New Orleans attorney Robert Jenkins suspended again by the Louisiana Supreme Court

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Longtime New Orleans defense attorney Robert Jenkins has been suspended from practicing law by the Louisiana Supreme Court for the second time in three years.

Jenkins, 66, was banned from practicing law for one year and one day in a split decision issued June 20 by the state Supreme Court. Louisiana attorneys suspended for more than a year are effectively disbarred and, upon suspension, must apply for reinstatement.

Court documents show Jenkins pleaded guilty to violating four Rules of Professional Conduct while on probation before the state Supreme Court, which in April 2021 suspended him for six months amid allegations of misconduct.

The court’s June 20 order states that an investigation by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel determined that Jenkins failed to inform his client of his 2021 suspension, failed to withdraw from representing the client and filed two false affidavits in the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Five judges signed off on the new suspension, while the remaining two – William J. Crain and Jay B. McCallum – disagreed, saying they would reject the new disciplinary action as too lenient.

Jenkins did not respond to Fox 8’s request for comment.

Jenkins rose to prominence in the city’s courtrooms representing high-profile clients such as former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, who were convicted in corruption cases.

He also represented businessman Jason Adams, who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter after his passenger Kristi Lirette was killed in 2016 when Adams drunkenly crashed his Lamborghini Huracan into a Tchoupitoulas Street levee at high speed.

Jenkins also appeared on local television, appearing as a legal analyst on WDSU.

Attorney Robert Jenkins (right) accompanies client and former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin after a 2021 federal court hearing.

The Louisiana Supreme Court first suspended Jenkins in April 2021 following complaints that he accepted payments from convicted criminals but neglected to hear their appeals, failed to communicate with clients, failed to refund unpaid fees and improperly terminated representation of clients.

Jenkins pleaded guilty to these violations and was suspended for one year and one day, but the Supreme Court unanimously deferred all but six months of the suspension. After being sidelined for six months, Jenkins was also placed on two years’ probation.

“The defendant’s failure to comply with the terms of probation or any misconduct during the probationary period may constitute grounds for the deferred portion of the suspension to be deemed enforceable or, where appropriate, for the imposition of an additional disciplinary penalty,” the court warned in an April 2021 order.

Jenkins has been practicing law in Louisiana for 35.5 years.

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