Schexnayder and Johnson Nominated for LSBA Leadership Positions
Valerie T. Schexnayder of Baton Rouge and Adam P. Johnson of Lake Charles have been nominated for 2027-28 LSBA president-elect and 2027-29 LSBA secretary, respectively. Schexnayder iis a mediator with Schexnayder Mediation Services, LLC, in Baton Rouge, after practicing for 35 years. Adam Johnson is a partner in The Johnson Firm in Lake Charles. The president-elect will automatically assume the presidency in 2028-29. 

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Chazan, Ashworth Nominated for YLD Leadership Positions
Taylor B. Ashworth was nominated for the position of LSBA’s Young Lawyer Division 2027-28 Secretary. Current Secretary Christina K. (Cristy) Chazan will automatically assume the post of 2027-28 YLD chair-elect. Taylor Ashworth is an associate in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller, LLP  and Cristy Chazan is an associate attorney with Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith in their New Orleans office.

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Interested in an Appointed LSBA HOD Leadership Position?
Several LSBA House of Delegates seats received no qualifiers by the Oct. 13, 2025, qualifying deadline. These positions will be filled by presidential appointment. 

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LSBA Members Approve Reduction in Size of House of Delegates
Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) members approved an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation reducing the size of the House of Delegates by roughly half following the close of voting on July 27. Implementation of these changes begins with the 2026-2027 election cycle, when the membership will elect delegates from the 20th through 42nd Judicial Districts. Implementation continues with the 2027-2028 election cycle, when the membership will elect delegates from the 1st through 19th Judicial Districts.

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EDLA to Host POWER Act CLE on Sept. 24
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana will present its 2026 POWER Act program, “Helping Survivors of Domestic Violence,” from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. Attorneys may attend in person at 500 Poydras St., Room C-352, New Orleans, or participate via Zoom. Pre-registration is requested. 
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Lawyers in Libraries Seeks Volunteers, Sign-up Deadline Sept. 25
Volunteers needed for the LSBA’s Lawyers in Libraries 2026 events, which are taking place October 26-31, 2026, in conjunction with National Celebrate Pro Bono Week. During this week, there will be a variety of ways attorneys can get involved to give back to their community.

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House Resolution Deadline is Dec. 29 for 2027 Midyear Meeting
The LSBA’s Midyear Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday through Friday, Jan. 27-29, 2027, at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge. The deadline for submitting resolutions for the House of Delegates meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 29. (The House will meet on Jan. 29, 2027 at 9 a.m.) Resolutions by House members and committee and section chairs should be mailed to LSBA Secretary Bradley J. Tate, c/o Louisiana Bar Center, 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130-3404. All resolutions proposed to be considered at the meeting must be received on or before Dec. 29. Resolutions must be signed by the author. Also, copies of all resolutions should be emailed (in MS Word format) to LSBA Governance Coordinator Jen France at jen.france@lsba.org.

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Louisiana Supreme Court Amends Code of Judicial Conduct
The Louisiana Supreme Court has adopted several amendments to the Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct affecting Canons 2, 3, 4 and 7. The changes, which take effect immediately, address judicial references and recommendations, courtroom recording, judicial discipline, recusation, legislative advocacy and political activity.

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Louisiana Supreme Court Updates Judicial Travel Reimbursement Rules
The Louisiana Supreme Court has amended Part G, Section 1(b) of the General Administrative Rules governing reimbursement of travel expenses for judges attending official meetings. The revisions, which take effect July 1, 2026, update provisions related to transportation, rental vehicles and meal reimbursements.

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Louisiana Supreme Court Amends Rule XIX to Allow Pro Bono, Community Service in Certain Disciplinary Matters
The Louisiana Supreme Court has amended Rule XIX, Section 10, to allow pro bono legal services or similar community service to be included as a condition in certain lawyer disciplinary matters.
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Louisiana Supreme Court Adds Rule Addressing Bail Revocation Procedures
The Louisiana Supreme Court has adopted a new section of Rule XXVII to clarify procedures for implementing Article 312.1 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, which addresses bail revocation following certain subsequent felony arrests.
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Louisiana Supreme Court Adds Commentary to Judicial Conduct Canon
The Louisiana Supreme Court has added commentary to Canon 3B(1) of the Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, providing examples of administrative conduct that may constitute a violation of the canon.
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Louisiana Supreme Court Amends Rule XXVII
The Louisiana Supreme Court has amended Rule XXVII to establish procedures for matters in which both a district attorney and the Louisiana attorney general are recused.

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LBLS Accepting Applications for Business Bankruptcy Law and Consumer Bankruptcy Law Certification through Sept. 30
The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS) is accepting applications for board certification in business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law through Sept. 30, 2026. 
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A Message on the LSBA-Endorsed Lawyers Professional Liability Program from the LSBA President
LSBA President Curtis R. Joseph, Jr. has shared a message regarding the LSBA-endorsed Lawyers Professional Liability Program and the ongoing transition to Old Republic Lawyers Specialty Insurance (ORLSI). This message outlines important information regarding the program transition and member benefits.
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LSBA Names Old Republic as New Endorsed Malpractice Insurance Provider

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Louisiana Supreme Court Responds to Thomson Reuters C-Track Cyber Incident
The Louisiana Supreme Court is monitoring a cybersecurity incident involving Thomson Reuters’ C-Track court case management system and has notified appropriate law enforcement authorities, the court announced Sept. 2.
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In 2026, Board Certified Specialists and Applicants Who Are 65 or Over May Earn All of Their Required Approved Specialization CLE Either in Person or Through “Computer-Based CLE” Credits
The Louisiana Supreme Court amended Rule XXX of the Rules for Continuing Legal Education, modifying the long-standing age-based exemption for attorneys, by Order dated November 10, 2025. Under the revised Louisiana Supreme Court rule, attorneys who turn 65 on or after January 1, 2026, may earn all of their required CLE through computer-based programming. See the official notice here.

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Louisiana Supreme Court Amends Plan of Legal Specialization
The Louisiana Supreme Court has issued an order amending Sections 8.4, 9.2, and 10 of the Louisiana State Bar Association Plan of Legal Specialization. 


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LBLS Will Start Accepting Applications for Board Certification on Nov. 1
The LBLS will be accepting applications for board certification in seven (7) areas — appellate practice, employment law, estate planning and administration, family law, health law, labor law, and tax law from Nov. 1, 2026 through Feb. 28, 2027. The LBLS is presently accepting applications for business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law certification from Jan. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2026.

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Attorneys Apply for Recertification as Legal Specialists

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, notice is hereby given that the following attorneys have applied for recertification as legal specialists for the period January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2030. Any person wishing to comment upon the qualifications of any applicant should submit his or her comments to the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130 or maryann.wegmann@lsba.org, no later than Friday, December 19, 2025.

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Attorneys Apply for Certification as Legal Specialists

Pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, notice is hereby given that the following attorneys have applied for certification as a legal specialist. Any person wishing to comment upon the qualifications of any applicant should submit his/her comments to the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130, c/o Mary Ann Wegmann, Specialization Director, no later than December 19, 2025.

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Free Trust Accounting & Billing Software by Smokeball

The Louisiana State Bar Association Partners with Smokeball to Grant All Members Free Access to Trust and Billing Software

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New Admittees Reception
The LSBA will host a New Admittees Reception on Oct. 27, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Louisiana Bar Center, 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans. The reception will celebrate the newest members of the Bar as they join the Louisiana legal community. Click here to RSVP by Fri., Oct. 23, 2026.

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NOTICE: Attorney Fee Review Board Sets Hourly Rates Through 2027
The Attorney Fee Review Board (AFRB) is charged with establishing hourly rates for legal fees for which the State may be liable pursuant to La. R.S. 13:5108.3. The AFRB met for its 2025 fall meeting on October 6, 2025.  Click here to read the AFRB Notice of rates.

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Save the Date: 2027 LSBA Midyear Meeting
The Louisiana State Bar Association’s 2027 Midyear Meeting has been rescheduled and will be held Wednesday, Jan. 27, through Friday, Jan. 29, 2027. The House of Delegates meeting will take place at 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 29, and is expected to conclude by approximately 10 a.m. Additional details about the 2027 Midyear Meeting will be announced as they become available.

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Mandatory Bar Challenge
A member of the Louisiana State Bar Association filed suit against the LSBA, the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Justices of the Court on August 1, 2019, challenging mandatory bar membership on First and Fourteenth amendment grounds.

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