St. Bernard Parish Criminal Defense Lawyer in Chalmette Courts

One courthouse handles most St. Bernard criminal cases

Felonies, misdemeanors and DWI cases in St. Bernard Parish are all heard at the 34th Judicial District Court, inside the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse at 1101 W. St. Bernard Hwy, Chalmette, LA 70043. Unlike Jefferson or Orleans, St. Bernard does not split criminal cases between separate parish or municipal courts.

One practical warning: after Hurricane Katrina, the court worked out of temporary trailers, and a few state web pages still list that old trailer address. Use the courthouse address above, and always double-check the location printed on your notice.

Cases are prosecuted by the 34th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Because the same office and courthouse handle everything from a first DWI to a serious felony, how your lawyer presents your case early on can shape how the rest of it goes.

What happens after an arrest in Chalmette or Arabi?

After an arrest in St. Bernard Parish, the person is usually taken to St. Bernard Parish Prison, 1900 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA 70043, run by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. Most of the parish is unincorporated, so the Sheriff's Office is the main local police agency.

1. Booking at St. Bernard Parish Prison on Paris Road.
2. Probable cause review within 48 hours if there was no warrant.
3. First appearance before a 34th JDC judge within 72 hours, not counting weekends and legal holidays. Rights are explained and bail is set or reviewed.
4. Release on bail, if bail is set and posted. The judge considers the charge, criminal history, flight risk and danger to the community.
5. Formal charges. For a person still in jail, the DA generally has 60 days to charge a felony and 30 days for a misdemeanor. For someone out on bail it is 150 days for a felony and 90 for a misdemeanor.
6. Arraignment within 30 days of the charge, then motions, hearings and trial or resolution.

Questions to ask when a loved one is held in St. Bernard Parish Prison

When a family member is arrested in St. Bernard Parish, ask three questions: what is the charge, is there a bond yet, and when is the first appearance. Those answers tell a defense lawyer how fast to move.

• What is the charge? A misdemeanor and a felony follow very different paths, even in the same courthouse.
• Is there a bond? If bail has been set, a lawyer may still be able to ask for a reduction.
• Is this a DWI? If so, there is a 30-day deadline to request an OMV hearing about the driver's license.
• Is there a probation hold or an old warrant? These can keep someone in jail even after bond is posted.

Call (504) 905-8399 and we will help you sort it out. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the first consultation is free and confidential.

Is a misdemeanor in St. Bernard Parish tried by a jury?

Usually not. In Louisiana, a misdemeanor gets a jury trial only if it can be punished by more than 6 months in jail or a fine over $2,500. Most first and second DWIs and simple battery charges fall below that line, so a 34th JDC judge decides guilt or innocence.

A judge trial is not a formality. It means the hard work happens in pretrial motions, in reviewing police video and reports, and in testing the State's evidence on cross-examination. Barry spent years as a court staff attorney and prosecutor watching what persuades judges, and he prepares with that in mind.

Felonies are different. Any felony trial verdict in Louisiana must be unanimous. Learn more in our felony vs. misdemeanor guide.

Clearing an old St. Bernard Parish arrest or conviction

Many people call us years after a St. Bernard Parish case because the record is hurting their job search. Louisiana allows expungement in many situations:

• Arrests that did not lead to a conviction can often be expunged once the case is over.
• A misdemeanor conviction can be expunged after a set-aside under Article 894, or once more than 5 years have passed since the sentence ended with no felony conviction in that time.
• A felony conviction can be expunged after an Article 893 set-aside, or after 10 years with no new conviction, though some offenses are not eligible.

Fees typically run about $550 per arrest, split among state police, the clerk, the sheriff and the DA. Louisiana's automated "Clean Slate" law has not been put into effect yet, so you still have to file. See our expungement page and the Louisiana expungement guide.

Drug and gun charges in St. Bernard Parish

Drug and weapons charges in St. Bernard Parish are prosecuted under the same state laws used everywhere in Louisiana, and the penalties depend heavily on the drug, the amount and your record. A few examples:

• Possessing 14 grams of marijuana or less is handled by summons and carries a fine of up to $100, with no jail.
• Possessing under 2 grams of a Schedule II drug such as cocaine or meth carries up to 2 years and up to a $5,000 fine.
• Since July 4, 2024, adults 18 and older who are not barred from having a gun may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. Carrying in prohibited places, like a courthouse or school, is still a crime.
• A person with certain felony convictions who possesses a firearm faces 5 to 20 years at hard labor.

How the police found the drugs or the gun often matters as much as what they found. A search that broke the rules can lead to evidence being thrown out. Learn more about drug charge defense and gun and weapons charges.

Communities we serve in St. Bernard Parish

We represent people from Chalmette, Arabi, Meraux, Violet, Poydras and St. Bernard. Our Kenner office is about 30 to 35 minutes (roughly 22 miles) from the courthouse in Chalmette, and we also offer remote consultations.

See our Chalmette criminal defense lawyer page for more local detail. Charges we handle here include DWI, drug charges, domestic violence, battery, theft and shoplifting, gun charges and outstanding warrants. Barry handles cases in St. Bernard Parish as part of his regular practice, and he offers a free, confidential consultation at (504) 905-8399.