David R. Katner

David R. Katner is a Clinical Professor of Law and Felix J. Dreyfous Teaching Fellow in Juvenile Law at Tulane University School of Law, where he directs the Juvenile Law Clinic. He also holds an adjunct role as an ad hoc judge in Orleans Parish Juvenile Court. Katner earned both his BA (1977) and JD (1980) from Tulane University. His career spans private practice as a criminal defense attorney, focusing on indigent defenders and death penalty cases, alongside extensive board service in child advocacy organizations.

His research focuses on juvenile justice system reforms, legal ethics in delinquency cases, and interdisciplinary approaches to child welfare. Notable areas include juvenile competency evaluation, mental health considerations in legal proceedings, and policy critiques of immigration detention policies affecting children. He has authored over 40 publications since 1988, with recent works exploring attorney-client dynamics, competency restoration programs, and dental neglect protocols.

Professional affiliations include leadership roles with the National Association of Counsel for Children, Louisiana Mental Health Advocacy Services, and Tulane’s Collegiate Organization for AIDS Prevention. His teaching spans trial advocacy, legal ethics, and forensic child psychiatry at Tulane Medical School.