Advisory Councils

District Defender Advisory Council (DDAC)

The purpose of the District Defender Advisory Council (DDAC) is to a provide a means of encouraging communication and input by the District Defenders in shaping and promoting policies and procedures adopted or proposed to be adopted by the Louisiana Public Defender Board. DDAC began in March 2009 and meets approximately every 10-12 weeks.

In July 2012, all District Defenders were given the opportunity to elect three new members to the District Defender Advisory Council. The newly elected members, serving a term that ends June 30, 2015 are below:

1. Michael Mitchell (19th JDC)
2. Michael Courteau (4th JDC)
3. Tony Tillman (30th JDC)

Elected for a three-year term commencing July 1, 1011, ending June 30, 2014
1. J. Clay Carroll (2nd JDC)
2. Victor E. Bradley, Jr. (29th JDC)

Elected for a three-year term commencing July 1, 2010, ending June 30, 2013
1. Anthony P. Champagne (32nd JDC)
2. Richard Tompson (24th JDC)


Assistant Defender Advisory Council (ADAC)

The Assistant Defender Advisory Council was created at the request of Assistant (front-line) Defenders from the field with support from the Louisiana Public Defender Board. The Council consists of 'Assistant Defender Liaisons to LPDB'. The Liaisons are volunteers, working on behalf of their colleagues in the district office to articulate office-wide feedback (diverse as it may be) from their office to LPDB, and expedite communication about news, policy changes or other information between LPDB and the field.

At present, 6 districts and 1 contract program are represented by 'Assistant Defender Liaisons to LPDB'. The Assistant Defenders Liaisons are responsible for expanding ADAC's membership by doing outreach to recruit Assistant Defender Liaisons from other districts. The ADAC began in February 2010 and is growing its membership. Current Assistant Defender Liaisons are:

Michelle AndrePont, 1st JDC - Caddo Parish
Harold Murry, 9th JDC - Rapides Parish
David Michael Williams, 9th & 28th JDC - Rapides and Lasalle Parishes
Erin Mullen, 19th JDC - East Baton Rouge Parish
John W. Hogue, III, 22nd JDC - St. Tammany and Wahington Parishes
Kathryn Sheely, Baton Rouge Capital Conflict Office

Assistant Defender feedback is essential to LPDB, and LPDB supports the exchange of information (both to the field and from the field) by lending consistent staff to attend monthly meetings of the Assistant Defender-initiated Advisory Council in Baton Rouge.


Juvenile Defender Advisory Council (JDAC)

The Juvenile Defender Advisory Committee (JDAC) is a committee of juvenile defenders from various parts of Louisiana who advise LPDB staff on efforts to build the capacity of the defense bar and to improve access to counsel and quality of representation for LPDB clients involved in Child in Need of Care cases or juvenile delinquency proceedings.

The current members are:

Kristen Bernard, Chief Juvenile Defender, 1st JDC - Caddo Parish
Janet Brown, Juvenile Justice Team Leader, 15th JDC - Acadia, Lafayette, Vermillion Parishes
Necole Williams, Juvenile Defender, 14th JDC - Calcasieu Parish
Bridget Hebert, Juvenile Defender, 21st JDC - Tangipahoa, St. Helena, Livingston Parishes
Herman "Pete" Holmes, Chief Juvenile Defender, 19th JDC - East Baton Rouge Parish
Kevin Kimball, Juvenile Defender, 18th JDC - Iberville, Point Coupee, West Baton Rouge Parishes
Josh Perry, Executive Director, Juvenile Regional Services - Orleans Parish
Amanda Trosclair, Juvenile Defender, 22nd JDC - St. Tammany, Washington Parishes

JDAC is a leadership body created to make defenders active participants in developments in juvenile justice reforms in Louisiana. The current JDAC priority projects include the creation of professional standards of representation for children in delinquency proceedings and families in CINC cases.

Members look forward to nominating additional juvenile defenders for the Committee who will represent various districts throughout the state. The JDAC meets regularly in Opelousas, Louisiana.