J. Heath Dillon

J. Heath Dillon

Heath Dillon, Attorney at Law
  • Louisiana
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Biography

Heath Dillon was raised in Vernon Parish, Louisiana. He attended college at Northwestern State University for undergraduate studies, where he graduated with honors. He then attended the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree.

Heath was admitted to practice law in Louisiana in September of 1996. After law school, Heath was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where he served on active duty for 8 years in the ranks of First Lieutenant, Captain and Major.

In 2004, Heath resigned his commission as an Army officer in order to work for the Department of the Army at the Fort Polk Office of the Staff Judge Advocate as a civilian attorney. Heath worked in various positions within the Fort Polk legal offices, but spent most of his time as the senior and supervising attorney over the Fort Polk Administrative and Civil Law Office. There, Heath was responsible for providing legal guidance, advice and consultation to the senior leadership, management and supervisory staff of Fort Polk in broad ranging areas of the law such as contracts, labor and employment law, military investigations, regulatory and statutory interpretation, real estate and environmental law, as well as many other legal fields. Then, in the Summer of 2019, Heath retired from federal civilian service and began practice as an attorney in Leesville, Louisiana.

Heath enjoyed representing his community in the areas of criminal defense, labor and employment law and military law from 2019 - early 2022. In April of 2022, Heath began a new position as a prosecutor with the 30th Judicial District (Vernon Parish, LA) District Attorney's Office. He no longer maintains a private law practice.

Education
Army Combined Armed Services and Staff School
Army Officer Staff School
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Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
J.D. (1996) | Law
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Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge Logo
Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
141st Judge Advocate General's Basic Course for JAG Officers (1996) | Army Military Law
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Northwestern State University of Louisiana
B.S. (1993) | Psychology
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Attended on Full Academic Scholarship and Worked Part-Time to Put Self Through School
Honors: Cum Laude
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Logo
Professional Experience
Managing Partner
Heath Dillon Law LLC
- Current
Retired from service as a civilian with the Department of the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps to open my own practice in Leesville, Louisiana. My practice is a general law practice with emphasis in labor and employment law, criminal defense (military and civilian), all areas of military law, DUI/DWI defense, traffic offenses defense, and family law.
Chief, Administrative and Civil Law Division
US Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
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Served as the civilian supervising attorney for the Fort Polk Administrative and Civil Law Division. Supervised an office of 4 civilian attorneys and multiple military attorneys, along with other support personnel. Served as the direct point of contact for senior leaders, managers and supervisors for all manner of legal questions.
Department of the Army Civilian Administrative Law Attorney
US Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
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Resigned my commission as an Army Officer to take a civilian position in the Fort Polk Administrative Law Office. Continued to provide counsel and guidance to the Fort Polk community in all areas of military law.
Major, Senior Defense Counsel
US Army Trial Defense Service, Judge Advocate General's Corps
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Served as the senior and supervising military trial defense attorney for the Fort Polk military installation. Supervised an office of five personnel. Assigned criminal cases to myself or other attorneys for defense. Defended over 40 military courts-martial, including all manner of crimes from murder to sexual assault, drug related cases, battery, theft, and general inability to adapt to military life. Also defended hundreds of military separation actions, along with general officer memorandum of reprimand.
Captain, Chief of Administrative and Civil Law Division
US Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
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As a Captain, served in a Lieutenant Colonel's role as the Chief of the Fort Polk Administrative and Civil Law Division. Providing direct and daily legal advice to the Fort Polk senior Command in all areas of the law. Basically served as in-house legal counsel for the Fort Polk military installation, its leaders, managers and supervisors.
Senior and Supervising Special Assistant United States Prosecuting Attorney
US Army JAG / US Attorney's Office
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Directly responsible for prosecuting all civilian criminal misconduct occurring on the Fort Polk military installation. Managed and prosecuted a docket of offenses ranging from traffic citations to DUI to felony cases in coordination with the US Attorney's Office. Supervised three other Special Assistant United States Attorneys in this role.
Captain, Administrative Law Attorney
US Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
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Military administrative law attorney. Responsible for providing guidance, advice and counsel to the senior military leadership at Fort Polk in all areas of military law and in areas of civilian law that impact a military installation.
Captain, Trial Counsel
US Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
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Military prosecutor for the Army at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Prosecuted over 30 Courts-Martial. Also directly responsible for processing and completion of military separation actions, separation board investigations and military letters of reprimand.
Captain, US Army
US Army Judge Advocate General Corps
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Legal claims defense attorney. Investigated and paid or denied claims made against the US Army for property damage, medical malpractice, etc. Supervised an office of 11 personnel.
Awards
America's Top Criminal Defense Attorney
Marquis Who's Who in America - Legal Profession
Top Criminal Defense Attorney in Louisiana
Marquis Who's Who in America - Legal Profession
Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer
National Trial Lawyers Association
Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney
Attorney and Practice Magazine
Top 1% of Attorneys Nationally
Top 10 Louisiana Criminal Defense Attorney
American Institute of Legal Counsel
Excellence in Criminal Defense Law
Lawyers of Distinction
Lawyer of Distinction - Criminal Law Defense
Lawyers of Distinction
Nationally recognized for distinguished practice of law in the area of criminal law defense.
National Lawyer of Distinction - Military Law
Lawyers of Distinction
Nationally vetted and recognized as a stand-out attorney in all areas of military law.
Professional Associations
National Trial Lawyers Association
Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer Member
- Current
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Marquis Who's Who in America - Legal Profession
Member
- Current
Activities: Since 1898, Marquis Who's Who in America has been the preeminent national authority for recognizing and gathering biographical data for the nation's top professionals. Only the top in industry are recognized!
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National District Attorney's Association
Associate Member
- Current
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Louisiana State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section
Member
- Current
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Louisiana Association for Justice
Member
- Current
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National Employment Law Association
Member
- Current
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National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member
- Current
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Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member
- Current
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Public Defenders' Association of Louisiana
Member
- Current
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National Association of Public Defenders
Member
- Current
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Louisiana State Bar Association  # 24270
Member
- Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Louisiana
Louisiana State Bar Association
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Western District of Louisiana Federal District Court
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Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    Visa, Mastercard and American Express
Languages
  • English
Legal Answers
Q. Can i own a gun in Louisiana if i was aressted for 2 charges but was only convicted 1 charge
A: Depends. Need more information. Were you convicted of a felony for possession of CDS I, or a misdemeanor? If a felony, what was your sentence and when did you fully complete that sentence (including completion of all probation or parole from that sentence)? La. R.S. 14:95.1 might prohibit your possession of a firearm depending on these circumstances.
Q. What does it mean when the da decides to pass without date
A: I agree with both of my colleagues. I add that it likely means that a matter was set by a Court for trial on a certain date. On that date, one or both of the parties requested the Court to "pass" or not deal with that matter on that set day. If agreeable to the request, the Court can either set a new date in open court or the matter can instead be set for a future date by written motion of the DA. So, no particular date is set for a future court date. If the DA wants the matter back on the Court's docket, the DA will file a written motion asking the Court to re-set a date. If/when a new date is set, the defendant will receive written notification of this new date at the address on file with the arresting agency / bonding company / clerk of court's office. If there is an attorney of record representing the defendant, that attorney will also receive written notification of the new date, once set.

This may occur for many reasons.

Recommend consultation with a criminal defense attorney in the jurisdiction in which the matter is pending for further discussion of circumstances. Good luck.
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Q. I was charged in 2016. My arraignment was in 2017. My last court date was 1/10/2019. I've been on a continue w/o date
A: Consider going to your appointed attorney's office to request an office visit. Also consider contacting the district public defender's office (the office that appointed your public defender) to request that your public defender contact you. You likely received written correspondence from that office informing you of the appointment of counsel at the beginning of your case. If not, look up your district's public defender's office contact information at this website - go to the district offices tab - http://www.lpdb.la.gov/index/index.php.

Sometimes a delay in prosecution is a good thing. For example, it could be that the DA's Office is unsure whether they want to proceed. Forcing their hand may not be in your best interest. Could be that critical witnesses are unavailable, and the more time that elapses, the less likely they are to be available. Could be that your attorney is strategically waiting on the State to move on your case. Point is, don't assume your attorney doesn't have your best interest in mind. Be proactive, but not accusatory. Good luck. ... Read More
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Contact & Map
Leesville, LA, USA