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CRIMINAL DEFENSE & PERSONAL INJURY REPRESENTATION
ATTORNEY PROFILE
A committed criminal defense attorney, Ms. Williams ensures that before the State or Government takes away a client’s liberty, the process is fair. Defense attorneys are not advocates for crime; they are interested in a safe environment in which to live and raise their families. The primary role of a criminal defense attorney is to make sure the State nor Government deprives anyone of liberty without due process of law.
With her personal injury cases, Ms. Williams understands the physical and emotional trauma that individuals endure following a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or work related accident. Ms. Williams strives to develop relationships with clients built on trust with an open line of communication and respect. She is dedicated to giving legal advice to clients in order to protect their rights and get the settlements they deserve.
Ms. Williams is married to Loyola University College of Law Professor Bobby Harges and is the proud mother of Blair Matthew Harges.
Publications
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Louisiana Code of Evidence, Pocket Manual, Bobby Marzine Harges & Gaynell Williams (Esquire Books 2012).
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Harges, B.M. & Williams, G. Louisiana Criminal Law – Cases and Materials 2nd ed. (Vandeplas Publishing 2008).
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“Evidence,” (5th Circuit Symposium). Harges, Bobby & Williams, Gaynell. 40 Loy. L. Rev. 637 (1994). Cited in People v. Roraback, 242 A.D. 2d 400, 662 N.Y.S.2d 327, 1997 N.Y. Slip Op. 07279, N.Y. A.D. 3 Dept., August 28, 1997 (NO. 75226).
Gaynell Williams is licensed to practice law in Louisiana. She served as First Assistant District Attorney for Orleans Parish. During that time, Ms. Williams was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court and honored to serve as Judge Pro Tempore for the 24th Judicial District Court. Ms. Williams has also authored a number of legal publications and served as an instructor at various legal conferences. Ms. Williams established her current law practice focusing on criminal law and personal injury law, with offices in Downtown New Orleans by appointment only and Gretna, Louisiana. One of the benefits of maintaining her own law practice is that Ms. Williams has the flexibility to provide each client with individualized service.
Ms. Williams now draws upon her vast experience, not only as a prior state and federal prosecutor, but also as a Judge Pro Tempore, to defend her clients in the criminal legal field as a private criminal defense attorney near New Orleans.
“How can you defend those people?” is a question frequently put to criminal defense attorneys, often in a tone suggesting that it is not so much a question as a demand for an apology, as though a defense attorney needs to justify her work in a way that a prosecutor does not. Because the question presumes that “those people” accused of crimes are guilty, and that people who are accused of committing crime should not be defended, it reflects a misunderstanding of our criminal justice system and the defense attorney’s role in it. Ms. Williams is committed to zealously and uncompromisingly representing her clients with all of her ability and creativity, within the bounds of the law.
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