Eastern District of Louisiana
500 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
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U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael North will hold a general Hurricane Ida Litigation status conference on Wed., June 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. in courtroom 352. The on-the-record hearing will concern matters arising from the suspension of R. William Huye, III and the withdrawal of McClenny, Moseley & Associates from cases pending in this District. Any defense or plaintiff counsel may attend, but the discussions will be insurer-centric. More information, including lists of specific discussion topics and law firms encouraged to attend, can be found in the Court’s Order.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana would like to honor the lives and legacies of two of its cherished court security officers: Michael Riley, who passed away on September 24, 2020, and Richard LeBlanc, who passed away on May 14, 2023.
Michael Riley served as a Court Security Officer for the Eastern District until his passing. Prior to his service at the Eastern District, he served for over 30 years with the New Orleans Police Department. Recently, his career was recognized at National Police Week in Washington, D.C.
Richard LeBlanc served as a Court Security Officer for the Eastern District until his recent passing. All in all, he served for over 50 years as a law enforcement professional.
The Eastern District sends its sincerest condolences to the officers’ families. Michael and Richard will both be sorely missed and fondly remembered by the entire court family.
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The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana seeks qualified applicants for a U.S. Magistrate Judge vacancy in the district. The vacancy announcement describes the required qualifications and application process. Both the announcement and the application are available at the links below and on the Employment page of the Court’s website. Applications are due July 21, 2023.
1. Vacancy Announcement – U.S. Magistrate Judge
2. U.S. Magistrate Judge Application
3. Order Appointing Merit Selection Panel
On May 4, 2023, the Honorable Greg G. Guidry, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, presided over a naturalization ceremony in which 23 individuals became United States citizens. Immigration attorney, Kathleen Gasparian, served as keynote speaker. In her remarks, Ms. Gasparian praised the petitioners for their courage and sacrifice and thanked them for their contributions to American society and culture. Peter Mansfield, Chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office (EDLA), served as the Attorney General’s designee and certified the petitioners’ eligibility for citizenship. Dedra Pongracz, Case Manager for Judge Guidry, administered the Oath of Allegiance, and the Marine Forces Reserve Band provided musical accompaniment. To view photos from the ceremony, please select this link.
If you have received a violation notice (ticket) for an offense committed on federal property (e.g., on a military base, national park, federal building, etc.), please use the following federal Judiciary website that was recently redesigned to make paying fines easier: https://www.cvb.uscourts.gov. The new website now has:
• Mobile-friendly design
• Online payment form integrated with pay.gov
• Optimized searching
• Interactive frequently asked questions
• New accessibility tools
The website, along with all violation notice processing, is managed for the Judiciary by its Central Violations Bureau, or CVB. This national center processes tickets issued and payments received for offenses committed on federal property, or for violations of federal law that occur elsewhere. The website includes information on mandatory or optional appearances in court and expected court dates.
Email any feedback to the Central Violations Bureau.
On April 3, 2023, the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court co-hosted an AO-sponsored diversity initiative entitled “Roadways to the Bench: Who Me? A Bankruptcy or Magistrate Judge?” A total of 37 cities simultaneously hosted the event, which was designed to provide information in an effort to attract a diverse pool of applicants to the federal bench. The well-attended event featured (i) a keynote panel on diversity which was broadcast from Washington, D.C.; (ii) roundtable discussions where law school students and attorneys from across Louisiana and Mississippi spoke in small groups with federal circuit, district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges from across the Fifth Circuit to gain insights into the judges’ own pathways to and experiences on the bench; and (iii) a closing networking reception sponsored by the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
Local organizers for the event were Co-Chairs Chief Judge Meredith Grabill (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDLA), Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld (U.S. District Court, EDLA), Judge Steven Wheelis (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, WDLA), and Chief Judge Katharine Samson (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, SDMS). ...