10 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Baton Rouge, LA

This guide covers 10 criminal defense law firms serving Baton Rouge, Louisiana, including cases heard in Baton Rouge City Court, the 19th Judicial District Court for East Baton Rouge Parish, and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Each firm was evaluated on three criteria: attorney background and credentials, depth of criminal defense experience at both the state and federal level, and practice focus, meaning whether criminal defense is a dedicated practice or one area among several.

When comparing options, three practical questions matter most. Does the attorney appear regularly in the court that will hear your case, whether City Court, the 19th JDC, or federal court? Does the attorney have first-hand knowledge of how prosecutors build cases, through prior work as a prosecutor, public defender, or police officer? And does the firm also handle the parallel proceedings that often follow an arrest, such as a driver’s license hearing after a DWI or an appeal and post-conviction relief after a verdict? This list is not ranked and not sponsored. Firm details come from the firms’ own websites, cross-checked against attorney directories including Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms, Avvo, and Martindale-Hubbell, and business listings such as Yelp and Expertise.com.

1. Longman Jakuback, APLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Jacob Longman and Kathryn Jakuback Burke, Senior Partners; James E. Boren, Of Counsel
• Headquarters: The Saltz Building, 830 Main Street, Floor 2, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
• Phone: (225) 383-3644
• Website: ljlaw.org
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (state and federal), Post-Conviction Relief and Appeals, Drug Crimes, DWI Defense, Sex Crimes, Violent Crimes and Murder, White Collar Crimes, Internet Crimes, Grand Jury Investigations, Mental Health Defense, Gun Crimes, Juvenile Defense, Expungements, Family Law
• Firm Size: Boutique litigation firm founded in 2017 with five attorneys named to Louisiana Super Lawyers
• Practice Area Page: Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Lawyer
• Social Profiles: Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp, Super Lawyers

About the firm

Longman Jakuback is a Baton Rouge boutique litigation firm led by senior partners Jacob Longman and Kathryn Jakuback Burke. Both started their careers at the East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender, Longman as an intern and investigator and Burke as an investigator and later a public defender attorney. Longman also worked in law enforcement before law school and is licensed in all three Louisiana federal districts, so the firm can handle cases in state court, city court, and federal court. Of Counsel James E. Boren is a past leader of both the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and he taught Advanced Litigation, Capital Punishment, and Wrongful Convictions at LSU Law for nearly 20 years.

The firm’s work runs from investigation and trial through direct appeals and post-conviction relief, supported by a team of investigators, legal researchers, and specialists. Five attorneys at the firm have been selected for Louisiana Super Lawyers: Longman, Burke, Richard Sprinkle, Jennifer Cameron, and Boren, who also received the 2026 Impact Award from Innocence & Justice Louisiana. Free consultations are available by phone or through the firm’s contact form.

2. Knightshead Law Firm

• Attorney/Key Figure: Tedrick Knightshead, Attorney
• Headquarters: 2415 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
• Phone: (225) 388-5265
• Website: knightsheadlawfirm.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (violent crimes, DWI, drug crimes, theft, traffic offenses, expungements), Personal Injury (car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, offshore accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, wrongful death)
• Firm Size: Small firm with more than 15 years of combined criminal defense and personal injury experience
• Practice Area Page: Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Lawyer
• Social Profiles: Facebook, LinkedIn, X

About the firm

Knightshead Law Firm is led by attorney Tedrick Knightshead, a graduate of Southern University Law Center who practices criminal defense and personal injury law from an office on Government Street in Baton Rouge. The firm reports more than 15 years of experience across both areas, with criminal defense work that covers violent crime, DWI, drug charges from possession to trafficking, theft, and expungements.

The firm describes its criminal practice as built on extensive trial experience and a network of outside professionals who support case preparation. It serves clients in Baton Rouge, Walker, and Ascension Parish, represents clients throughout Louisiana, and offers free consultations.

3. Fitz-Gerald, Hebert & Associates, LLC (FHD Law)

• Attorney/Key Figure: John Fitz-Gerald, Attorney; Sidney Rosteet, Attorney; Matthew “Duke” Ducote, Associate Attorney
• Baton Rouge Office: 2644 S. Sherwood Forest Boulevard, Suite 106, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 (also Lake Charles and Westlake)
• Phone: (225) 408-3334
• Website: fhdfirm.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Law (DUI, drug crimes), Personal Injury, Family Law, Environmental Law, Estate Planning, Succession Law, Business Law
• Firm Size: Multi-office firm with three locations in South Louisiana and more than 80 years of combined attorney experience
• Social Profiles: Facebook

About the firm

Fitz-Gerald, Hebert & Associates, known as FHD Law, serves South Louisiana from offices in Lake Charles, Westlake, and Baton Rouge. The Baton Rouge office on Sherwood Forest Boulevard is staffed by attorneys John Fitz-Gerald and Sidney Rosteet and associate attorney Matthew “Duke” Ducote, and its criminal law practice centers on DUI and drug crime charges.

The firm brings more than 80 years of combined attorney experience across its practice areas. Because it also handles family law, personal injury, and estate matters, clients with overlapping legal issues can work with a single firm.

4. Hymel Davis & Petersen

• Attorney/Key Figure: Glen R. Petersen, Michael Reese Davis, and L. J. Hymel, founding attorneys
• Headquarters: 4610 Bluebonnet Blvd, Ste A, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70809
• Phone: (225) 298-8118
• Website: hymeldavis.com
• Practice Areas: Federal White Collar Criminal Defense (healthcare fraud, tax fraud, internet crimes, environmental crimes, corporate fraud and business investigations, grand jury proceedings), Business Litigation, Fiduciary Litigation, Insurance Claim Disputes, False Claims Act, Personal Injury
• Firm Size: Boutique firm founded by three former federal prosecutors, with more than 100 years of combined legal experience
• Practice Area Page: Baton Rouge Federal White Collar Crime Lawyer
• Social Profiles: LinkedIn, X

About the firm

Hymel Davis & Petersen was founded by three former veteran federal prosecutors and focuses on complex civil and criminal litigation for individuals, businesses, and organizations. Glen Petersen holds a Super Lawyers profile for white collar criminal defense, and the firm represents clients in state and federal courts across Louisiana and nationwide.

The firm’s criminal practice is built around the federal system, including fraud, embezzlement, corruption, regulatory violations, and corporate investigations by state and federal agencies. Its attorneys defend corporate officers and directors as well as individuals, and its background on the prosecution side informs how it approaches federal sentencing, grand jury proceedings, and investigations before charges are filed.

5. Steven J. Moore, LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Steven J. Moore, Principal
• Headquarters: 6513 Perkins Road, Suite 105, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
• Phone: (225) 767-7778
• Website: stevenmoorelawfirm.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (DWI, drug crimes, assault and battery, domestic violence, homicide, white collar crimes, federal crimes), Personal Injury
• Firm Size: Small firm; Moore has practiced since 1991
• Practice Area Page: Criminal Defense Lawyer in Baton Rouge
• Social Profiles: Facebook, LinkedIn, Avvo

About the firm

Steven J. Moore graduated from Southern University Law Center in 1991 and has defended state and federal criminal cases in Baton Rouge for more than three decades. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2022 for Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar, and the firm holds 2026 Best Law Firms rankings in Baton Rouge for both categories.

Clients work directly with Moore rather than a junior associate, and the firm offers free, same-day consultations. Its criminal practice covers DWI, drug possession, assault, domestic violence, homicide, and white collar cases, and client reviews frequently point to the candid, plain-spoken case assessments he gives at the outset.

6. Manasseh, Gill, Knipe & Bélanger, PLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: James P. Manasseh, Managing Partner; Andre Bélanger and James G. Knipe III, attorneys
• Headquarters: 8075 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70809
• Phone: (225) 927-1234
• Website: mgkblaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (drug offenses, DWI, federal crimes, internet crimes, military defense), Personal Injury, Sports and Entertainment
• Firm Size: Mid-size, multi-attorney firm; one of the larger criminal defense practices in Louisiana
• Social Profiles: Yelp, Super Lawyers

About the firm

James Manasseh, a 1988 LSU Law graduate, leads one of the largest criminal defense practices in Louisiana. He has appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing a case in 1991 and serving as counsel of record in 2022 alongside partner Andre Bélanger, and was selected to Super Lawyers for 2025 and 2026. Bélanger has handled thousands of criminal cases including approximately 200 trials, with experience in homicide defense, large drug conspiracies, and federal fraud cases. The firm received the President’s Award for Appreciation from the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

The firm’s attorneys include former prosecutors who have handled high-profile cases involving public figures and members of law enforcement, and its criminal practice spans state, federal, military, and internet crime matters. As one of the larger practices on this list, clients may work with several attorneys over the course of a case rather than a single lead, and the firm’s practice extends beyond criminal defense into personal injury and sports and entertainment law.

7. Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm

• Attorney/Key Figure: Don Cazayoux, Partner; J. Lane Ewing Jr., Attorney
• Headquarters: 257 Maximillian Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (also 143 East Main Street, New Roads, LA 70760)
• Phone: (225) 650-7400
• Website: cazayouxewinglaw.com
• Practice Areas: Federal and White Collar Criminal Defense (public corruption, healthcare and Medicare fraud, tax fraud, mail and wire fraud, BP and FEMA fraud, insider trading, Lacey Act, conspiracy), Personal Injury
• Firm Size: Boutique firm with three attorneys
• Social Profiles: Yelp

About the firm

Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm pairs a former U.S. Attorney with a former Assistant U.S. Attorney. Don Cazayoux served as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, where he led cases involving health care and disaster-related fraud, public corruption, and corporate fraud and served as executive director of the National Center for Disaster Fraud. Lane Ewing worked in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on complex tax fraud, money laundering, and narcotics cases and is admitted in all three Louisiana federal districts and the Fifth Circuit.

Because its practice is concentrated on white collar and federal matters, the firm is a stronger fit for fraud investigations and federal charges than for routine state misdemeanors. Its attorneys know from the prosecution side how federal cases are charged and negotiated, and they handle both state and federal defense.

8. Rozas Law Firm

• Attorney/Key Figure: David Joseph Rozas, Founder
• Headquarters: 7967 Office Park Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (also downtown Baton Rouge at 450 Laurel Street, Suite 1410, and offices in Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria, Monroe, and Shreveport)
• Phone: (225) 341-6945
• Website: rozaslaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (DWI, drug crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, murder, federal crimes, internet crimes, misdemeanors), Immigration, Family Law
• Firm Size: Multi-office firm serving clients in English and Spanish; in practice since 2004
• Social Profiles: Facebook, Instagram, Super Lawyers

About the firm

David Rozas began his career as a public defender in Lafayette and Baton Rouge before becoming a felony public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court. In three years there he tried more than 130 bench and jury trials, including DWI, cocaine distribution, firearm possession, and second-degree murder cases, and his first three felony jury trials ended in not-guilty verdicts. He was selected to Super Lawyers for 2026 and sits on the Criminal Justice Panel in the Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana, where federal courts appoint him to represent defendants who cannot afford counsel.

Rozas has handled federal trials involving white collar offenses, drug conspiracies, firearms, and homicide, and he represents clients before federal grand juries. He is fluent in Spanish, and the firm offers Spanish-language representation. Criminal defense is one of several focus areas alongside immigration and family law, so the practice is broader than a criminal-only firm.

9. Messina & Kiefer, Attorneys at Law

• Attorney/Key Figure: J. Rodney Messina, Attorney; Janna Messina Kiefer, Attorney
• Headquarters: 216 T. J. Jemison Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
• Phone: (225) 343-9422
• Website: jrodneymessina.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense (DWI, drug crimes, felonies and misdemeanors, expungements, traffic tickets), Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation
• Firm Size: Small father-daughter firm with more than 40 years of combined experience

About the firm

J. Rodney Messina opened his own practice in 1991 and was admitted that year to the Louisiana bar and to the Middle, Eastern, and Western District Courts of Louisiana, adding admission to the Fifth Circuit in 1999. He has tried hundreds of cases from misdemeanors to felonies, including state and federal jury trials, has argued before the First, Third, and Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeal, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the Fifth Circuit, and is listed in Super Lawyers.

The firm handles DUI, drug crimes, expungements, and traffic matters for clients in downtown Baton Rouge and surrounding areas, and much of its business comes through word-of-mouth referrals. As a small father-daughter team, it offers direct attorney contact but has less bench depth for large multi-defendant or document-heavy federal cases.

10. Greg Gouner, Attorney at Law

• Attorney/Key Figure: Greg Gouner, Attorney
• Headquarters: 11750 Bricksome Avenue, Suite C, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
• Phone: (225) 293-6200
• Website: gouner.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DWI/DUI, Traffic Tickets, Warrants, Drug Cases, Bankruptcy, Family Law, Personal Injury, Asset Forfeiture
• Firm Size: Solo practice with more than 25 years of experience
• Social Profiles: Facebook, Yelp

About the firm

Greg Gouner is an LSU Law Center graduate who has practiced for more than 25 years and is licensed in both Louisiana and Texas. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and has published articles in the bar review. Expertise.com lists his firm at 4.8 stars across 217 Google reviews, one of the larger review counts among Baton Rouge criminal defense firms.

His practice covers DWI, traffic tickets, warrants, drug charges, and other criminal matters alongside bankruptcy and family law. Criminal defense is one of several areas he handles, and as a solo practitioner he has less capacity for large multi-defendant cases than a firm with a deeper bench.

Louisiana Criminal Defense Law Resources

• Louisiana State Legislature: Official source for the Louisiana Revised Statutes, including Title 14 (Criminal Law), and the Code of Criminal Procedure. Expungement is governed by Articles 971 through 995 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Baton Rouge City Court: Hears misdemeanors punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail, plus traffic matters. Located at 233 St. Louis Street, Room 310, Baton Rouge, LA 70802; (225) 389-5279.
• East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court: Custodian of 19th JDC court records, including felony case files and filings for expungement motions.
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana: Federal criminal cases for East Baton Rouge and eight surrounding parishes. Located at the Russell B. Long Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 777 Florida Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801; (225) 389-3500.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Court Will Hear My Criminal Case In Baton Rouge?

It depends on the charge and where the alleged offense occurred. Baton Rouge City Court at 233 St. Louis Street handles misdemeanors punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and/or six months in jail, along with traffic cases inside city limits. Felony cases anywhere in East Baton Rouge Parish go to the 19th Judicial District Court at 300 North Boulevard after the district attorney files charges. Federal charges are heard in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana at 777 Florida Street, which covers East Baton Rouge and eight other parishes. Firms with federal courtroom experience include Hymel Davis & Petersen, whose founders are former federal prosecutors, and Longman Jakuback, whose lead partner is licensed in all three Louisiana federal districts.

How Does A DWI Case Work In Louisiana, And What Happens To My License?

A Louisiana DWI arrest starts two separate processes: the criminal case under La. R.S. 14:98 and an administrative action against your driver’s license through the Office of Motor Vehicles. A first offense carries a fine of $300 to $1,000 and 10 days to six months in jail under La. R.S. 14:98.1, and a third offense is a felony. To contest the administrative suspension, a written hearing request must be postmarked or received by the Office of Motor Vehicles within 30 calendar days of the arrest, or the suspension is enforced. Firms on this list that handle DWI and DUI cases include Steven J. Moore, LLC, Fitz-Gerald, Hebert & Associates, Messina & Kiefer, and Greg Gouner, Attorney at Law.

Does A Louisiana Jury Have To Be Unanimous To Convict?

Yes, for felonies committed on or after January 1, 2019. Louisiana voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2018 that requires all 12 jurors to agree in felony trials, replacing the old rule that allowed convictions on a 10 to 2 vote. In 2020, Ramos v. Louisiana confirmed that the Sixth Amendment requires unanimous verdicts in state criminal trials as well. Because a single juror can prevent a conviction, trial experience matters in jury selection and argument, and firms such as Manasseh, Gill, Knipe & Bélanger, whose partner Andre Bélanger has tried approximately 200 cases, and Rozas Law Firm, whose founder tried more than 130 trials as a public defender, bring substantial courtroom records.

Can A Criminal Record Be Expunged In Louisiana?

Often, but not in every case. Expungement is governed by Articles 971 through 995 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure. When charges were dismissed, declined, or ended in an acquittal, expungement is generally available without a waiting period. For misdemeanor convictions the waiting period is generally five years after completing the sentence, and for many felony convictions it is ten years, with no new convictions or pending charges during that time. Louisiana also has an automated expungement process run through the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information for eligible records. Longman Jakuback, Knightshead Law Firm, and Messina & Kiefer all list expungement among their services.

Should I Hire A Solo Attorney, A Boutique Firm, Or A Larger Firm?

Each model fits different cases. A solo practitioner such as Greg Gouner offers direct access to one attorney and a lower overhead structure, which suits many DWI, traffic, and misdemeanor matters. A small team such as the father-daughter firm Messina & Kiefer combines direct contact with some shared workload. Boutique firms such as Hymel Davis & Petersen and Longman Jakuback concentrate on serious state and federal litigation, and larger firms such as Manasseh, Gill, Knipe & Bélanger can staff multi-attorney trial teams for complex or multi-defendant cases. Matching the firm’s size and focus to the charge, the court, and the likelihood of trial is usually more useful than choosing on name recognition.

Do Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Lawyers Offer Free Consultations?

Many do. Longman Jakuback, Steven J. Moore, LLC (which offers same-day consultations), Knightshead Law Firm, Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm, and Messina & Kiefer all advertise free initial consultations. Fee structures vary with the type of charge, the court level, and whether the case is expected to go to trial, so it helps to ask each firm how it bills and what the quoted fee covers before retaining counsel.

Disclaimer: These listings featuring Criminal Defense Lawyers in Baton Rouge, LA is provided strictly for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal counsel or an official attorney referral. The law firms listed here are neither ranked nor sponsored, and their inclusion does not indicate any endorsement or partnership. Because lawyer qualifications, case outcomes, and contact information can frequently change, we strongly advise verifying all details directly with the respective law office prior to making a hiring decision. Additionally, please be aware that prior case successes do not guarantee the same results in future legal matters.