About Us
Who Is LACDL?
Founded in 1985, the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (LACDL) is a statewide organization comprised of private criminal defense attorneys and public defenders united with a common purpose: to preserve, protect, and secure the right to effective assistance of counsel for every criminal defense in Louisiana. LACDL serves as the voice of Louisiana's criminal defense bar, providing critical resources, continuing legal education, legislative advocacy, and a professional community for defense attorneys. We advocate at the Capitol and before policymakers to defend the constitutional rights of the accused and to advance reforms that strengthen fairness and justice in Louisiana's criminal justice system. We also foster collaboration and growth among criminal defense lawyers through seminars and networking events. Each year to honor excellence, LACDL hosts the Tate Banquet in New Orleans, recognizing the outstanding contributions of members and honoring the legacy of former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice & U.S. Fifth Circuit Judge Albert A. Tate, Jr.
LACDL encourages all members to participate in meetings, programs, and events. Together, we protect rights, build stronger defenses, and advance justice.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote a fair, accurate, and humane criminal justice system through education, advocacy, and the development of effective and professional defense lawyers.
Our Purpose
- To protect and ensure by rule of law those individual rights guaranteed by the Louisiana and Federal Constitutions in criminal cases.
- To resist any efforts that are being made to curtail these rights.
- To encourage cooperation between lawyers engaged in the furtherance of these objectives through educational programs and other assistance, and through this cooperation, education, and assistance to promote justice and the common good.
- To assist the courts, legislature, and law enforcement agencies in accomplishing their legitimate functions consistent with the rule of law and the protection of individual rights guaranteed by the Louisiana and United States Constitutions.
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