NOTA BENE
Latin for "note well." Each month N.B. features ethics, professionalism, and board developments.

January 2026

2025 Statistics in Review

We have assembled a series of info-graphics illustrating the various activities of the LADB and the Court in 2025. Additional detailed data may be viewed at the statistics page.

April 2026

HEARING COMMITTEE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

REBECCA BUSH, LAWYER MEMBER


Rebecca Bush was born in Titusville, FL and raised in Paducah, KY. After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1995 with B.A. degrees in political science/communications, Rebecca came to Louisiana to attend law school. She earned her Juris Doctor from Loyola University College of Law in 1998.

Rebecca is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. She currently serves as the managing counsel for the Travelers Staff Counsel offices in the State of Louisiana, overseeing two physical offices and two virtual offices which handle all lines of business insurance coverage. Before joining Travelers in 2010, Rebecca worked in private practice with the law firms of House, Kingsmill, Riess & Seabolt, LLC (now Riess LeMieux, LLC), Plauche Maselli Parkerson, LLP, and Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard. She is a member of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel and the Federal Bar Association.

Rebecca was encouraged to become a hearing committee member by Board members and other hearing committee members she knew from her years of practice. She felt volunteering was a means of fulfilling a goal of giving back to the legal community and doing her part in sharing the wisdom gained from her mentors. She believes that the legal profession, and in particular the legal profession in the State of Louisiana, is comprised of individuals with a high degree of integrity. While members of the profession often compete for business and are adverse in the courtroom, they share the collective goals of continuing to learn from one another, interpreting law as it changes, and advocating for their clients. The profession’s ability to self-regulate through this process is reflective of these qualities.

Rebecca’s public service extends well beyond service to her profession. Since moving to Mandeville just before Hurricane Katrina, Rebecca has served as a councilwoman for the City of Mandeville and as a member and Chairman of Mandeville’s Planning & Zoning Commission. She also serves as a lector and fifteen-year member of the Our Lady of the Lake Church Choir in Mandeville and is a sustaining member of the Junior League of New Orleans.

In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her husband and son, attending her son’s football games, traveling, and running.

May 2026

Notification Concerning Deceased Attorneys


The passing of a member of the bar is sad news and may have adverse effects that extend far into the attorney's community. The LADB may be able to help. If you are aware or become aware of an attorney who has recently passed away, please notify the Membership Department at the Louisiana State Bar Association or you can contact the LADB. This information will not only help the Bar Association and LADB keep updated and accurate records, but more importantly, also may assist in the timely appointment of a receiver to notify the attorney's clients, if necessary. As Supreme Court Rule XIX, §27(A) provides, when "no responsible party capable of conducting the lawyer's affairs is known to exist, the presiding judge in the judicial district in which the lawyer maintained a practice or a lawyer member of the disciplinary board should the presiding judge be unavailable, upon proper proof of the fact, shall appoint a lawyer or lawyers as counsel to inventory the files of the lawyer in question, and to take such action as seems indicated to protect the public, as well as interests of the clients and of the lawyer in question."

Additionally, having the information in advance of the Annual Attorney and Trust Account Registration period is particularly helpful and can eliminate the need for family members of deceased attorneys to provide this information to the LSBA and the LADB while the family members are mourning their loss.

Lastly, information from other attorneys about the passing of a fellow attorney is sometimes the only information that is received in order for the name of that attorney to be included in the Memorial Exercises held annually at the Supreme Court, in recognition of the passing of members of the bench and bar.

July 2026

ERICA JOHNSON ROSE



Erica Johnson Rose, now in her second-term as a lawyer member of the Disciplinary Board, has dedicated her professional career to serving the public. She views public service not merely as a responsibility but as a duty that requires a commitment to the well-being of others and the greater good. She cites the principle reflected in Philippians 2:4 as her personal guiding approach to leadership, service, and professional responsibility: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Erica’s commitment to serving others began as an 8th grade English teacher, followed by a job as a middle school librarian. After graduating from law school, she served as a law clerk for a district court judge in the 16th Judicial District. Following her clerkship, she opened a small general practice law office and began serving as a staff attorney with the 16th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office. She went on to serve as an Assistant District Attorney for St. Mary Parish for twelve years, diligently working as a criminal prosecutor trying cases from misdemeanors to felony homicides. During this period, she also served as City Prosecutor for the City of Franklin.

Currently, Erica is a Visiting Professor of Law at Southern University Law Center where she teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, professional responsibility, and trial advocacy. She also serves as the City Prosecutor for the City of Patterson and the Public Defender for the Chitimacha Tribal Court in Louisiana. In addition, she owns Erica Johnson Rose & Associates, LLC, practicing alongside her daughter who is also an attorney. Erica’s primary areas of practice are criminal law, uncontested divorces, and small successions.

Erica’s work on the Board is a further extension of her commitment to serving others. She has learned that public service as a Board member is both a privilege and a responsibility. Her work on the Board has provided her with the opportunity to serve her fellow bar members and contribute to fostering a profession that is both respected and admired. It also has reinforced her belief that the vast majority of attorneys work diligently to serve their clients and uphold the standards of the profession. At the same time, she has gained a greater appreciation for the importance of accountability and the role the disciplinary system plays in protecting the public and maintaining the public’s confidence in the legal system. Her experience has also highlighted the challenges attorneys face in balancing professional obligations, client expectations, and personal responsibilities. As a result, she has become even more convinced of the importance of mentorship, professionalism, and ongoing education to an attorney’s career. Ultimately, her service has strengthened – not diminished – her view of the legal profession.

As Erica believes that mentorship is an important component of an attorney’s career, she offers the following advice to those just beginning their legal lifework: Encourage yourself to be in charge of your own destiny, which means having the courage to step out on faith and pursue opportunities beyond your comfort zone. By embracing new possibilities and trusting your own judgment, you will continue to grow, learn, and create the future you want for yourself.

Originally from Morgan City, Erica Rose has resided in New Iberia for the last twenty-three years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in Secondary English Education from Southern University in Baton Rouge, and then obtained a Master of Library and Information Science degree from LSU. She later received her Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Civil Law degrees from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU. She is an active member of the Teche Bar Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and New Zorah Baptist Church of Morgan City, where she serves as the church’s attorney. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching romantic comedies, and spending time with her family, especially her new granddaughter.