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J. Heath Dillon
Heath Dillon Law LLC
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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.
With over 24 years of legal practice, Heath has a proven record of legal excellence and dedication to service. Heath served years as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney and labor and employment law attorney. Put his experience, professionalism and dedication to service to work for you today!
Education
- Army Combined Armed Services and Staff School
- Army Officer Staff School
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- 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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- Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
- J.D. (1996) | 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
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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
- Excellence in Criminal Defense Law
- Lawyers of Distinction
- 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
Professional Associations
- National Trial Lawyers Association
- Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer Member
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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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- Louisiana Association for Justice
- Member
- - Current
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- Louisiana State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section
- Member
- - Current
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- National Association of Public Defenders
- Member
- - Current
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- National Employment Law Association
- Member
- - Current
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- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
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- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member
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- Public Defenders' Association of Louisiana
- Member
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- Louisiana State Bar Association # 24270
- Member
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Louisiana
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- ID Number: 24270
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- Western District of Louisiana Federal District Court
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Fees
- Free Consultation
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Credit Cards Accepted
Visa, Mastercard and American Express
Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Military Law
- DUI & DWI
- Traffic Tickets
- Suspended License
- Employment Law
- Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
Languages
- English
Legal Answers
- 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.
- Q. I was offered a plea deal that says 2 years hard labor suspended 3 years ASP. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY
- A: It means that you would be sentenced to 2 years prison with LA Department of Corrections, at hard labor. That prison sentence would be suspended (put on hold) and not served. You would be placed on 3 years adult supervised probation. There would be normal conditions of that probation. If you comply and successfully complete the 3 years of probation, you would not serve the 2 years of prison time. You would, however, be subject to probation revocation if you violate the terms of your probation. If your probation is revoked, you would then be subject to being sentenced to all or part of the 2 year prison sentence with the Department of Corrections, at hard labor. You should consult with a criminal defense attorney to discuss and consider the pros and cons of this sentence and the propriety of the State's offer.
- Q. Is a military protective order still valid if the issuing commander has PCSd?
- A: Yes, the MPO is still an enforceable order, despite the issuing officer's PCS. Violation of the MPO could result in your appropriate punishment by the new command.
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