded by the<br />
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice<br />
Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions in this<br />
document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the<br />
official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.<br />
22 Around the <strong>Bar</strong><br />
February 2011
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For classifi ed or display ad rates,<br />
contact Pamela at (225) 214-5560<br />
or e-mail: pamela@BRBA.org<br />
Jan. 31-Feb. 11<br />
Feb. 14 - Feb. 25<br />
Feb. 28 - March 11<br />
Duty Court<br />
Schedule<br />
19 TH JDC CIVIL COURT<br />
Judge Hernandez<br />
Judge Clark<br />
Judge Bates<br />
19 TH JDC CRIMINAL COURT***<br />
Jan. 28-Feb. 4<br />
Feb. 4- Feb. 11<br />
Feb. 11-Feb. 18<br />
Feb. 18-March 4<br />
Judge Anderson<br />
Judge Erwin<br />
Judge Jackson<br />
Judge Moore<br />
BATON ROUGE CITY COURT*<br />
Jan. 31-Feb. 6<br />
Feb. 7-Feb. 13<br />
Feb. 14-Feb. 20<br />
Feb. 21-Feb. 27<br />
Feb. 28-March 6<br />
Jan. 31-Feb. 4<br />
Feb. 7-Feb. 11<br />
Feb. 14-Feb. 18<br />
Feb. 21-Feb. 25<br />
Feb. 28-March 4<br />
Feb. 1-Feb. 28<br />
FAMILY COURT**<br />
Judge Wall<br />
Judge Alexander<br />
Judge Ponder<br />
Judge Davis<br />
Judge Temple<br />
Judge Dampf<br />
Judge Lassalle<br />
Judge Baker<br />
Judge Woodruff-White<br />
Judge Dampf<br />
JUVENILE COURT<br />
Judge Richey<br />
NOTE: Duty Court changes at 5 p.m. each Friday unless<br />
otherwise specifi ed.<br />
*City Court’s Duty Court schedule changes each Monday at<br />
8 a.m.<br />
**Family Court’s Duty Court schedule changes at 4 p.m. each<br />
Friday<br />
***19th JDC Criminal Court changes each Friday at noon<br />
Monday, Feb. 21<br />
COURT HOLIDAY<br />
13<br />
20<br />
27<br />
Presidents’ Day<br />
14<br />
21<br />
28<br />
15<br />
22<br />
16<br />
23<br />
29<br />
Classifieds<br />
17<br />
24<br />
30<br />
ATTORNEYS/JUDGES WHO BELIEVE<br />
they have problems with alcohol and/or<br />
drugs are welcome to attend meetings with<br />
other similarly situated attorneys/judges<br />
held on Tuesdays at The City Club, 355<br />
North Blvd. Contact number: 225-753-3407.<br />
Thursday meetings are at Bocage Racquet<br />
Club, 7600 Jefferson Hwy. Contact number:<br />
225-928-5053. Both meetings are dutch treat<br />
and are from noon to 1 p.m. Strict anonymity is<br />
observed outside these 12-Step Meetings.<br />
— SAVE THE DATE —<br />
<strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong>,<br />
Louis A. Martinet Legal Society and<br />
<strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Association</strong> of Women<br />
Attorneys Join Meeting and<br />
February <strong>Bar</strong> Luncheon & Community<br />
Justice Symposium,<br />
Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011,<br />
De La Ronde Hall, 11:30 a.m.<br />
BENCH BAR CONFERENCE 2011<br />
Be sure to make your hotel room reservations<br />
early at the Marriott Grand Hotel in Point Clear,<br />
Ala., for the 2011 BRBA Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Conference.<br />
The Benjy Davis Project will be performing. Be<br />
sure to see the Bench <strong>Bar</strong> Boogie Band’s Final<br />
Conference Performance!<br />
Registration forms are online at<br />
www.brba.org/forms/BBC2011.pdf.<br />
For more information, contact<br />
Ann G. Scarle at 225-214-5563.<br />
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT DEADLINE:<br />
Feb. 15, 2011.<br />
18<br />
25<br />
31<br />
MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION<br />
needs judge and timekeeper volunteers for<br />
the 2011 Region III High School Mock Trial<br />
Competition. To volunteer Feb. 25 or Feb. 26,<br />
contact Lynn Haynes at 225-214-5564.<br />
LAW DAY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS<br />
Law Day is early this year: Friday, March 25,<br />
2011. To volunteer, contact Donna Buuck at<br />
225-214-5556.<br />
GET PUBLISHED IN OUR NEXT ISSUE!<br />
Write an article for publication for Around the<br />
<strong>Bar</strong>. E-mail it to: pamela@brba.org. Call for<br />
more details: 225-214-5560.<br />
19<br />
26<br />
*Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will<br />
be held at the <strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> offi ce.<br />
Calendar of Events<br />
1 Public Law Practice Section, 12 p.m.,<br />
Livingston Building, 885 N. Third St.;<br />
YLS Council meeting, 12 p.m.<br />
2 Thirst for Justice, St. Vincent de Paul,<br />
3-5 p.m.<br />
3 Ask-A-Lawyer workshop, 9-11:30 a.m.,<br />
Delmont Service Center;<br />
February <strong>Bar</strong> Luncheon & Symposium<br />
with Louis A. Martinet Legal Society<br />
and BRAWA, De La Ronde Hall,<br />
11:30 a.m.;<br />
Court Procedures CLE Seminar,<br />
De La Ronde Hall, 1:30 p.m.;<br />
Thirst for Justice, St. Vincent de Paul,<br />
3-5 p.m.<br />
7 Operations and Finance Committee<br />
meeting, 3:30 p.m.;<br />
Executive Committee meeting, 4 p.m.<br />
Teen Court hearing, EBR Juvenile<br />
Court, 5:45 p.m.<br />
8 Workers’ Comp meeting, 12 p.m.,<br />
location: TBA<br />
9 Law Day Committee meeting, 12 p.m.;<br />
Pro Bono Committee meeting, 12 p.m.;<br />
Thirst, St. Vincent de Paul, 3-5 p.m.<br />
10 Volunteer Committee Recruitment<br />
Lunch, 12 p.m.;<br />
Mock Trial Committee meeting, 12 p.m.;<br />
Thirst, St. Vincent de Paul, 3-5 p.m.<br />
14 Publications Committee meeting, 12 p.m.<br />
16 Ask-A-Lawyer workshop, 9-11:30 a.m.,<br />
Catholic Charities;<br />
Thirst, St. Vincent de Paul, 3-5 p.m.;<br />
Board of Directors meeting, 6 p.m.,<br />
Mansur’s<br />
17 Mock Trial Coaches Meeting, 12 p.m.:<br />
Thirst, St. Vincent de Paul, 3-5 p.m.<br />
18 FLS CLE Seminar – 7, 11 & 13 = $0.00<br />
Making the Chapters Add Up:<br />
Bankruptcy and How It Relates to<br />
the Everyday Practice of Law.<br />
8:30 a.m.-4:10 p.m., U.S. District Ct.<br />
MDLA, 777 Florida St.<br />
21 CLE Committee meeting, 12 p.m.<br />
22 Youth Education Committee meeting,<br />
12 p.m.;<br />
Beer @ da <strong>Bar</strong> reception, 5 - 6:30 p.m.<br />
23 Thirst, St. Vincent de Paul, 3-5 p.m.<br />
24 Thirst, St. Vincent de Paul, 3-5 p.m.<br />
25 Regional High School Mock Trial, 19th<br />
JDC, 300 North Blvd., 1:15 - 6 p.m.<br />
26 Regional High School Mock Trial, 19th<br />
JDC, 300 North Blvd., 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.<br />
28 Teen Court hearing, EBR Juvenile<br />
Court, 5:45 p.m.<br />
February 2011 Around the <strong>Bar</strong> 23
<strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
P.O. Box 2241<br />
<strong>Baton</strong> <strong>Rouge</strong>, LA 70821<br />
Return Service Requested<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
U.S. POSTAGE PAID<br />
BATON ROUGE, LA<br />
PERMIT NO. 746