LSBA Installs 2026-27 Officers and Board of Governors
The Louisiana State Bar Association’s (LSBA) 2026-27 officers and members of the Board of Governors were installed June 4 at a ceremony at the LSBA’s Annual Meeting in Destin, Fla. Hon. Carl E. Stewart, judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, administered the oath of office to the president, and Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer administered the oaths of office to the Board of Governors and Young Lawyers Division leadership.
Curtis R. Joseph, Jr., a partner in the Shreveport law firm Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts, APLC, was installed as the 86th LSBA president (2026-27 term).
Lawrence J. (Larry) Centola III, a principal of the New Orleans law firm Martzell, Bickford & Centola, was installed as the 2026-27 president-elect. He will assume the presidency in 2027-28.
Bradley J. Tate, an attorney at Sternberg, Naccari & White, LLC, in New Orleans, is beginning the second year of his two-year term as secretary. He also serves as editor of the Louisiana Bar Journal, the LSBA’s magazine published six times a year.
Carrie LeBlanc Jones, of counsel in the Baton Rouge office of the law firm Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP, is beginning her two-year term as treasurer.
Edward J. Walters, Jr., a partner in the Baton Rouge law firm Walters, Thomas, Cullens, LLC, will continue his service to the LSBA as the 2026-27 immediate past president.
Christopher J. (Chris) Sellers Jr., assistant vice president and associate general counsel for Ochsner Health in New Orleans, was installed as 2026-27 chair of the LSBA Young Lawyers Division.
Members of the 2026-27 Board of Governors were installed by Chief Justice Weimer.
First District
• Lindsey A. Cheek, the founding attorney of The Cheek Law Firm LLC in New Orleans.
• J. Christopher (Chris) Zainey, Jr., a partner in the New Orleans law firm Lambert Zainey Smith & Soso, PLC.
Second District
• Sandra K. Cosby, a solo practitioner in Metairie.
Third District
• Shannon Seiler Dartez, an attorney with the Glenn Armentor Law Corporation in Lafayette.
Fourth District
• Todd S. Clemons, founder of Todd Clemons & Associates in Lake Charles.
Fifth District
• Christopher K. Jones, a partner in the Baton Rouge law firm Keogh Cox.
• Valerie Briggs Bargas, a partner with Long Law Firm in Baton Rouge.
Sixth District
• Barry M. Barnett, a partner in the law firm LaCroix, Levy & Barnett, LLC, in Alexandria.
Seventh District
• Amy J. Miller, an assistant U.S. attorney in the Western District of Louisiana where she serves in the Criminal Division as a federal prosecutor in Ruston.
Eighth District
• Senàe D. Hall, an assistant district attorney in the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office in Shreveport.
At-Large Members
• Tina L. Suggs, managing attorney at State Farm Insurance Company’s Claims Litigation Counsel Office in Metairie.
• Daniel A. Cavell, a partner in the Thibodaux law firm Morvant & Cavell, LLC.
• Charles D. Elliott, a solo practitioner at Charles Elliott & Associates, LLC, in Alexandria.
LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center/Faculty Representative
• Prof. John M. Church, professor of law at LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center in Baton Rouge.
Tulane University Law School/Faculty Representative
• Prof. Ronald J. Scalise, Jr., the John Minor Wisdom Professor of Civil Law at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans.
Louisiana State Law Institute Representative
• G. Trippe Hawthorne, an attorney at Kean Miller in Baton Rouge.
House of Delegates Liaison Committee
• Chair Larry E. Pichon, a solo practitioner in Lake Charles.
• Member Aaron R. Wilson, an attorney at Aaron R. Wilson, attorney at Law, APLC, in Bossier City.
• Member Kristen D. Amond, an attorney at Kristen Amond, LLC in New Orleans.