On April 3, 2023, the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court co-hosted an AO-sponsored diversity initiative entitled “Roadways to the Bench: Who Me?  A Bankruptcy or Magistrate Judge?” A total of 37 cities simultaneously hosted the event, which was designed to provide information in an effort to attract a diverse pool of applicants to the federal bench.  The well-attended event featured (i) a keynote panel on diversity which was broadcast from Washington, D.C.; (ii) roundtable discussions where law school students and attorneys from across Louisiana and Mississippi spoke in small groups with federal circuit, district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges from across the Fifth Circuit to gain insights into the judges’ own pathways to and experiences on the bench; and (iii) a closing networking reception sponsored by the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.     Local organizers for the event were Co-Chairs Chief Judge Meredith Grabill (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDLA), Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld (U.S. District Court, EDLA), Judge Steven Wheelis (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, WDLA), and Chief Judge Katharine Samson (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, SDMS).   Attorney Co-Chairs were Kristi Johnson of the law firm of Jones Walker, Micah Zeno of the law firm of Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett, and Carey Menasco of  the law firm of Liskow Lewis.     To view photos of the event, please select this link.

On March 2, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana held a naturalization ceremony to effectuate the U.S. citizenship of 28 petitioners from around the world.  The Honorable Jay C. Zainey, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, presided over the ceremony.  The Daughters of the American Revolution led participants, including petitioners, their family and friends, and court staff, in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman certified the petitioners’ eligibility for naturalization and announced their names.  And Judge Zainey administered the Oath of Allegiance.  In taking the Oath, petitioners swore to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, and declared true faith and allegiance to the same.  After the Oath administration, Judge Zainey gave keynote remarks, encouraging the newly-sworn citizens to participate fully in the civic life of their new home-country.  The new citizens were then invited to register to vote at a table staffed by the New Orleans Chapter of the League of Women Voters.  Photos from the ceremony may be viewed here.

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA HAS ISSUED REQUEST FOR QUOTE LAEDCLERK23-0002 FOR THE REUPHOLSTERY OF APPROXIMATELY 100 CHAIRS.    VENDORS INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING A QUOTE MAY REQUEST A COPY OF THE SOLICITATION FROM LAEDML_PROCUREMENT@LAED.USCOURTS.GOV.  THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT AN OFFER IS  12:00 P.M. CDT ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2023.   PLEASE CONTACT JEFFREY GANUCHEAU AT (504) 589-3322 WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

On February 23, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana celebrated African American History Month with a panel discussion entitled, “A Dream Deferred?: The Civil Rights Movement, Its Success, Its Failures, and the Current State of the Movement.”  The Honorable Nannette Jolivette Brown, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, served as moderator of the panel.  The Honorable Bernette Joshua Johnson, retired Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court; Kim Boyle, Vice-Managing Partner of Phelps Dunbar’s New Orleans office; Cashauna Hill, Executive Director of the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center; Alanah Odoms, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana; and Will Snowden, Director of the Vera Institute’s New Orleans office and Founder of The Juror Project served as panelists.  The program was planned with the help of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, New Orleans Bar Association, New Orleans Federal Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, U.S. Attorney’s Office (EDLA), Federal Public Defender’s Office (EDLA), and U.S. Probation Office (EDLA).  To watch a recording of the panel discussion, please select this link.