The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana presents its 2024 POWER Act Event entitled, “It Ends With Us. Ending Domestic Violence in our Community: Lessons from the Bestselling Book and Movie." Tuesday, September 24, 12:00-1:00 pm, in Courtroom 501 (ceremonial courtroom) and by Zoom Webinar. This event is offered at no charge and has been approved for one hour of CLE credit in Louisiana. Please email fbbc@laed.uscourts.gov by Friday, September 20, 2024, to register.
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News & Announcements
Check this page, or the News and Announcements box on the homepage, for the latest official news and announcements released by the court. You can also access archived news and announcements from this page.
September 16, 2024
September 12, 2024
Considering the damage that Hurricane Francine caused in the state of Louisiana and other matters outlined therein, Chief Judge Brown has issued General Order No. 24-1 on September 12, 2024, providing that all deadlines and delays, including prescriptive and peremptive periods, in cases pending or to be filed in this Court are hereby suspended from September 11, 2024 through September 12, 2024. All filings due during this period shall be deemed timely filed if filed on or before Friday, September 13, 2024.
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August 30, 2024
Public notice is hereby given of a proposed addition to the Local Rules of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (as shown in the PDF below). The proposal concerns a 21-day stay of orders transferring cases to a district court outside the Fifth Circuit. Comments may be made in writing before October 1, 2024, via email to Clerk@laed.uscourts.gov or addressed to Clerk of Court, U.S. District Court, EDLA, 500 Poydras St., Room C-151, New Orleans, LA 70130. Comments received will be made public and posted on the Court’s website with the author’s name.
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August 9, 2024
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, HAS ISSUED SOLICITATION NUMBER
LAEDCLERK24-0001 FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF
EMPLOYEE PARKING WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OF 500 POYDRAS STREET, ROOM B208, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.
VENDORS INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL MAY REQUEST A COPY OF THE SOLICITATION FROM LAEDML_PROCUREMENT@LAED.USCOURTS.GOV.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING AN OFFER IS 5:00 P.M. CT ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2024. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT KEVIN PAYRE AT (504) 589-7678.
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August 5, 2024
On May 13, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana held a naturalization ceremony in which 49 petitioners became United States citizens. The Honorable James C. Ho, United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, presided over the ceremony. In his opening remarks, Judge Ho welcomed and congratulated the petitioners then invited everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance which was led by representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution. EDLA Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Adams served as the Attorney General’s designee, issuing the statement of petitioners’ eligibility for citizenship and presenting petitioners’ requests for name change. After granting the requests for name change, Judge Ho invited Deputy Clerk Morgan Palmer to administer the Oath of Allegiance. Judge Ho then provided the keynote address. In his address, he spoke of his own journey to the United States from Taipei Taiwan and on becoming a U.S. Circuit Judge. He relayed that in this country, anything is possible and furthered that what unites us is not a common past but a common desire for a united future. After his address, petitioners were given their certificates, and Judge Ho took pictures with each of our country’s newest citizens. To view photos from the ceremony, please select this link.
July 8, 2024
In accordance with the authority conferred by 28 U.S.C. 631 et seq., and the further authority granted and action taken by the Judicial Conference of the United States, and a resolution adopted by a majority of the active judges of this court;
An Order has been entered reappointing Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld for a term of eight (8) years, subject to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 631(e) effective August 1, 2024.
June 26, 2024
Members of the public have recently reported several telephone scams purporting to concern Court business. The scammers often spoof the telephone number of the Clerk of Court’s office or other Court personnel so that the call will appear legitimate on Caller ID screens. The callers sometimes identify themselves as a judge or law enforcement official or claim to be calling on their behalf. They may recite a purported case number or citation number. The scammer may know some basic personal information like your name, address, and personal cell phone number.
Recent scam reports include the following false claims:
The caller falsely claims that you missed jury service and are now subject to an arrest warrant. The caller demands payment of a fee to avoid arrest.
The caller falsely claims that you missed a court hearing pursuant to a subpoena and are now subject to an order of contempt. The caller demands payment to resolve the issue.
The caller falsely claims that you owe money or failed to take some action with regard to expert testimony. The caller demands payment to resolve the issue.
If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to discuss Court business, keep in mind that:
The Court does not serve a warrant by telephone, e-mail, or fax. Valid warrants will always be served in person by a U.S. Marshal or other law enforcement officer.
The Court does not call, e-mail, or send a fax to tell you a warrant has been issued or that you have been held in contempt of court.
The Court does not demand the payment of money in lieu of being arrested or to resolve missed hearings, orders of contempt, or missed jury service. The Court does not call and request payment via prepaid credit cards. Although the law does permit the Court to order fines and other penalties for failing to appear for jury service, this will only happen after an in-person hearing before a judge.
The Court does not call, email, or send a fax requesting personal information such as a mother’s maiden name or bank account number.
What Can You Do?
If you receive a suspicious call purporting to concern Court business, ask as many questions as you can and take careful notes. Do not give the caller any information or make any payments. Then hang up with the caller and contact the Court directly at (504) 589-7650 to inquire if the call was legitimate.
Be wary about providing payment information over the phone, especially if you did not initiate the call to a number that you independently verified (i.e., don’t trust a phone number provided by a caller).
The United States Marshals Service has issued a press release regarding juror scams in particular.
If you believe that you have been the victim of fraud or have received a scam phone call, phishing e-mail, or fax, contact your local police or sheriff's department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (504-816-3000), or the United States Marshals Service (504-589-6079).
If you have any concerns about a communication that purports to be from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, contact us at 504-589-7650. More information about jury-duty scams, including a video, is available on the U.S. Courts website.
June 21, 2024
Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown (center) and Judge Jay Zainey accepted the Louisiana State Bar Association’s 2024 Guardian of Diversity Award on behalf of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana at the LSBA’s annual meeting on June 6, 2024. Presented by the LSBA’s immediate past president, Shayna Sonnier (right), the award recognizes the Court’s work to promote diversity through thought-provoking programs and CLEs about diversity, naturalization ceremonies that highlight the diversity of new citizens, and efforts to improve diversity in its workforce and jury pool. The Court is grateful for and honored by the recognition.
June 17, 2024
The Court has issued an order pertaining to all cases in the Hurricane Ida Case Management Program. The order provides, in part, that effective June 17, 2024:
1. Except as to questions of privilege, no Motion to Compel shall be filed unless and until the parties seek a conference with the Chief Magistrate Judge for the purpose of resolving the dispute without formal motion practice.
2. Attorneys and their law firms are hereby notified that they are responsible to ensure that mediators are paid on a timely basis and in accordance with the terms set forth in their respective invoices.
More details are included in the full order, which is available here.
April 30, 2024
The Louisiana State Bar Association awarded the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana the 2023-24 Guardian of Diversity Award in recognition of its outstanding work to promote diversity. The Court presents thought-provoking programs and CLEs about diversity. It conducts naturalization ceremonies that highlight the diversity of new citizens. And the Court has worked to improve diversity in its workforce and jury pool. Led by the Court’s first African American Chief Judge, Nannette Jolivette Brown, the Court is honored to be recognized as a Guardian of Diversity.
“A federal court is tasked with protecting and defending citizens’ rights under the Constitution,” explained Chief Judge Brown. “Considering that the underlying principle of the Constitution that holds this country together was to create a nation of people from all walks of life and experiences who share in the common values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, our Court takes seriously its responsibility to set an example and lead in the important goals of diversity and inclusion.”
Highlights of the Court’s work include annual African American and Women’s History Month celebrations. These are large, substantive events often exceeding 300 participants. Recent programs highlighted the women leaders of local law enforcement agencies, Supreme Court Chief Justice Emeritus Bernette Joshua Johnson discussing the Civil Rights Movement, and the lost community of Fazendeville and other threatened communities of color. The Court has also hosted events highlighting Native American, Hispanic, and Asian cultures.
The Court holds other programs that make a significant impact on diversity issues in the legal profession. Perhaps most impressive was a two-hour reenactment of the legal events leading to the integration of the University of Mississippi. Several judges and James Meredith himself participated in the program produced with the Federal Bar Association. The Court also holds naturalization ceremonies with guest speakers who emphasize our nation’s strength in diversity.
The Court has also expanded recruitment efforts to diversify its workforce. The Court is participating in a Judiciary program that provides internship opportunities for underserved students with an appreciation for DEI, preparing them for Judiciary careers. Likewise, the Clerk’s Office DE&I Committee promotes a culture of inclusion by producing events commemorating different cultures, including a Hispanic heritage program and a presentation on LGBTQ history remembering the victims of the tragic Upstairs Lounge fire. The committee also holds monthly lunches that spotlight Court employees’ diversity.
The Court is grateful to a number of organizations that have partnered with it in presenting diversity programs, including the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, the Greater New Orleans Louis Martinet Legal Society, the Association for Women Attorneys, the Federal Public Defenders Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.