Associated Press - August 3, 2009 6:24 PM ET

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that most of the new restrictions on lawyer advertising adopted by the Louisiana Supreme Court pass constitutional muster.

Monday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman says the state can freely regulate ads that employ client testimonials, portray a judge or jury or use mottos that imply a lawyer's ability to "obtain results."

But the judge said a new rule limiting attorneys' use of celebrity endorsements violates the First Amendment and can't be enforced by the state.

The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board says the rules scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1 are designed to curb deceptive ads. The lawyers who sued to block their enforcement claim they impose unconstitutional restrictions on free expression.

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