Attorney Louis A. Etoch has practiced law in  Arkansas for more than three decades. In 1989, he began working with his father, founder of the Etoch Law Firm, carrying forward a tradition of excellence established in 1963. Today, Mr. Etoch provides competent, effective representation to injury victims and criminal defendants from nearly every community in Arkansas.

Mr. Etoch earned his law degree and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The same year he graduated from law school, he was admitted to the Arkansas State Bar as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. 1990, he was admitted to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Over the course of his legal career, he has handled over 150 jury trials in civil and criminal matters. Mr. Etoch has settled multiple million-dollar personal injuries cases and has recovered substantial jury verdicts including verdicts of in excess of one million dollars.

In his personal injury practice, Mr. Etoch has represented of victims of auto accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death accidents, toxic tort cases, products liability cases, pedestrian cases, railroad cases, civil rights cases, bicycle cases, tire separation cases, Arkansas Deceptive Trade Act cases, drunk driver case, crime victim cases and other types of cases involving individuals injured by the negligence of others.

As a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Etoch has handled all types of criminal cases involving drug offenses, capital murder cases, gun charges and DWI arrests. He served as a public defender in Phillips County, giving him unique insight into the inner-workings of the local criminal justice system. Mr. Etoch is certified to handle death penalty defense, a special qualification from the State of Arkansas.  Mr. Etoch has tried nearly 100 criminal jury trials.  Mr. Etoch has tried multiple capital murder cases in both State and Federal Courts.  Mr. Etoch has extensive trial experience in Federal Courts.  Mr. Etoch has had dozens of juries return unanimous not guilty verdicts in both State and Federal Courts. Including multiple not guilty verdicts in capital murder cases, drug cases, gun cases, DWI cases, and other criminal matters.

Outside of his work as a lawyer, Mr. Etoch maintains an interest in aviation. He has been a twin engine instrument rated pilot since 2002.

Education

• University of Arkansas School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1989
• University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Bachelor of Science in Zoology, 1986
  
  

Admissions

• Arkansas, 1989
• United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, 1989
• United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas, 1989
• Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1990
  
  

Professional Associations & Memberships

• Phillips County Bar Association, Current Member and Past President (1992-1996)
• Arkansas Bar Association, Member (1989-present)
• Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member (1999-present)
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member (1989-present)
  
  

Teaching Positions & Publications

• PCCUA, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 1993
• “The Value of a Discharged Attorney’s Contingent Fee Contract: Henry, Walden & Davis v. Goodman, 42 Ark. L. Rev. 549 (1989)
  
  

Public Offices

• Phillips County Public Defender, 1990-1991
• Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Board Member, 1999-2005 and 2009-present
  
  

Reported Cases

• U.S. v. Terys Boose, 739 F. 3rd 1185, 1186 (8th Cir. 2014) and Rottinghaus v. Hollowell, No. 14-2471, 8th Cir. 2014
• Harry Stephens Farms, Inc. v. Wormald Americas, Inc., 571 F.3d 820 (8th Cir. 2009)
• Bradford v. State, 351 Ark. 394, 94 S.W.3d 904 (Ark. 2003)
• Holder v. State, 354 Ark. 364, 124 S.W.3d 439 (Ark. 2003)
• Price v. State, 347 Ark. 708, 66 S.W.3d 653 (Ark. 2002)
• Tucker v. Evans, 276 F.3d 999 (8th Cir. 2001)
• Pyle & Tunnicliff v. State, 340 Ark. 53, 8 S.W.3d 491 (Ark. 2000)
• Weaver v. State, 339 Ark. 97, 3 S.W.3d 323 (Ark. 1999)
• Franklin v. State, 998 S.W.2d 738 (Ark. 1999)
• Corbit v. State, 334 Ark. 592, 976 S.W.2d 927 (Ark. 1998)
• Newton v. Etoch, 332 Ark. 325, 965 S.W.2d 96 (Ark. 1998)
• Bailey v. State, 334 Ark. 43, 972 S.W.2d 239 (Ark. 1998)
• State v. Herred, 332 Ark. 241, 964 S.W.2d 391 (Ark. 1998)
• Etoch v. State, 332 Ark. 83, 964 S.W.2d 798 (Ark. 1998)
• Otey v. Marshall, 121 F.3d 1150 (8th Cir. 1997)
• Helton v. State, 325 Ark. 140, 924 S.W. 2d 239 (Ark. 1996)
• Dodson v. State, 326 Ark. 637, 934 S.W.2d 198 (Ark. 1996)
• Lanes v. State, 53 Ark. App. 266, 922 S.W.2d 349 (Ark. App. 1996)
• Bradford v. State, 324 Ark. 110, 918 S.W.2d 719 (Ark. 1996)
• Smith v. State, 326 Ark. 238, 928 S.W.2d 799 (Ark. 1996)
• Lepard v. West Memphis Mach. & Welding, 51 Ark. App. 53, 908 S.W.2d 666 (Ark. App. 1995)
• Franklin v. State, 318 Ark. 324, 885 S.W.2d 23 (Ark. 1994)
• Walker v. Jackson Nat. Life Ins. Co., 20 F.3d 923 (C.A. 8 Ark. 1994)
• Clay v. State, 310 Ark. 647, 839 S.W.2d 10 (Ark. 1992)
• Ishie v. Kelley, 302 Ark. 112, 788 S.W.2d 225 (Ark. 1990)
• Ivory v. Woodruff Electric Co-Operative Corp. 2015 Ark. App. 255, CV-14-698 (decided 4-22-15)
• TMG Cattle Company, Inc. v. Parker Commercial Spraying, LLC, 540 S.W.3d 754 (Ark. App. Ct. 2018)
• Hadder v. Heritage Hill Manor, Inc., 495 S.W.3d 628 (Ark. App. Ct. 2018)
• Patterson v. Heritage Hill Manor, Inc., 2016 Ark. App. 301 (Ark. App. Ct. 2016)