On June 2, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana held its first naturalization ceremony inside the courthouse since the onset of the pandemic.  The Honorable Barry W. Ashe, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, presided over the ceremony.  Thirty-nine individuals hailing from countries around the world became United States citizens after taking the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.  Jose’ Cot, Federal Bar Association member and partner at Hurley & Cot, APLC, served as keynote speaker.  In his keynote address, Mr. Cot stressed the importance of active citizenship and community involvement, including voting, running for public office, and jury service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Sears served as the U.S. Attorney General’s designee and certified naturalization candidates’ eligibility for naturalization.  Judge Ashe provided closing remarks, paraphrasing President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and encouraging all to remain dedicated to the cause “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth.”  To view photographs from the ceremony, please select this link.