Best Gun Crime Lawyers in Louisiana
Carl Barkemeyer
Criminal Lawyer/Gun Crime Lawyer
Carl Barkemeyer, Criminal Defense Attorney is the owner and founder of Barkemeyer Law Firm. He graduated from McKinley High School in Baton Rouge, Centenary College in Shreveport, and earned his law degree from Loyola Law School in New Orleans. But his journey extended beyond the classroom and courtroom—while studying and beyond, he ventured into the realm of competitive amateur boxing, amassing over a hundred fights. Just as he once stepped into the ring with unwavering determination, he now defends clients with the same tenacity, refusing to allow prosecutors or judges to dictate the course of the case. His mission? To safeguard his clients from the clutches of criminal charges. Since graduating law school, he has defended thousands of clients with criminal charges.
Unlike some, Mr. Barkemeyer didn’t tread the path of a former police officer or prosecutor. Instead, he opted for a role at the public defender’s office post-law school, steering clear of the prosecutor’s domain.
A true defender at heart, Mr. Barkemeyer never harbored any inkling to prosecute the accused. His career trajectory took him from the public defender’s office to establishing his private practice in 2010. The transition was seamless, thanks to his unwavering stance—always representing defendants, never prosecuting them. Rest assured, if you enlist Mr. Barkemeyer’s services, there’s no need to worry if your criminal lawyer was once on the opposing side, seeking your arrest or conviction.
Years of Criminal Defense Expertise
With over 18 years under his belt, Mr. Barkemeyer boasts a wealth of experience safeguarding clients facing criminal charges in Louisiana. His legal journey has been steeped in criminal defense from the get-go, championing hundreds of clients in court. That’s an impressive array of cases!
Gregory Q. Carter
Criminal Lawyer/Gun Crime Lawyer
Gregory Q. Carter founded The G. Carter Law Firm in order to provide experienced and personalized representation for those accused of criminal matters. He focuses his practice exclusively on pursuing justice for each client, every time.
Gregory was born and raised in Ohio. He completed his undergraduate studies at Wittenberg University, where he was a key member of the mock trial team. After graduating, he went on to earn his law degree from the University of Cincinnati. During his legal studies, he clerked at the Ohio Innocence Project, working to free the wrongly convicted. He also spent summers clerking at the Fredericksburg Public Defender’s Office, interning at the Federal Sixth Circuit, and practicing as a student practitioner in Ohio and Virginia courts.
In 2009, Gregory made New Orleans his home and began his legal career as a public defender in the New Orleans Public Defenders Office. During this time, he defended hundreds of clients in misdemeanors and felonies. He has hands-on experience representing cases ranging from murder and narcotics, to assault and battery. In 2011, Gregory decided to transition into private practice and currently practices criminal defense.
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana
Education
- J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law
- Undergraduate, Wittenberg University
Professional Affiliations
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
ELIZABETH B. CARPENTER
Criminal Lawyer/Gun Crime Lawyer
Elizabeth Bagert Carpenter is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. She grew up in a family with strong ties to the legal community, including her grandfather, who served as a judge in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for several decades.
Ms. Carpenter received her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Law School. She studied French Language and Literature as an undergraduate student, graduating from L’Université d’Orléans, France. After returning to the United States, she completed a Bachelors of Arts Magna Cum Laude in French Literature with a minor in Psychology from Wichita State University. In recognition of her academic excellence during this time, Ms. Carpenter was nominated as a member of multiple academic honor societies. Ms. Carpenter later pursued graduate studies in Clinical Psychology Summa Cum Laude at the University of California in Los Angeles. In 2019, Ms. Carpenter elected to further her education at Tulane University Law School and enroll in the Title IX compliance and litigation program. Preceding her legal career, Ms. Carpenter worked in social work and mental health, gaining skills that have proven invaluable in her present role as a New Orleans criminal defense attorney. During that time, she worked at a few hospitals where she witnessed the daily physical, mental and emotional strains that nurses and other healthcare providers endure. This experience is one of the reasons she chose to pursue Professional License Defense and Nurse Advocacy work.
Jarrett P. Ambeau
Criminal Lawyer/Gun Crime Lawyer
Attorney Jarrett Ambeau is a Criminal Defense Trial Attorney and a court-qualified Expert in Forensic DNA Interpretation. In his 13+ years of practicing criminal defense, he has brought more than 50 felony jury trials to verdict.
Jarrett is committed to fighting for your rights and working diligently to achieve the best outcome possible in your legal matter. I am honored to practice law in the State of Louisiana, the Parishes of Ascension and East Baton Rouge, and the surrounding areas. I will care for your legal matter as though it were my own. I understand that you worked hard to earn the fees paid to my office – I will give you a diligent and honorable effort in return.
Personal Biography
Born and raised in Louisiana, Jarrett spent significant time in Tennessee and Georgia in the 90’s but returned home to go to school and have lived here since 1998.
Jarrett is married to Mindy Ambeau and the father of six amazing children.
Educational Biography
Jarrett earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate studies while deployed to Kuwait/Iraq in 2004 with the United State Military. Before deployment, he studied at Louisiana State University for 3 ½ years. His undergraduate thesis at LSU focused on the ethics of Immanuel Kant and the formal logic analysis of his formulations of the moral law from his book ‘Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals’.
Upon return from Iraq, Jarrett graduated from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in the spring of 2008. In law school, he was a two-time finalist in the Ira S. Flory Moot Court competition and a member of the 2007-2008 Moot Court Board.
In the Spring of 2020, Jarrett graduated from the University of Florida with a Masters’s Degree in Forensic DNA and Serology.
ANDREW JACKSON HODGES
Criminal Lawyer/Gun Crime Lawyer
Andrew Jackson Hodges, IV, received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice at Louisiana State University. While attending LSU, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Upon receiving his JD from Southern University Law Center in 1995 he clerked for the Honorable Michael R. Erwin, 19th JDC.
From 1996 until 2002 he was a staff attorney for the East Baton Rouge Parish Office of Public Defender, where he tried numerous felony jury trials. He also maintained a private criminal and civil practice throughout South Louisiana. He served as 2001-2003 President of the Baton Rouge Bar of Criminal Justice. He is presently a member of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana State and Federal Bar Associations, as well as the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His areas of practice are exclusively criminal and DWI defense.
Areas of Practice
- Exclusively criminal and DWI defense
- Shreveport/Bossier and surrounding areas
- Baton Rouge and neighboring parishes
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1996
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 2002
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 2002
Education
- Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- J.D. – 1995
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
- B.A.
- Major: Criminal Justice
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Baton Rouge Bar Association, Member
- Louisiana State Bar Association, Member
- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
- Federal Bar Association, Member
- Shreveport Bar Association
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Past Employment Positions
- Michael R. Erwin, 19th JDC., Clerk
- East Baton Rouge Parish Office of Public Defender, Staff Attorney, Staff Attorney, 1996 to 2002
- Baton Rouge Bar of Criminal Justice, President, 2001 to 2003
- Baton Rouge City Court, Judge, Pro Tempore, 2004 to 2015
- Keogh Cox & Wilson, APLC, Special Counsel, 2002 to 2015
James P. Manasseh
Criminal Lawyer/Gun Crime Lawyer
James P. Manasseh, a 1988 graduate of the LSU Law Center and a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Louisiana Supreme Court, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Eastern, Middle and West District Courts of Louisiana, the Southern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Texas and for the U.S. Claims Court. Manasseh has also been granted pro hac vice status in the past to handle cases in numerous states.
The Managing Partner of Manasseh, Gill, Knipe & Bélanger, P.L.C. Manasseh has built one of the largest criminal defense practices in Louisiana and the nation. His efforts have led to acquittals in numerous criminal cases and high dollar settlements in personal injury matters. The highest settlement personal injury case was for a police officer who hired the firm because of their reputation for excellence in criminal cases.
Manasseh is a former partner of Regan, Manasseh & Boshea with offices in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Oakland, California. He managed cases and the administration of offices in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Manasseh was instrumental in growing the practice into the twenty-second largest law firm and the largest criminal defense practice in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan area (source: the Baton Rouge Business Report).
Manasseh became one of the youngest attorneys ever to successfully argue a case at the United States Supreme Court in 1991, Foucha vs. Louisiana. In 2022, Manasseh along with his partner Andre Bélanger, was counsel of record in another U.S. Supreme Court case in Edwards. V. Vanoy, Warden. With two cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, Manasseh sits in rarified air in the world of private practitioners. Over the course of his career, Manasseh has served as lead counsel in thousands of cases ranging from serious personal injury matters to appellate cases and all types of felony and misdemeanor criminal defense cases. Manasseh has represented nearly 40,000 clients in a vast array of legal matters over his career. His firm has engaged in representation in international class action litigation, construction litigation, along with professional sports and entertainment fields. His efforts has led to thousands of clients’ futures being saved though his trial and negotiation skills.
James P. Manasseh, is an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell is listed as one of the top 100 trial lawyers for 2013 and 2014 by the National Association of Trial Lawyers. The law firm of Manasseh, Gill, Knipe & Bélanger, PLC was presented with
the Presidents Award for Appreciation by the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and was named an LSU 100, the 100 Fastest Growing Tiger Businesses 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Son of Paul Manasseh, the first public relations director of the Denver Broncos and long-time LSU sports information director, James has served as the interior public address announcer in The Paul Manasseh Press Box at all LSU home football games since 1982.
MATT CHAMPAGNE
Criminal Lawyer/Gun Crime Lawyer
Matthew B. Champagne earned his B.A. Degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in English in 2006 with Cum Laude distinctions from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After working with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s as a Deputy, he applied his passion for protecting and serving the best way he could make an impact and enrolled in Law school at Loyola University of New Orleans.
Matt’s law enforcement experience combined with his multi-faceted legal education makes him one of St. Tammany Parish’s most effective and sought after Attorneys. Matt is licensed to practice in all Louisiana State Courts and continues his legal education through seminars and extracurricular programs offered by various agencies and associations. Never one to settle on ways to best serve his clients, Matt is also a Notary Public.
Louisiana’s Loaded Landscape: Delving into Gun Violence, Legal Complexities, and Why You Need a Top-Tier Lawyer
Louisiana, the “Pelican State,” boasts a rich cultural tapestry, vibrant music scene, and a deeply ingrained tradition of gun ownership. However, this tradition comes with a heavy responsibility. Louisiana consistently ranks among the highest states for gun violence, making it critical to understand this issue, its legal ramifications, and why retaining a skilled lawyer is paramount if you face gun-related charges.
A Glaring Issue: Understanding Gun Violence in Louisiana
- Alarming Statistics: Data from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) . Louisiana consistently ranks near the top in gun deaths per capita, with a disproportionate number of homicides and suicides involving firearms.
- Contributing Factors: Several factors contribute to this issue, including:
- Easy Access to Firearms: Louisiana has lax gun control laws compared to other states, making it easier to obtain firearms.
- Mental Health Concerns: Untreated mental health issues can be a significant factor in gun violence, particularly suicides.
- Poverty and Lack of Opportunity: Economic hardship and limited opportunities can contribute to a cycle of violence.
- Gang Activity: Gang violence often involves firearms, contributing to a higher rate of gun homicides in certain areas.
- Domestic Violence: Domestic violence situations involving firearms can escalate quickly and lead to fatal outcomes.
- Lack of Gun Safety Education: Insufficient education on safe gun handling and storage can contribute to accidental shootings.
Navigating the Legal Maze: Gun Laws in Louisiana
- Federal vs. State Laws: It’s crucial to understand the distinction between federal and state gun laws. Federal law sets baseline regulations for firearms, while Louisiana has its own unique set of laws governing gun ownership and use. A lawyer can ensure you’re in compliance with both federal and state regulations.
- Background Checks: Federal law mandates background checks for all firearm purchases from licensed dealers. However, private sales between individuals are not subject to federal background checks in most cases. Louisiana law may have additional requirements, and a lawyer can advise you on the legalities of private gun sales.
- Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry: Louisiana is an open carry state, meaning individuals over 21 can openly carry a handgun without a permit. However, concealed carry requires a permit with specific training and eligibility requirements.
- Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground Laws: Louisiana has strong Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground laws, which provide legal protections for using deadly force in self-defense within your home or in public spaces where you have a legal right to be. Understanding these laws and their limitations is crucial.
The Crucial Role of a Lawyer in Gun-Related Cases
Facing gun-related charges in Louisiana can be a frightening and confusing experience. Here’s why retaining a skilled lawyer is essential:
- Understanding Complexities of Gun Laws: Gun laws are intricate, with nuances and exceptions. A lawyer with expertise in Louisiana gun law can navigate this complexity and ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process.
- Preserving Your Rights: Law enforcement interactions and interrogations can be intimidating. A lawyer can advise you on your rights and ensure they are not violated during investigations or arrests.
- Building a Strong Defense: Depending on the specific charges, your lawyer can explore various defense strategies, such as self-defense, mistaken identity, or procedural violations by law enforcement.
- Negotiating with Prosecutors: A skilled lawyer can negotiate with prosecutors to potentially reduce charges or pursue alternative sentencing options, such as gun safety education programs.
- Trial Representation: If your case goes to trial, your lawyer will represent you in court, presenting evidence and advocating for the best possible outcome.
Finding the Right Legal Advocate:
When facing gun-related charges, securing the services of a lawyer experienced in Louisiana gun law is vital. Here are some factors to consider when searching for legal representation:
- Experience: Look for a lawyer with a proven track record of handling gun-related cases in Louisiana.
- Reputation: Research potential lawyers and read client reviews to gauge their effectiveness and client satisfaction.
- Communication Style: Choose a lawyer who is readily available to answer your questions and keeps you informed throughout the legal process.
- Area of Focus: Some lawyers specialize in criminal defense, while others focus specifically on gun law. Consider finding a lawyer with a focus on gun-related legal issues.