April 2026 Discipline

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These lawyers were the subject of Louisiana Supreme Court disciplinary orders or Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommendations published during the month of April 2026.

Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Patricia Anne Bethancourt The court transferred the respondent to disability inactive status pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 22(D).
  2. Lionel Burns, Jr. The court permanently disbarred the respondent. The respondent filed a divorce petition using forged signatures to obtain a default judgment, refused to cooperate in vacating the fraudulent judgment after opposing counsel advised him of the forgeries, and made false statements to the trial court during the ensuing proceedings. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 3.3(a)(1), 3.3(a)(3), 3.4(b), 4.1, 5.3, 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).
  3. Michelle Andrica Charles The court suspended the respondent for three years. While actively suspended from the practice of law, the respondent performed numerous notarial acts and filed a petition in state court on behalf of a client. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 5.5(a), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).
  4. Richard L. Fewell, Jr. The court transferred the respondent to disability inactive status pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 22. All disciplinary proceedings against the respondent are deferred until he resumes active status.
  5. Christian M. Goudeau The court granted the petitioner permanent retirement from the practice of law pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 20.2.
  6. James Andrew Hatch The court suspended the respondent on an interim basis pending further orders of the court pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 19.3.
  7. Louis R. Koerner, Jr. The court transferred the respondent to disability inactive status pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 22(B).
  8. Julie Brown White The court suspended the respondent for one year, deferred in its entirety, subject to a one-year period of probation. The respondent practiced law while ineligible to do so. In so doing, the respondent violated the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

  1. David Belfield, III The board recommended that the respondent be suspended for one year and one day, that he return any unearned fees to two clients, and that he complete eight hours of continuing education in law office management prior to reinstatement. Across five client matters, the respondent neglected legal matters, failed to communicate with clients, failed to return unearned fees, and failed to cooperate with the ODC’s investigation. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(f)(5), and 8.1(c).
  2. Edward Moses, Jr. The board recommended that the respondent be suspended for one year and one day, retroactive to June 12, 2024. The respondent filed frivolous claims in multiple federal court proceedings and co-opted his clients’ cases to advance his personal agenda of establishing a sovereign state for the Atakapa Indian Nation. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 3.1 and 8.4(d).

LADB Hearing Committees

  1. Brian Dominic Williams Hearing Committee #34 recommended that the petitioner be conditionally reinstated to the practice of law. The petitioner’s conditional admission to practice law in Louisiana had been revoked in 2019 after the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions discovered undisclosed financial obligations in connection with his application to take the bar examination. The petitioner demonstrated compliance with all reinstatement criteria, including satisfaction of outstanding financial obligations, completion of required CLE hours, and payment of all bar dues, filing fees, and disciplinary costs.

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