Mike S. Fawer - a New Orleans, Louisiana (LA) Criminal Defense Lawyer

New Orleans Criminal Defense Lawyer

Updated: 02/28/2026

Areas of Practice

Criminal Defense

Attorney Information

Overview

Mike Fawer has probably tried more high-profile criminal cases than any other Louisiana attorney over a career that spanned 60 years.

The Bronx-born but longtime New Orleans criminal defense attorney has been front and center in the well-known murder cases involving Aaron Mintz, William Johnson and Curtis Kyles; political corruption cases of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, Charles Roemer and Chief Judge Walter Nixon; the blatant government misconduct cases of Douglas DiLosa, Curtis Kyles and David Mark; and unique cases including attempted murder by injection of the HIV virus by accused Dr. Richard Schmidt of Lafayette. He has argued more than 25 cases at the appellate level, securing reversals of conviction in at least half and has argued before the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Fawer is renowned for his aggressive style, intense preparation, courtroom bravado, meticulous and attentive approach to jury selection, skilled cross-examinations and humanizing defense narratives.

He is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia Law School, where one of his classmates was a Harvard transfer named Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Aside from Louisiana Mr. Fawer has tried cases in New York, Washington, D.C., Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Nevada. Before locating to New Orleans in 1971, he worked for the U.S. Department of Justice and then the vaunted U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Fawer’s extraordinary career is highlighted in his published book “From the Bronx to the Bayou” and in a 10-episode podcast titled “Combat in the Courtroom”.

Education

Legal Education
- Columbia Law School, New York, New York, 1960
  LL.B.
Non Legal Education
- Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1956
  B.A.

Current Employment Position(s)

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Senior Attorney
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Classes and Seminars

Featured in a 10-Episode Podcast Titled “Combat in the Courtroom”

Representative Clients

Murder Cases (Aaron Mintz, William Johnson, Curtis Kyles)

Political Corruption Cases (Edwin Edwards, Charles Roemer, Chief Judge Walter Nixon)

Blatant Government Misconduct (Douglas Dilosa, Curtis Kyles, David Mark)

Attempted Murder by Injection of the HIV Virus (Dr. Richard Schmidt of Lafayette)

Representative Cases

U.S. v. Anthony (Tony Ducks) Corallo, et. al
- Court: U.S.D.C. (S.D.N.Y.)
- Year: 1968
U.S. v. Clyde A. "Rock" Gisclair
- Court: U.S.D.C. (E.D. LA.)
- Year: 1977
U.S. v. Edwin L. Cabra and Claude "Buddy" Leach
- Court: U.S.D.C. (W.D. LA.)
- Year: 1979
U.S. v. Carlos Marcello, Charles E. Roemer II, et. al ("Brilab")
- Court: U.S.D.C. (E.D. LA.)
- Year: 1981
U.S. v. Hue B. Snowden
- Court: U.S.D.C. (S.D. Miss.)
- Year: 1982
State of Louisiana v. Aaron Mintz
- Year: 1984
U.S. v. Edwin W. Edwards, et. al
- Court: U.S.D.C. (E.D. LA.)
- Year: 1986
U.S. v. David Lamar Faulkner et. al
- Court: U.S.D.C. (N.D. TX.)
- Year: 1989
State of Louisiana v. Curtis Kyles
- Year: 1998

Published Works

Articles

Published Book “From the Bronx to the Bayou”

Bar Admissions

New York, 1960
U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1963
U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1963
U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1968
U.S. Supreme Court, 1972
Louisiana, 1972
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 1990
U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1990
U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 1990
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1991
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1991
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1991
Texas, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1960
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1972

Other Affiliations

Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Member)
Louisiana State Bar Association (Member)
American Bar Association (Member)
State Bar of Texas (Member)
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Member)

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Contact

New Orleans, LA

201 St. Charles Ave. #3702
New Orleans, LA 70170

Directions

Phone: 504-445-4913

Email: Send a message

Websites:

Credit Cards Accepted

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Mike S. Fawer - New Orleans, LA