Andre Robert Belanger
Manasseh, Gill, Knipe & BelangerAndré Bélanger, a graduate of Loyola University, is a highly-respected criminal defense attorney serving the people of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and surrounding areas of Ascension Parish and New Orleans, for one of Baton Rouge's top-25 law firms. In his 15 years of practicing law, Mr. Bélanger has handled thousands of criminal cases at both the pre-trial and trial stage, including approximately 200 trials. This trial experience includes homicide defense and prosecution, large drug conspiracies and fraud cases making Belanger one of the few attorneys capable of handling even the largest, most complex federal cases. Having spent years devoted to developing a top tier regional law practice for federal court and state court litigation, Mr. Bélanger is admitted to practicing law in all federal courts in both Louisiana, Mississippi, the United States Supreme Court and the U. S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. A strong commitment to the justice system, Mr. Bélanger has begun to forge his trial skills in the criminal courtroom in an effort to establish his own personal injury trial practice. This is a major boon for his clients, as few personal injury “trial attorneys” have appreciable jury trial experience. Mr. Bélanger is a member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel’s Top 1%, was also recently nominated to the National Trial Lawyers Association’s “Top 100 Lawyers” list for the third year in a row, as well as recognized as one of Louisiana’s Super Lawyers.
- Loyola University New Orleans
- J.D. (2000) | Law
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- Honors: Corpus Juris Secundum Award Dean's List
- Activities: Loyoal Law Clinic Graduate Assistant Cross Country and Track Coach
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- Knox College
- B.A. (1997) | Political Science and Economics
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- Honors: Alpha Si Omega National Honor Society Cross Country and Track letter Winner Dean's List Graduated Cum Laude
- Activities: Cross Country and Track
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- Junior Partner
- Manasseh, Gill, Knipe & Belanger
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- Responsible for handling high profile state prosecutions, complex federal prosecutions, appeals, post conviction applications and writs to the United States Supreme Court
- Private practice
- Law Offices of Andre Belanger
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- Handled criminal cases, appeals and post conviction relief applications throughout Louisiana.
- 23rd JDC Indigent Defender Board
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- Handled conflict cases for the indigent defender board in Ascension, Assumption and St. James Parishes.
- Associate Attorney
- Regan & Associates
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- Litigated criminal cases in New Orleans state and federal courts.
- Assistant District Attorney
- Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office
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- Assistant District Attorney responsible for handling homicides and sex crimes when I left the office. Brought over 130 cases to trial.
- The Anantomy of a DWI Arrest
- Self Published
- The Practice of Criminal Defence: Why We Fight and Defend Those Most Imperilled Every Day
- International Journal of Public Law and Policy
- Professionalism, Celebrity Justice & Representation of Unpopular Clients and Causes, Dean Henry George McMahon American Inn of Court meeting, Baton Rouge
- Baton Rouge Women's Bar Association
- The Empire Strikes Back: Environmental Criminal Investigation from the Defense Perspective, Environmental Regulatory Compliance Conference, Alexandria
- Louisiana Superlawyer
- Superlawyers
- Louisiana Super Lawyer
- Superlawyers
- Top 100
- National Trial Lawyer's Association
- Top 1%
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- Premier Attorney
- American Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Louisiana State Bar Association # 26797
- Member
- Current
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- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Current
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- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Board Member
- Current
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- Louisiana Association of Justice
- Current
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- National College for DUI Defense
- Current
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- Louisiana
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- Mississippi
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- 5th Circuit
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Appeals & Appellate
- Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
- DUI & DWI
- White Collar Crime
- English: Spoken, Written
- Q. How long do you have to serve,on second degree murder to be pardon in Louisiana
- A: you are not entitled to a pardon. That said, you can apply for a pardon or commutation of sentence.
- Q. I have verification of first offender pardon for dwi 3rd offense. Can I possess a firearm now?
- A: This is a common an tricky question. My simple advice to you is NO. Under La 14:95.1, the DWI wouldn't prohibit gun possession. Not every Louisiana felony will. That said, ANY felony prohibits your ability to possess a gun as a matter of Federal law. Also, the First Offender Pardon DOES NOT restore gun rights to those adversely affected. You'll need a Governor's pardon to do that.
- Q. I need a disposition of an arrest that was reduced with a lawyer for a new job? How do I get this?
- A: you can likely pay your local sheriff's office to do a background check. Similarly, many state police headquarters do the same. Also, you can go to the clerk of court and get a certified minute entry showing a reduced charge.