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Eric Hessler-Criminal Defense Attorney

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Eric Hessler-Criminal Defense Attorney

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I am a criminal defense attorney with over 40 years of law enforcement, investigative and criminal trial experience.

I am licensed to practice in Louisiana and Mississippi, with a proven record in both State and Federal Court.

10/02/2026

On September 28, 2001, after 17 years of serving as a police officer, I left the NOPD and began practicing criminal defense in Orleans Parish. In November of 2001, I also began as a public defender at Tulane and Broad. Two very different occupations. Two very different goals. Two very different approaches. One criminal justice system. For this system to work, correctly, each and every individual in the system better be able to provide knowledgeable, experienced and ethical services (from the cop on the street, the prosecution, defense attorneys and judges). Anything less and the system fails our society and those that need the system most. In my career I have represented many persons who have been accused of terrible crimes, who have been demonized and who have relied on the system to make sure, despite that, their constitutional rights are protected. I am damn proud to have the responsibility to do so.
Cameron Mary is also one of those persons who knows this, and to try and make that type of commitment and work ethic a liability instead of an asset is not only unfair, but extremely short sighted. Cameron has all the makings of the type of Judge that is needed in the system to make it work. Cameron has my vote…

09/11/2026

Q:What can make being falsely labeled a drug dealer by the State of Louisiana even worse?
A: When the State also confiscates for forfeiture over half a million dollars of your personal cash…

Yes, Louisiana has some of the most liberal laws that enable it to seize your assets, including cash. Even worse, you then have the burden of proving that you legally and rightfully owned or possessed those assets. The laws are technical and demanding, and in my opinion, are slanted towards the State. To make matters worse, the seizing agency, the district attorney, and the court split up the seized assets between themselves if you lose your forfeiture case.
If you find yourself in such an unfortunate position, please find a good lawyer who will not only fight for you, but most importantly, has the experience to do so.
I am proud to have been able to do so for my client in this matter, and am grateful to see the Courts fair and unbiased judgment in this matter.

07/28/2026

WE THE PEOPLE....

The United States Constitution begins with those famous words "We the People" and goes on to provide the basic structure for our federal government as well as the fundamental rights of Amerian citizens. The Sixth Amendment, specifically, provides the right of those accused of crimes to have a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, the assistance of counsel and the right to confront present and confront witnesses.

PLEA THE PEOPLE???

In my opinion, however, it seems that the legal system (both the prosecution and the defense) is changing "We the People" to "Plea the People". It is a basic fact that many District Attorneys overcharge an accused. When it does so, it is almost always to gain an advantage over the defendant, and to tempt the defense into immediately considering pleas to a lessor charge. Many times, without aggravating circumstances, the prosecution will threaten to seek excessively high punishment, scaring the defense, and the defendant, into a plea deal. And then there is always the looming threat of a "trial tax" being imposed on those defendants that do choose to go to trial and lose.

Don't get me wrong, many times it is in the defendant's best interest to seek a plea bargain, and all good attorneys use this tactic when necessary. It just seems to me that in the past 20 years or so the number of criminal jury trials have drastically declined. And while they can be many reasons for it, I can't help but think that for a legal system that was designed to allow Americans to protect and prevent government tyranny over it's people and to allow American citizens to judge other American citizens (instead of continuing the British legal systems which denied such protections) we are drifting away from jury trials and the government is gaining power over citizens. I don't if know if it is because we are lazy, jaded, disillusioned or lacking trust. I just know that I am not really happy to see this trend that seems to be developing.

07/04/2026

Happy 250th Birthday America! I, for one, can say that I feel proud and lucky to be an American. And for those Americans that disagree, that’s fine, our country can always improve. In 1863, while delivering the Gettysburg Address, President Abe Lincoln said a “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”. This was said during our country‘s most divided time, the Civil War.
Old Abe wasn’t blaming the people for the war, just reminding them that they, through the powers granted to them through American citizenship, held the ultimate powers. Government is a concept brought alive by the people we elect. If you don’t vote, you should. If you’re not happy with your elected representatives (yes, representative, not leaders-they should follow the voters lead) vote them out.

As a criminal defense attorney, I feel very strongly that the same principle applies to our jury trial system. Every time I pick a jury, I remind those citizen’s that their government is trying to strip a citizen of certain rights and oftentimes trying to imprison them. A criminal case is styled “The State of ________ vs. J.Q. Smith or “United States of America vs. J.Q. Smith”. Damn, like the entire State or Country is against J.Q. Smith? That’s a tough spot to be in! But once again, the People, of the Jury, ultimately decide. The people of the jury, decide the weight of the government’s evidence, and decide the fate of the citizen before them. And a good jury does it based on the evidence, the law. They also do it from their own individual experience, which they carry into the jury room.

A good criminal defense attorney is proud to stand between the government and the accused, ensuring that the accused’s constitutional rights are protected. That is an integral part of our justice system. A good jury, of the people, is equally essential. It infuriates me when a potential juror says “I can’t judge someone else“ or “I don’t trust the government (or cops, or prosecutors).

As a juror, I am not asking you to judge a person, I am asking you to use the evidence, the law and your own individual experience to decide if the government has proven their case. In today’s America, most people don’t trust the government. And that’s the precise reason why our founder’s gave the people such constitutional rights. Use them or lose them. And don’t weasel out of jury duty, that‘s when your individual experience matters most. Rant over…Happy 4th everyone!

06/20/2026

Just another reason you need a criminal defense lawyer that not only knows the law, but has extensive criminal trial experience. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging Louisiana’s ability to utilize 6 person juries for some felonies and misdemeanors (felonies which do not require hard labor as part of the sentencing elements).
Mississippi has long required 12 person juries in all felony matters. Louisiana, as of now, does not. This needs to change, and hopefully it will!

If you are charged with a felony or misdemeanor crime, your options are few. Get it reduced through serious motion practice, take a plea, or tee it up and go to trial. If you end up in front of a jury for trial, you better have a lawyer who has done it before. Experienced trial lawyers often get better plea deals because the prosecution doesn’t really like to go to trial. The prosecution knows which lawyers will go to trial and those who won’t.

Trial is a serious matter and can have serious consequences, under any scenario. If you have to go to trial, you better make sure your attorney has trial experience, and a lot of it! I have tried hundreds of jury trials in Louisiana and Mississippi, in state and federal court. Whether to proceed to trial is always the client’s decision, and this decision needs to be well advised. Make sure your attorney is prepared for that endeavor, always.

06/19/2026

FREE LEGAL ADVICE…
Help me, help you!
As a former law enforcement officer and now as an experienced criminal defense attorney I can tell you this; If the police show up to your home or business uninvited, or stop you on the street, it‘s not to ask about the weather. And yes,it can be intimidating.

Americans were given a constitutional right to remain silent in these situations, and for good reason. Unfortunately, far too many don’t exercise this right. Sometimes it’s because they are scared, nervous or feel that they can explain away a situation. Sometimes it is due to intimidation. Sometimes it’s due to a feeling of the need to co-operate or to appear co-operative. Sometimes it is ignorance.

No matter the reason, it is always a mistake. The officers have an agenda, they have information that you may not have, they have a job to do, an investigation to complete and a conclusion to reach.

If you find yourself in this situation, simply tell the investigating officer, in a clear and respectable manner, that before you answer any questions or make any statements you wish to consult an attorney. Repeat that as many times as necessary. Then, consult an attorney, and let them hash it out.

Bonus Tip: If it is the FBI or another federal agency that is asking questions of you, the above also applies. Extensivley.

Address

320 N. Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA
70119

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