BLAKE J. ARCURI

Blake Arcuri began his legal career working for the Orleans Parish District Attorney, where he was assigned to the felony trials division with Laura Rodrigue. In 2010, he became an associate of the law firm of Usry, Weeks & Matthews.  While there, he represented sheriffs and law enforcement in civil litigation throughout the state of Louisiana. He also managed an extensive amount of litigation in both federal and state courts involving the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, trying cases involving in-custody deaths, suicides, assaults, overdetention, and other issues arising under 42 U.S.C. 1983. Blake negotiated the federal Consent Judgment against the United States Department of Justice and the Southern Poverty Law Center and has litigated the matter extensively in the years that followed, including the successful opposition of an attempted federal takeover of the jail.

His work for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office resulted in his being named the agency’s general counsel and his role expanded to supervision and litigation of all legal issues arising out of the 800+ employee agency. During his time representing the OPSO, he litigated against the City of New Orleans and was successful in assisting to secure a 50% increase in pay for deputies over a matter of five years and in excess of a 100% increase in annual appropriations for the agency. Blake has also represented municipal police officers, state troopers, deputies, firefighters, prosecutors, and other first responders in both defense of litigation brought against them and in disputes against their respective agencies involving employment.

Blake is a graduate of Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. He received a Bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in criminology from Louisiana State University and his juris doctor degree from Loyola University College of Law.  He is a member of the adjunct faculty at Loyola University New Orleans.

Contact Blake at bja@rodriguearcuri.com.