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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.

April 6, 2018
Order Appointing Merit Selection Panel for Full-time Vacancy Order Appointing Merit Selection Panel for Reappointment of Magistrate Judge Wilkinson
March 21, 2018
PUBLIC NOTICE The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Wilkinson, Jr. at New Orleans, Louisiana, is due to expire on March 26, 2019. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of a magistrate judge to a new eight year term. The duties of a magistrate judge include the following: (1) conducting most preliminary proceedings in criminal cases; (2) trial and deposition of misdemeanor cases; (3) conducting various pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on delegation from the judges of the district court; and (4) trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the parties. Comments from members of the bar and the public are invited as to whether the incumbent magistrate judge should be recommended by the panel for reappointment by the court and should be directed to William W. Blevins, Clerk, United States District Court, 500 Poydras Street, Room C-151, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. Comments must be received by May 18, 2018. Posted: March 21, 2018
March 21, 2018
Pending required approvals, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana is seeking qualified applicants to fill a vacancy in the position of United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The position will be available January 6, 2019.  Deadline for applications is May 18, 2018. A full public notice and application for the Magistrate Judge position may be found on our employment page.
February 9, 2018
IN MEMORIAM Honorable Peter H. Beer Apr. 12, 1928 - Feb. 9, 2018 U.S. District Judge, 1979 - 2009
February 1, 2018
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT Notice of Proposed Amendment to 5TH CIR. R. 35.5 Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071, we give notice the court is considering amending 5TH CIR. R. 35.5 as shown below. Proposed changes are identified with redline text. We will accept written comments for consideration on the proposed change through March 9, 2018. You may write to: Clerk of Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ATTN: Rule Changes 600 South Maestri Place New Orleans, LA 70130 or send comments electronically to Changes@ca5.uscourts.gov Proposed amendment: 35.5 Length. See FED. R. APP. P. 35(b)(2). The statement required by Fed. R. App. P. 35(b)(1) is included in the limit and is not a “certificate[ ] of counsel” that is excluded by Fed. R. App P. 32(f).
January 19, 2018
In the event of a government shutdown, the federal Judiciary has determined that it can remain OPEN for business for approximately three weeks, or through Friday, February 9, 2018. On or around that date, the Judiciary will reassess its situation and provide further guidance if needed. All proceedings and deadlines remain in effect as scheduled, unless otherwise advised. The Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system will remain in operation for the electronic filing of documents with the court. Please continue to check the court's website at http://www.laed.uscourts.gov for further updates.
January 2, 2018
The U. S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana is hosting the Criminal Pretrial Techniques Conference from February 22, 2018, through February 23, 2018, at the Marriott Lakeway Hotel, in Metairie, Louisiana. The conference will primarily focus on criminal pretrial services. The goal of the conference is to provide free training to members of the bar and the legal community, with a special emphasis on those who practice in the federal court system. An application for Continuing Legal Education credit for Louisiana attorneys will be submitted. No fee will be charged to attend this conference. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.laep.uscourts.gov/2017/12/13/news/criminal-pretrial-technique....
November 3, 2017
It has come to the Court’s attention that scammers claiming to be court officials, law enforcement officers, or members of a judge’s staff are once again contacting citizens nationwide to demand payment of money, and/or disclosure of personal information, under threat of arrest due to a failure to serve on a federal court jury.  These are FALSE claims and please DO NOT provide any cash or funds in response. Please alert the Court at (504) 589-7730 during business hours, or call the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (504) 816-3000 if you are contacted in this way. For more information on jury scams of this nature, see our Jury Scam Alert page at: http://www.laed.uscourts.gov/jury-information/jury-scams  
September 20, 2017
The Probation Office will be providing training sessions for the filing of pre-sentence reports (PSR's) in CM/ECF at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm in their training room starting September 25 through October 17. Please see information on their website for more.
August 11, 2017
The Judicial Conference Advisory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, Criminal and Evidence Rules have proposed amendments to the following rules and forms and have asked that they be circulated to the bench, bar, and public for comment. The proposed amendments and the advisory committees’ reports explaining the proposed changes are posted on the Judiciary’s website. The information is posted in a printable format for those who prefer hard copies. Appellate Rules:  3, 13, 26.1, 28, and 32 Bankruptcy Rules: 2002, 4001, 6007, 9036, 9037, and Official Form 410 Criminal Rules: New Criminal Rule 16.1, Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, and Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings Rules of Evidence: 807 The public comment period closes on February 15, 2018.

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