Considering the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Ida caused in the state of Louisiana and other matters outlined therein, Chief Judge Brown has issued General Order No. 21-14 on September 10, 2021.

1. All civil and criminal jury trials are suspended until November 1, 2021 and will be reset by each presiding judge. Attorneys should contact the presiding judges regarding any other deadlines that might be affected by this order.

2. With regard to criminal trials, this order extends criminal trial deadlines previously addressed in General Orders 21-11 and 21-12. Due to the Court’s reduced ability to safely obtain an adequate spectrum of jurors and the effect of Hurricane Ida and the recent surge of COVID-19 cases on the ability of counsel and Court staff to be safely present in the courtroom, the time period of the postponements implemented by this general order will be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act, as the Court specifically finds that the ends of justice served by ordering the postponements outweigh the best interest of the public and any defendant’s right to a speedy trial, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A).

Further, Chief Judge Brown has issued General Order No. 21-12 on September 4, 2021.

1. All deadlines and delays, including prescriptive and peremptive periods, in cases pending or to be filed in this Court are hereby suspended for thirty (30) days commencing from August 26, 2021.

2. All criminal trials are excluded from the time requirements of the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3161, beginning on August 26, 2021 and continuing for thirty (30) days thereafter.

3. All grand jury proceedings in this district are suspended beginning on August 26, 2021 and continuing for thirty (30) days thereafter, subject to change upon motion from the government and further orders of the Court.

4. With regard to criminal matters, due to the Court’s reduced ability to obtain an adequate spectrum of jurors and the effect of Hurricane Ida on the ability of counsel and Court staff to be safely present in the courtroom, the time period of the postponements implemented by this general order will be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act, as the Court specifically finds that the ends of justice served by ordering the postponements outweigh the best interest of the public and any defendant’s right to a speedy trial, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A).

Court operations which had been suspended until September 7, 2021, will resume on September 7, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. The Clerk’s Office staff will be available between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm on site and remotely until 5:00 pm.

Litigants may continue to file documents electronically through the District Court’s CM/ECF system. Unrepresented persons may send filings electronically to the District Court at prosedocs@laed.uscourts.gov , by facsimile at (504) 310-8159, or by U.S. Mail to The Clerk's Office, U.S. District Court, 500 Poydras Street, Room C-151, New Orleans, LA 70130.

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