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Masters of the Courtroom (sm) - December 11, 2025

Posted on: Dec 11, 2025
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Please Note: Masters of the CourtroomSM follows a different schedule from the other days of Procrastinators’ ProgramsSM, and includes one hour of professionalism CLE credit. There are no ethics programs during Masters’ of the CourtroomSM.

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Agenda:

8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.       Registration Opens

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.       The Prologue: Knowing Your Audience and Setting the Stage

Hon. Lance M. Africk, U.S. District Court, EDLA
Hon. Franz Zibilich (ret.), Orleans Criminal District Court
Brittany L. Reed, U.S. Attorney's Office

10:20 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.     The Opening Chapter: Statements That Stick

Hon. Lori Jupiter, Orleans Civil District Court
Richard E. King, Melchiode Marks King LLC

10:55 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.    Building the Narrative Part 1: Evidence

Hon. Barry W. Ashe, U.S. District Court, EDLA
Wayne J. Lee, Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann LLC
Andrew R. "Andy" Lee, Jones Walker LLP

11:55 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.   Lunch on your own

1:05 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.    Building the Narrative Part 2: Expert Witnesses

Hon. Nannette Jolivette Brown, U.S. District Court, EDLA
Richard C. "Rick" Stanley, Stanley Reuter Alford Owen Munson and Paul LLC
Sharonda R. Williams, Loyola University

2:10 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.     The Appellate Script: Protecting Your Story for a Second Audience (Appellate Practice Specialization)

Hon. Kurt D. Engelhardt, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Hon. Roland L. Belsome, Chief Judge, La. Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit
Kelly B. Becker, Liksow & Lewis APLC

3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.    Illustrating Your Story: Visual Advocacy in the Digital Age

Hon. Omar K. Mason, Orleans Civil District Court
Stephen J. Herman, Fishman Haygood LLP
Joseph G. Glass, Duplass APLC

4:20 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.   The Climax: Closing Arguments that Land the Verdict

Hon. Ellen M. Hazeur, Orleans Civil District Court
H. Minor Pipes, III, Pipes Miles Beckman LLC

4:55 p.m. – 5:55 p.m.     The Epilogue: Your Reputation is the Story that Lasts (Professionalism)

Hon. Wendy B. Vitter, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, EDLA
Claude J. Kelly, III,  Federal Public Defender, EDLA
David I. Courcelle, Law Office of David I. Courcelle LLC

Location: Pan American Building
Located at the Pan American Life Building, 601 Poydras St., 11th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70130

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