UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

AMENDMENTS TO UNIFORM LOCAL RULES

LR26.3E  Disclosure Under FRCvP 26(a)

The scope and timing of disclosures under FRCvP 26(a)(2) and FRCvP(a)(3) shall be as directed by the court in the order issued after the preliminary conference held pursuant to Article One (1) of the Civil Justice Expense and Delay Reduction Plan of this court.

LR26.4E   Meeting of Parties Under FRCvP 26(f)

A.  Except as otherwise ordered in a particular case, the conference between the parties required by FRCvP 26(f) shall be held no later than seven working days before the scheduled preliminary conference.

B.  Except as otherwise ordered in a particular case or as indicated hereinafter, the parties are excused from submitting a written report outlining the proposed discovery plan and shall report orally on their proposed discovery plan at the Rule 16(b) conference. An oral report on the proposed discovery plan is not authorized when, during the Rule 26(f) conference, a party objects that the initial disclosures required by Rule 26(a)(1) are not appropriate in the circumstances of the action. In such a case, no later than three working days prior to the scheduled preliminary conference, the parties must file a written report outlining the proposed discovery plan, including the nature of the objection(s) to the initial disclosure and statements by the parties detailing their positions on the objection(s) to the initial disclosure.

LR26.5E   Non-filing of Disclosure, Discovery Requests and Responses: Retention by Requesting Party is repealed.

LR26.5.1E   Filing of Disclosure or Discovery Materials is repealed.

LR26.5.2E  Construction of the Rule is repealed.

LR26.6E   Disputed Disclosure and Discovery Materials to Be Filed With Request for Relief is repealed.

LR26.7E   Pretrial Filing of Disclosure and Discovery Materials to Be Used at Trial is repealed.

LR26.8E   Filing of Disclosure or Discovery Materials for Appeal Purposes is repealed.

LR33.1E   Number of Interrogatories

Any party desiring to serve more than the 25 interrogatories permitted by FRCvP 33(a) shall file a written motion setting forth the proposed additional interrogatories and the reasons establishing good cause for their use. Leave to serve additional interrogatories shall be granted to the extent consistent with the principles of FRCvP 26(b)(2).

LR47.5E   Interviewing Jurors

A.  No juror has any obligation to speak to any person about any case and may refuse all interviews or comments;

B.  No person may make repeated requests for interviews or questions after a juror has expressed a desire not to be interviewed;

C.  Under no circumstances except by leave of court granted upon good cause shown shall any attorney or party to an action or anyone acting on their behalf examine or interview any juror. No juror who may consent to be interviewed shall disclose any information with respect to the following:

1.  The specific vote of any juror other than the juror being interviewed;

2.  The deliberation of the jury; or

3.  For the purposes of obtaining evidence of improprieties in the jury's deliberations.

LCrR12.E  Pretrial Motions

Pretrial motions relative to discovery shall be filed within the time set by the magistrate judge, and shall be noticed for hearing on the motion day following the expiration of 15 days. The government shall file its response no later than eight calendar days before the scheduled hearing date.

These discovery motions shall be accompanied by a certificate of counsel for the moving party stating that counsel have conferred in person or by telephone for the purpose of amicably resolving the issues and stating that they are unable to agree or stating that opposing counsel has refused to so confer after reasonable notice. Counsel for the moving party shall arrange the conference.

LCrR32.1.2E   Submission of Other Motions or Documents Connected with Sentencing

All submissions, other than those referred to in LCrR32.1.1E, must be filed no later than five working days before sentencing and all responses must be filed no later than three working days before sentencing.