The Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has issued COVID-19 General Order No. 20-9. The order amends COVID-19 General Order 20-6 to extend certain deadlines addressed therein as follows:   1) All civil and criminal jury trials are suspended until October 5, 2020 and will be reset by each presiding judge. Those continuances do not continue any pending deadlines other than the trial dates. Attorneys should contact the presiding judges in their continued cases if they seek to modify such other deadlines.    2) With regard to criminal matters, the time period of the postponements implemented by this administrative 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).  View this PDF.

In compliance with its congressional mandate and pursuant to the POWER Act, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana is pleased to announce a local radio campaign geared towards reaching those in our community dealing with domestic violence, and informing them that despite COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines, pro bono legal service organizations and domestic violence service providers are fully operational and ready to serve them in their time of need.  To listen to the radio message, please select the play button below. Your browser does not support the audio element.

Effective immediately: The Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has issued COVID-19 General Order No. 20-6, amending COVID-19 General Orders 20-2 through 20-5 to extend certain deadlines addressed therein:   (1) All civil and criminal jury trials currently suspended until May 1, 2020, are hereby further suspended until August 1, 2020, and will be reset by each presiding judge. Those continuances do not continue any pending deadlines other than the trial dates. Attorneys should contact the presiding judges in their continued cases if they seek to modify such other deadlines.    (2) With respect to other matters requiring in-person appearances, including bench trials, hearings, conferences or other proceedings in either civil or criminal matters between the date of this order and August 1, 2020, counsel must contact the presiding judge's chambers to determine whether and how the matter will proceed.    (3) All grand jury proceedings in this District are suspended until August 1, 2020, subject to change upon motion from the government and further orders of the Court.   (4) With regard to criminal matters, the time period of the postponements implemented by this administrative 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).   (5) All events involving the Court or scheduled to be held in the courthouse that are not case-specific, including, but not limited to, continuing legal education courses, public tours, Inns of Court meetings, and naturalization ceremonies conducted by the Court, which are scheduled to occur between May 1, 2020 and August 1, 2020, are hereby cancelled and will be rescheduled when appropriate.  Please see the Eastern District of Louisiana website, www.laed.uscourts.gov, for additional information and for updates. View this PDF.

In response to the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the United States, the Congress has passed and the President has signed into law the CARES Act, H.R. 748, which authorizes the use of video and telephone conferencing, under certain circumstances and with the consent of the defendant, for a number of criminal proceedings during the COVID-19 emergency. The Judicial Conference of the United States has adopted a finding that emergency conditions exist that materially affect the functioning of the federal court generally. To facilitate the use of the emergency procedures authorized by the CARES Act, the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has issued COVID-19 General Order No. 20-4 for the Court.  The public is encouraged to visit the Courts website, www.laed.uscourts.gov, often for additional information and for updates.  View this PDF.