Castille Receives State Bar’s Citizen Lawyer Award

May 19, 2016


Taylor Porter Partner Preston Castille, left, received the LSBA "Citizen Lawyer Award" from LSBA President Darrel Papillion. 

Taylor Porter Partner and Executive Committee Member Preston Castille was named the recipient of the Louisiana State Bar Association "Citizen Lawyer Award," presented to an outstanding lawyer or judge who is an unsung hero or heroine in his/her community, and who has made a difference in the local community through volunteer organizations, displaying a sense of duty, professionalism and responsibility. Castille formerly served on the Board of Governors of the Louisiana State Bar Association from 2001-2004 and as a member of the House of Delegates from 2009-2012. Castille was nominated for the award by the Baton Rouge Bar Association. He was the President of the Baton Rouge Bar Association in 2011.

Castille is a member of the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society and served as Baton Rouge Chapter President from 1998-2000. During his tenure as president, the Chapter established the Louis A. Martinet Foundation, hired its first executive director, established a formal pro bono program and hired its first Pro Bono Director. The Chapter also created a Mentoring Program with a grant from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. He also became chairman of the Capital Area Legal Services Corporation Board of Directors to assist the organization and smoothly transition to the Southeast Legal Services Corporation to ensure continued legal services to the poor in this area of the state.

In 2013, Castille joined the Board of Directors of New Schools for Baton Rouge (NSBR) and served as Vice Chairman. NSBR focuses on improving the quality of K-12 education in the Baton Rouge area.

In 2012, Castille became the president of the Southern University Laboratory School, helping it to avoid closure that year when the school was running an annual deficit of approximately $800,000. Today, the school’s enrollment and revenue have nearly tripled. Castille also helped the school successfully introduce and pass legislation to help the school privatize its cafeteria service and grant it authority to raise tuition. That same legislative session, the school was able to also obtain $1.2M in capital outlay funding for much needed building improvements.

In 2011, Castille served as the president of the Baton Rouge Bar Association and Foundation. Under his administration, the Bar created the Junior Partners Academy, which is now an award-winning mentoring program for elementary and middle school students. He served on several BRBA committees including: Teen Court, Law Day, Pro Bono and Youth Education – all heavily involved in the community. He was also a strong supporter of the Pro Bono CLE Palooza.

In 2009, Castille was appointed Judge Pro Tempore by the Louisiana Supreme Court and has presided over hundreds of civil and criminal trials and hearings. While he has returned to the full-time practice of law, he continues to periodically serve as an ad hoc judge. The Louisiana Supreme Court also appointed Castille to the Supreme Court’s District Court Rules Committee.

Castille selected in 2000 by the Baton Rouge Business Report as one of Baton Rouge’s “Top Forty Under 40” community and business leaders. Castille is a member of the 2012 Louisiana Leadership class sponsored by Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL).

Castille joined Taylor Porter in 1994 and is engaged primarily in business litigation and transactions.  Prior to attending law school, Castille worked as an economist for the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.  In addition to being an experienced litigator in both state and federal court, Castille assists clients with matters involving the Louisiana Legislature, the Louisiana Public Service Commission, and other state and local governmental entities. He also serves as outside general counsel to numerous private, public, and governmental entities. Castille is ranked in Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Administrative Law and Insurance Law. Castille is an adjunct professor of law. He began his career as a law professor in 2001 at LSU Law School teaching Pretrial Litigation Practice and taught there for eight years. In 2003, he began teaching at Southern University Law School and teaches Louisiana Civil Procedure I & II and Evidence.

Castille received his Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law in 1994. He was a member of the Tulane Moot Court Board (1993-1994) and the Tulane National Environmental Law Moot Court Team (1992-1993). Upon graduation, Castille was selected to The Order of Barristers. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business (Economics) in 1990 from Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge. As a student at Southern, he was appointed by Governor Edwin W. Edwards to serve as a member of the Louisiana Board of Regents for Higher Education. He also served as president of the Student Government Association.

Read our Case Studies

See how we can help. Contact us today

  • Disclaimer
  • © Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips L.L.P. All rights reserved.