Eastern District of Louisiana
500 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
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Please join the Eastern District of Louisiana and the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. for the 34th Annual Alvin B. Rubin Symposium: A Night at the (Courthouse) Theater: A play reenacting and reflecting on Fred Korematsu and his Fight for Justice. Using real excerpts from transcripts and accompanied by slides of historic photographs, drawings, and documents to be projected as the script is performed, the story recounts the trial and events leading up to the Supreme Court's controversial 1944 decision to uphold the constitutionality of interning Japanese-Americans, as well as the later legal proceedings that resulted in Korematsu's conviction being vacated.
The cast will feature Eastern District of Louisiana Judges Wendy Vitter, Susie Morgan, Darrel Papillion, Brandon Long, Janis van Meerveld, and Eva Dossier, as well as Federal Public Defender Claude Kelly and former United States Attorney Duane Evans, among other local notables....
more »The national PACER Service Center announced that users with CM/ECF-level access (e.g., filers, interested parties, etc.) can now reset their own password when their account search status becomes inactive due to search inactivity. As of October 16, such users no longer need to contact the PACER Service Center (PSC) .
Users with CM/ECF-level filing access can still file even if their search status shows as “inactive” due to six months of inactivity.
Many common questions are answered on the PACER website on the MFA Tips and Resources page. Please visit this page before contacting the PSC, as most issues can be handled by following the steps outlined on the website.
When to contact the PSC
- Users whose accounts have been deactivated will still need to contact the PSC to reactivate their PACER search status.
When not to contact the PSC
- Users who do not receive an MFA-enrollment prompt when logging into PACER should take no action.
- Users who receive an MFA-enrollment prompt can enroll by...
Pre-Lapse in Appropriations Notice to Contractors
Payments to contractors and vendors of the judiciary will be delayed during a lapse in appropriations.
Clause 7-123 Performance and Obligation in Advance of Funds (Class Deviation)
The Judiciary has the authority to enter into or continue this contractual action and to obligate the government in advance of appropriations. However, appropriated funds are not currently available to make payments under this contract to liquidate this obligation. The contractor is authorized to perform under this contract, as specified. When the appropriated funds become available, the government will make payment in accordance with the terms of this contract. This clause supersedes conflicting terms of any other clauses in this contract dealing with contract payment or financing until funds are made available.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Procurement Unit (...
more »The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, in conjunction with the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, is offering CLE on Friday, November 7, from 1 pm to 4:30 pm with a networking reception to follow. An esteemed panel of judges including Hon. Eldon E Fallon (E.D. La.), Hon. Carl Barbier (E.D. La.), Hon. Sarah Vance (E.D. La.), Hon. Robert Drain (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.) (Ret.) (now at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP), Hon. Laurie Selber Silverstein (Bankr. D. Del), Hon. Marvin Isgur (Bankr. S.D. Tex.), and Hon. Meredith S. Grabill (Bankr. E.D. La.) (Moderator) will compare and contrast how mass torts can be managed and resolved through multidistrict litigation and under bankruptcy law. They will provide insight into (i) venue selection, (ii) the differences in available relief and scope of discovery, (iii) the roles of MDL steering committees and official creditor committees, (iv) settlement options, (v) standards for approving global settlements and confirmation of plans of reorganization, and (vi) appealability of orders. The panel will also...
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On September 26, 2025, the Eastern District of Louisiana partnered with the New Orleans Chapter of the FBA, Association for Women Attorneys, Louis A. Martinet Society, Louisiana State Bar Association, and the New Orleans Bar Association to host the 2025 Pro Bono Work to Empower and Represent “POWER” Act CLE. A crowded En Banc Courtroom and sizeable Zoom audience learned about the complex legal challenges faced by survivors of domestic and family violence from an all-star panel consisting of Mary Claire Landry, CEO of the New Orleans Family Justice Center and HOPE Community Health Center, Molly MacKenzie, Managing Attorney of Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, Tim McEvoy, Professor and Clinic Director at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, and Allyson Tuttle, Director of Project Save of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans. Moderated by Judge Bernadette D’Souza of Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, the panelists discussed numerous aspects of this complicated and pervasive social problem, as well as the scope of legal remedies...
more »The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana teamed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to hold a naturalization ceremony in which 147 petitioners became United States citizens. In a special ceremony held at the National WWII Museum on September 17, 2025, the Honorable Wendy B. Vitter, Chief Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, presided and provided the keynote address. In her remarks, Chief Judge Vitter acknowledged that the ceremony coincided with Constitution Day, which commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. She admired the petitioners making the choice to become American citizens and obtaining the same rights as the authors of the Constitution 238 years ago. Chief Judge Vitter then administered the Oath of Allegiance, followed by a recorded message from President Donald J. Trump. Chief Judge Vitter then handed out certificates to our country’s newest citizens. To view photos from the ceremony, please select this link.