History
Attorney Franz N. Borghardt has been serving the community and his clients for over a decade. The first part of Franz’s legal career was founded in public service. He spent his first year of practice clerking for Judge Anthony Marabella in the 19th Judicial District Court. He was then employed as a felony assistant defender in the East Baton Rouge Office of Public Defender, representing the indigent and gaining valuable litigation experience. He has also worked as a felony assistant prosecutor East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office. While working for the Public Defender and District Attorney Offices, he maintained a private practice, serving the legal needs of citizens in areas of law such as personal injury, representation of small businesses, family law, and criminal defense.
The Law Office of Steven J. Moore hired Franz in 2012 as an associate, where he practiced criminal defense and civil rights law. After four years of successful practice, he formed the Borghardt Law Firm with the goal of continuing to serve the community through public service and clients through skilled and dedicated representation.
Legal Community:
Franz has served as an adjunct professor at the Paul M. Hebert LSU Law School, teaching Criminal Litigation. Franz is a CJA Panel Member for the Federal Middle District of Louisiana, representing indigent individuals in federal criminal proceedings. He has presented legal seminars in the areas of jury selection, domestic violence, criminal law topics, and a seminar for law enforcement officers and forensic crime lab employees. He has written published articles on criminal law topics, cell phone search and seizure, jury selection, and social media. He formerly served as a member of the Louisiana Public Defender Board and presently is on the East Baton Rouge Alcohol Beverage Control Board. He has previously served on the Louisiana Legislature Law Enforcement Body Camera committee as chair of the task force. He is current President of the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He was selected to the 2017 Class of the Baton Rouge Business Report’s Forty Under 40 and is a 2018 Honoree of Club Blue’s Great Futures Gala.
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We at the Borghardt Law Firm understand that finding the right attorney to represent you is a choice not to be taken lightly. That’s why we offer free consultations to walk you through your needs, the scope of your goals, and your budget.
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(225)831-1465
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Attorneys
founder
Franz N. Borghardt
From working at the prestigious Steven J. Moore, Attorneys at Law to opening his own practice in 2017, Franz has represented the Baton Rouge community large and small for ten years. On one side, he is a lawyer but he is also the founder of Geaux Rouge, an organization that celebrates the social, the cultural, artistic and culinary scenes of Baton Rouge.
Education
PAUL M. HEBERT LAW CENTER
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA
Juris Doctor, 2006
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Baton Rouge, LA
B.A., English Literature and Classical Latin magna cum laude, 2002
NATIONAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE COLLEGE: TRIAL PRACTICE INSTITUTE
Macon, GA
June 13-26
GERRY SPENCE TRIAL LAWYERS COLLEGE
Dubois, WY
Three week trail advocacy college
Seminars:
"When Criminal Law and Family Law Cases Collide" (2017): Presented a seminar to the Family Law Section of the Baton Rouge Bar Association in Baton Rouge, LA.
"Voir Dire in Sex Offense Cases" (2017): Presented a lecture to the Sex Offense Seminar in Natchitoches, LA.
“Voir Dire on Expert Witnesses in Criminal Cases” (2017): Presented a lecture to the LACDL Forensic Seminar in Baton Rouge, LA.
“Civil Rights 1983 Actions: When Criminal and Civil Issues Collide” (2017): Co-presented a seminar to the Baton Rouge Bar Association Bench Bar Conference on issues that arise when criminal cases overlap civil rights cases in Sandestin, FL.
“Forensics and Expert Witnesses From The Defense Perspective” (2017): Presented a lecture to the Louisiana Chapter of the International Association of Identifiers at the Louisiana State Police in Baton Rouge, LA.
“Defending Confession Cases” (2017): Presented a lecture and Co-chaired the LACDL Criminal Litigation seminar in Lafayette, LA and at the LACDL Law and All That Jazz seminar in New Orleans, LA.
“Voir Dire Seminar for Criminal Defense” (2017): Co-chaired and presented a seminar to the New Iberia Office of Public Defender on jury selection in criminal cases.
“Negotiations, Sentencing, and Collateral Consequences” (2017): Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Nuts and Bolts CLE, Baton Rouge. (Also served as Chair of this CLE).
Adjunct Professor at the Paul M. Hebert LSU Law Center: (2016): Co-Instructor of a Criminal Litigation Practice Course.
“Hacking the Law: Cybersecurity in the Legal Profession” (2016): Baton Rouge Bar Association CLE By The Hour Program, Baton Rouge, LA.
“Voir Dire in Criminal Cases” (2016): Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Last Chance Seminar, New Orleans, LA.
“Voir Dire in Sex Offense Cases” (2016): Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Sex Offense CLE, Natchitoches, LA.
“Voir Dire in Felony DWI and Vehicular Homicide Cases” (2016): Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers DWI CLE, Baton Rouge, LA (Also serves as Chair of this CLE).
“Voir Dire in Homicide Cases” (2016): Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Homicide CLE, Marksville, LA.
“The Art of Criminal Defense Warfare” (2016): Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Law and All That Jazz CLE, New Orleans, LA.
“Ethics Seminar for East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office”: (2016) Baton Rouge, LA.
“Collateral Damage: When Civil and Criminal Law Issues Develop and Overlap in Cases”: (2015) Baton Rouge Bar Association CLE.
“How to Persuade Judges and Juries: Legal Ethics: Guidelines for Investigating and Communication with Jurors”: (2015) NBI CLE Series, Baton Rouge, LA.
“How to Persuade Judges and Juries: Jury Selection/Voir Dire: Building a Favorable Jury Composition”: (2015) NBI CLE Series, Baton Rouge, LA.
“Theory and Theme Development in Contact and Non-Contact Sex Offense Cases” (2015): Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Sex Offender CLE, Natchitoches, LA.
“Collateral Concerns: Criminal and Civil Cases” (2015): Wex S. Malone American Inns of Court, Baton Rouge, LA.
“Creative Ways to Combat DWI Cases” (2015): Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Baton Rouge DWI Seminar.
“DWI Cases: Police Action and Courtroom Performance” (2015): Presentation for the Baton Rouge DWI Police Task Force.
“Domestic Abuse Violence and Firearm Rights” (2014): 19th Judicial District Court Domestic Violence CLE.
“Voir Dire: Challenges for Cause and Hidden Bias” (2014): Baton Rouge Bar Association CLE.
“DWI Standard Field Sobriety Test and Wet Labs “(2014): Baton Rouge Bar Association Bench Bar.
“Voir Dire”: Baton Rouge Bar Association (2013).
“DWI Checkpoints” (2013): Baton Rouge Bar Association Bench Bar Conference (2013).
“Voir Dire on the Unspeakable: Complex Topics During Jury Selection” (2011): Baton Rouge Bar Association CLE.
Pretrial Litigation Course at LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center: Assist Judge Anthony Marabella in teaching a pretrial litigation course at the LSU Law Center 2014, 2015.
Activities & Affiliations
• Louisiana Bar Association: October 2006- Present
• National Association of Criminal Defense:
August 2011- Present
• National College for DUI Defense: August 2011- 2016
• Federal Middle, Eastern and Western District:
December 2006- Present
• U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeal: December 2006- Present
• The Oaks Kiwanis Club of Baton Rouge:
January 2007- 2010
• Louisiana Association Criminal Defense Lawyers:
2009- Present
• Super Lawyers Louisiana Rising Star: 2014-2017
• Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
• Louisiana Public Defender Board: Member 2015-2016
• Baton Rouge Alcohol Beverage Control Board:
Member 2015- Present
• Louisiana Legislative Taskforce for the Implementation of Body Cameras: 2015-2017
• Baton Rouge Body Worn Camera Committee
Member 2016- Present
• A.C. Lewis YMCA Board: Member 2016- Present
• Baton Rouge Area Foundation Member
Member 2017- Present
• Baton Area Art Gallery, Board Member
Member 2017- Present
• Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Investor
Investor 2017- Present
• Baton Rouge Leadership Program
Class of 2018
• John W. Barton Leadership Program
Class of 2017
• BREC- Finance Advisory Committee
Member 2017- Present
• Forum 35
Member 2017- Present
Bar Admissions
• Louisiana
Published Articles
“Social Network Information Sharing of Viral Media and Its Effect on Jury Selection” Baton Rouge Bar Association “Around the Bar”, September, 2011-
“Riley v. California: The Cost of Privacy: Warrantless Searches of Cellphones Subsequent to Lawful Arrest”, Baton Rouge Bar Association “Around the Bar”, November, 2014