Edward J. Walters, Jr. Installed as 85th LSBA President
Edward J. Walters, Jr. is a partner in the Baton Rouge firm of Walters, Thomas, Cullens, LLC, was installed June 5 as the 85th president of the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) during a ceremony at the LSBA’s Annual Meeting in Destin, Fla. Administering his oath of office was Hon. Darrel J. Papillion of the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana.
Walters has served in several LSBA leadership roles over the course of his professional career, including as LSBA president-elect and LSBA secretary, as a member of the Board of Governors and as a member of the House of Delegates over several terms. Now, for his one-year term as president, his goal is to improve the public image of the practice of law and focus on diversifying the structure of the bar association in the state.
“In today’s world lawyers are not that well respected. I see my role as trying to show the public that we are in a noble profession – a calling – and we do many, many wonderful things for our clients and for the public in general. I plan to get that word out and hopefully improve our image with the public. Our catchphrase is ‘Serving the Public, Serving the Profession.’ We will live up to that,” he said.
“I will focus on bringing lawyers together so that even though we live in a factionalized world, we can collaborate for the good of the profession and the public. We’re looking to expand our reach into communities that could benefit from greater legal engagement and support. We’re also exploring how bar associations in states similar to ours operate, with the goal of building an inclusive framework that reflects the diverse interests of our members,” he added.
He received a BS degree in accounting in 1969 from Louisiana State University and his Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 1975 from LSU Law Center.
He served as president-elect of the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) from 2024-25, as LSBA secretary and editor-in-chief of the Louisiana Bar Journal from 2012-13. He has been a longtime member of the Louisiana Bar Journal Editorial Board.
He was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as a member of the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana from 2017-21. He was the chair of the Commission for 2020.
Walters received the LSU Law Center’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015, the LSBA’s President’s Award in 2011, the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Attorney Award in 2008 and the Curtis R. Boisfontaine Trial Advocacy Award in 2024. He received the Baton Rouge Bar Association’s President’s Award in 1995, 1998 and 2014. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the LSU Law Center Board of Trustees.
Walters has been an active courtroom attorney for over 45 years and is board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
In addition to his practice, he has served as an adjunct professor of law at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center for over 30 years, teaching a course titled “Advanced Trial and Evidence” with Michael A. (Mike) Patterson. He has been a member of the faculty of the Law Center’s yearly Trial Advocacy Program since its inception 25 years ago.
He is the author of the book Ipse Dixit: Ruminations on a Career at Law.
Walters and his wife, Norma, have been married for 57 years and are the parents of two children. They have four grandchildren.