Richard M. Pittman

Biography

Richard Pittman joined the LSU Law faculty as a Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Field Placement and Pro Bono Programs in 2024. He had previously served as the Deputy Public Defender-Director of Juvenile Defender Services for the Office of the State Public Defender (formerly known as the Louisiana Public Defender Board) for 11 years.

As an administrator at the Office of the State Public Defender, Professor Pittman secured numerous federal and private grants and assisted with drafting, introducing, and successfully promoting passage of several bills aimed at improving juvenile justice and child welfare issues in Louisiana, including the elimination of indiscriminate shackling of children. He has presented at dozens of local, statewide, and national conferences regarding public defense and juvenile law and has served on numerous boards and commissions. Professor Pittman is currently the co-reporter of the Children’s Code Committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute. He also serves on the governing board of the Ascension Community Theatre located in Gonzales.

For his work on behalf of juvenile justice and child welfare, Professor Pittman was awarded the Catherine LaFleur Legal Advocacy for Children Award in 2018 by the Pelican Center for Children and Families and the Juvenile Justice Award in 2023 by the Public Defender Association of Louisiana. He has demonstrated a commitment to helping young attorneys and law students expand their skills and develop client-centered practice habits, regardless of their chosen field.

Pittman received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Louisiana State University, his master’s degree from the University of Delaware, and his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law.