Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Defense Attorney
Charged with a crime in New Orleans? Your case is moving whether you're ready or not. Put a defense attorney who knows this courthouse in your corner.
If you or someone you love has a case pending in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court at 2700 Tulane Avenue, the decisions you make right now matter. Charges get formalized, deadlines start running, and the first court settings shape everything that follows. Stephen D. Hébert defends people facing serious criminal charges in New Orleans, and he steps in early — before small problems in a case become permanent ones.
Don't just fight hard. Fight smart. Call or text 504-250-6020.
Why getting a lawyer in early changes the outcome
Louisiana criminal cases move on a clock. Under the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, the State faces hard deadlines to bring a case forward, including the speedy-trial limits in Article 701. Evidence has to be demanded and preserved. Motions to suppress an illegal stop, search, or statement have to be filed at the right time, or the chance is gone.
Waiting for the next court date to "see what happens" almost always favors the prosecution. The earlier a defense attorney is involved, the more there is to work with: weak links in the State's case, problems with how the arrest was handled, and room to negotiate a charge down before positions harden.
How Stephen D. Hébert defends a case in Criminal District Court
Every case is different, but representation generally moves through the same stages — and there's strategy at each one:
- Bond and Magistrate matters. If your loved one is still in custody, getting in front of the bond question quickly can be the difference between fighting the case from home and fighting it from jail.
- Arraignment. Entering the plea and locking in your rights, while we begin pulling the State's evidence.
- Discovery and investigation. Reviewing police reports, body-camera and surveillance footage, lab work, and witness statements to find what the case actually rests on.
- Pretrial motions. Challenging illegal searches, bad stops, coerced or improper statements, and shaky identifications — anything that can suppress evidence or shrink the charges.
- Negotiation. Pushing for a dismissal, a reduction, diversion, or another resolution that protects your record and your future.
- Trial. When the right move is to try the case, being ready to take it to a jury — and the State knowing that — is leverage in itself.
Charges handled in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
Stephen D. Hébert represents clients across the range of serious matters that come through Criminal District Court, including:
- Felony charges of all classes
- Drug and narcotics offenses
- Crimes of violence
- Theft, property, and white-collar charges
- DWI and related charges
- Probation, post-conviction, and other post-arrest proceedings
If you're not sure where your charge falls or how serious it is, call and we'll walk through it.
Why clients put Stephen D. Hébert in their corner
This is a New Orleans criminal defense practice, not a sampler of unrelated services. Stephen D. Hébert is a Super Lawyers–rated, AV Preeminent–rated attorney who handles cases in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court regularly — and knowing the courthouse, the sections, and how local cases actually move is part of how you build a defense that works. The approach is direct: tell you the truth about where your case stands, then fight for the best outcome available.
What to do now — and what not to do
- Do speak with a defense attorney before you talk to police or prosecutors about the facts.
- Do write down everything you remember while it's fresh — names, times, what was said, what was searched.
- Do keep every court date, summons, and bond condition. A missed setting can turn into a warrant.
- Don't discuss your case over recorded jail phone lines or on social media.
- Don't assume a charge is minor, or that it will quietly go away on its own.
Talk to a New Orleans criminal defense attorney today
You don't have to figure out Criminal District Court alone. Whether you were just arrested or your case has been pending for a while, Stephen D. Hébert can tell you where things stand and what can be done about it.
Call or text 504-250-6020. Phone answered 24/7; office visits by appointment.
New Orleans Office: 700 Camp Street, Suite 216, New Orleans, LA 70130
Gretna Office: 230 Huey P. Long Avenue, Suite 201, Gretna, LA 70053
Frequently asked questions
How soon should I hire a lawyer for an Orleans Parish case?
As soon as possible. The early stage — before and around arraignment — is when evidence can be preserved, deadlines protected, and a charge potentially reduced. The longer you wait, the fewer options tend to be on the table.
My loved one is still in jail. Can you help with bond?
Yes. Custody and the court case are handled separately, and addressing bond early is often the first priority. Call 504-250-6020 and we'll talk through the situation.
Can my charges be reduced or dismissed?
Sometimes — it depends on the facts, the evidence, and the law. Many cases are resolved short of trial through suppression of bad evidence, negotiation, or diversion. The only way to know what's realistic in your case is to have someone review it.
Do I have to go to trial?
Not necessarily. A large share of cases resolve before trial. But preparing as if the case could be tried — and being willing to try it — is part of getting a better result.
What does it cost to talk to you?
Call or text 504-250-6020 to discuss your case and fees.
Disclaimer to keep on the page: The information on this page is general and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no outcome is guaranteed. Every case depends on its own facts.