New Orleans Criminal Defense Lawyer Who Has Worked Both Sides

How does Barry Ranshi defend criminal charges in Greater New Orleans?

He starts early, he digs into the evidence, and he prepares every case as if it will go to trial. The sooner a defense lawyer is involved, the more time there is to gather evidence, find witnesses and file the right motions before the state's version of events hardens.

The Barry S. Ranshi Law Firm, LLC focuses exclusively on criminal defense, both felonies and misdemeanors. From the office at 4224 Florida Ave. in Kenner, the firm defends people in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, St. Charles, Tangipahoa, Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, along with St. John the Baptist and Plaquemines.

What that looks like for you:

• Proactive case building. Evidence is requested, witnesses are interviewed and motions are filed early, to stay ahead of the prosecution from day one.
• Direct communication. Barry personally handles your case. You get prompt answers, day or night, especially when something urgent comes up.
• Courtroom readiness. Whether the right path is a negotiated resolution or a trial, you will have a lawyer who is prepared for both.

Barry works alongside Senior Partner John J. Mason, J.D., Ph.D., and Associate Attorney Patricio Ramos, a former prosecutor and U.S. Navy veteran.

Why does it matter that your lawyer is a former prosecutor?

Because the surest way to take apart a case is to know how it was put together. Barry has held nearly every key seat in the Louisiana criminal justice system:

• Student practitioner at Loyola, where he helped secure the release of a client wrongly charged with first degree murder.
• Intern for Judge Robert Pitre in Jefferson Parish.
• Staff attorney to Orleans Parish Criminal Court Judge Darryl A. Derbigny, where he helped the court reverse a wrongful second degree murder conviction (affirmed by the Louisiana Supreme Court) and helped rewrite the court's expungement procedure.
• Assistant District Attorney in Orleans Parish, as a first and second chair felony trial prosecutor and in juvenile court.
• Public defender in the 17th JDC Public Defender's Office.
• Trial and appeals attorney at one of the largest criminal defense firms in New Orleans, where he won writs in the courts of appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court.

He knows how prosecutors screen cases, what they worry about at trial, and when an offer is worth taking. Barry is admitted in Louisiana and in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana and the Southern District of Texas. Read his full attorney profile.

What happens after an arrest in Louisiana? The case, step by step

Most Louisiana criminal cases follow the same path, though the timing varies by parish and charge. Here is the general order:

1. Arrest. Police take you into custody, with or without a warrant. If there was no warrant, a judge must find probable cause, generally within 48 hours.
2. Booking. You are processed at the parish jail: fingerprints, photos and a record of the charges.
3. First appearance (within 72 hours). You must be brought before a judge within 72 hours of arrest, not counting weekends and legal holidays. The judge advises you of your rights, appoints counsel if you qualify, and can set or review bail. If this does not happen in time, Louisiana law requires release on your own recognizance.
4. Bail. Most people are entitled to bail before trial, with some exceptions. Judges consider the seriousness of the charge, your record, flight risk and danger to the community. See bail and bond hearings.
5. Formal charges. The district attorney files a bill of information or obtains a grand jury indictment. Strict deadlines apply (see the table below).
6. Arraignment. You enter a plea, usually not guilty, within 30 days of the formal charge unless there is just cause for delay.
7. Discovery. Your lawyer obtains the state's evidence: police reports, video, lab results and witness information.
8. Motions. This is where many cases are won or narrowed, for example with a motion to suppress evidence from an illegal search.
9. Plea or trial. Many cases end in a dismissal or a negotiated plea. If yours goes to trial, felony verdicts must be unanimous.

For a practical checklist, read what to do after an arrest in Louisiana. If you or a loved one was just arrested, call (504) 905-8399. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How long can the state hold you before filing charges?

Not forever. Louisiana sets deadlines for the district attorney to formally charge you, and they are shorter if you are sitting in jail:

For crimes punishable by death or life in prison, the in-custody deadline is 120 days. If a deadline passes without just cause, you must be released or your bail obligation is discharged. There are also outer limits: the state generally has 2 years to begin a felony trial and 1 year for a misdemeanor once charges are filed. A defense lawyer tracks these dates closely, because a missed deadline can change the whole case.

Felony or misdemeanor: what is the difference in Louisiana?

A felony is any crime that can be punished by death or imprisonment at hard labor. Everything else is a misdemeanor. If a statute says "with or without hard labor," the offense is a felony.

The difference shows up everywhere:

• Jury trials. A misdemeanor gets a jury only if it carries more than 6 months in jail or a fine over $2,500. Otherwise, a judge decides. Felonies are tried to a jury of 6 or 12, and every guilty verdict must be unanimous.
• Time limits to charge. Generally 2 years for misdemeanors punishable by jail, 4 years for most felonies, and 6 years for felonies that must be punished at hard labor. There is no limit for crimes punishable by death or life.
• Record clearing. Most misdemeanors can be expunged after 5 years, and many felonies after 10.

Even a misdemeanor can mean a criminal record, fines and lasting damage to your job or reputation. Every charge deserves a real defense. Learn more in felony vs. misdemeanor in Louisiana.

What should you do, and avoid, right now?

Protect your rights first. What you say and do in the first days can be used against you later.

1. Stay silent about the case. You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer. Use them.
2. Call a lawyer immediately. The earlier your defense starts, the more options you have.
3. Keep records. Save paperwork, bond documents, texts and anything else connected to the case.
4. Do not discuss your case with anyone but your lawyer. Jail phone calls are recorded, and conversations with friends can be misunderstood and repeated.
5. Stay off social media about the arrest or the people involved.
6. Follow your bond conditions and keep every court date. Missing one can lead to a warrant.

Which criminal charges does the firm defend?

The firm defends the full range of state and federal criminal charges. That includes DWI and DUI and drug charges from possession to distribution. We defend assault and violent crimes, battery and domestic violence, along with gun and weapons charges, theft and shoplifting, white collar and fraud and sex crimes. Young people get focused help through our juvenile defense practice. Cases in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, at 500 Poydras St. in New Orleans, are handled through our federal criminal defense practice. We also help with traffic tickets, probation violations, bail and bond hearings, outstanding arrest warrants, and clearing old records through expungement.

Where does the firm handle cases?

Throughout Greater New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. Some of the courts where our clients' cases are heard include:

• Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, 2700 Tulane Ave., New Orleans. See Orleans Parish.
• 24th Judicial District Court, 200 Derbigny St., Gretna, for Jefferson Parish felonies. See Jefferson Parish.
• First Parish Court in Metairie and Second Parish Court in Gretna, for Jefferson Parish misdemeanors, including most DWIs.
• 22nd Judicial District Court in Covington, for St. Tammany Parish.

Distance is not a barrier. As one client, Patti, wrote in an Avvo review: "He kept My friend out of jail. This attorney goes above and beyond. He drove quite aways to attend court hearing." Browse all locations we serve or visit our Kenner office. Consultations are available in person or remotely, and they are always free and confidential. Call (504) 905-8399.