On December 5, 2022, the Honorable Carl J. Barbier, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, informed President Joseph R. Biden that he intends to retire from regular active service as a U.S. District Judge on January 1, 2023. For more than 24 years, Judge Barbier has served as an active district judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana. He intends to render substantial judicial service as a senior judge. Judge Barbier’s letter to President Biden can be read at this link.
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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.
December 6, 2022
Due to the resumption of in-person activities, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana will no longer accept sealed documents by email after December 31, 2022. Beginning on January 1, 2023, sealed documents must be hand delivered, with original signatures, to the Intake Unit of the Clerk’s office during regular business hours or mailed to the Clerk’s Office (Attn: Room C-151, Intake Unit).
The email inbox sealeddocs@laed.uscourts.gov will be deactivated on January 1, 2023, and will not be monitored thereafter.
For any sealed documents submitted by email up until December 31, 2022, filers must still use the encrypted “Send Securely” option in their email, if available. Documents should be in PDF format and include an electronic signature of the filing attorney.
December 1, 2022
A number of amended and new procedural rules became effective December 1, 2022: Civil Rule 7.1 and new Supplemental Rules for Social Security Review Actions Under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Criminal Rule 16; Appellate Rules 25 and 42; Bankruptcy Rules 1007, 1020, 2009, 2012, 2015, 3002, 3010, 3011, 3014, 3016, 3017.1, 3018, 3019, 5005, 7004, and 8023, new Rule 3017.2; and Official Forms 101, 309E1, and 309E2. For more information about these changes, please refer to this link.
November 29, 2022
On November 10, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana held a naturalization ceremony in which 40 individuals became new United States citizens. The new citizens originated from countries around the world, exemplifying the truly diverse character of the United States citizenry. The Honorable Jane Triche Milazzo, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, presided over the ceremony. Tulane University’s Airforce ROTC Color Guard presented the colors for the National Anthem, and the Daughters of the American Revolution led the Pledge of Allegiance. Attorney Michael Ecuyer, President-Elect of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, served as keynote speaker, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Chickering certified the candidates’ eligibility for citizenship. Deputy Clerk Sherry Adams administered the Oath of Allegiance, and Judge Milazzo provided closing remarks and distributed Certificates of Naturalization to the newly naturalized citizens. The New Orleans Chapter of the League of Women Voters was present to help new citizens register to vote, and the U.S. Passport Agency was on-hand to provide new citizens with information on obtaining a passport. The ceremony was a joyous occasion for all in attendance. To view photographs of the ceremony, please select this link.
November 14, 2022
The Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana hereby issues General Order No. 22-7, extending COVID-19 General Order No. 22-6, COVID-19 General Order No. 22-5, COVID-19 General Order No. 22-1, COVID-19 General Order No. 21-16, COVID-19 General Order No. 21-13, COVID-19 General Order No. 21-7, COVID-19 General Order No. 21-3, COVID-19 General Order No. 20-14, COVID-19 General Order No. 20-11, COVID-19 General Order No. 20-8, and COVID-19 General Order No. 20-4 until December 31, 2022.
View this PDF
October 25, 2022
The Court has issued its First Amendment to Hurricane Ida Case Management Order No. 1. The features of the amendment are as follows:
• The amendment encourages the parties to use the two forms attached to it as Exhibits B & C to set forth their respective settlement positions at the informal settlement conference and mediation. It creates a uniform method for doing so.
• The amendment eliminates the requirement that the parties affirmatively contact the Court or Program Administrator (“PA”) to request a mediation be set, replacing it with an automatic 75-day window for disclosures and informal settlement conference, after which the PA will automatically set the case for mediation.
• The one-time limit on deadlines is extended to 21 days, consistent with LR 7.8.
• The appointment of umpires where appraisal is invoked will be resolved solely by the Chief Magistrate Judge rather than the presiding Magistrate Judge.
View this PDF
View CMO Exhibit B
View CMO Exhibit C
October 12, 2022
On September 16, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana naturalized 25 individuals originating from countries around the world. The Honorable Ivan L. R. Lemelle, Senior U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, presided over the ceremony. Tulane University’s ROTC Color Guard presented the colors for the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Attorney Camilo Salas served as keynote speaker. Ms. Salas, a native of Ecuador, recounted his own immigration and citizenship story, and emphasized the notion that with hard work and determination, anything is possible in the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Adams, the U.S. Attorney General’s designee, certified the candidates’ eligibility for naturalization and announced the petitioners’ names, and Judge Lemelle administered the Oath of Allegiance to the naturalization candidates. Judge Lemelle then encouraged the newly naturalized citizens to register to vote at a table staffed by volunteers from the New Orleans Chapter of the League of Women Voters and to apply for U.S. passports at a table staffed by officials from the U.S. Passport Office outside the Courtroom. To view photographs from the ceremony, please select this link.
September 29, 2022
Pursuant to Case Management Order No. 1, In re Hurricane Ida Claims, the Court hereby appoints Mediation Support Services, L.L.C. as Program Administrator for the Court’s Streamlined Settlement Program. The Court also appoints 30 individuals as neutrals for the Program. For more information, please see the orders below.
View this PDF – Neutrals List
View this PDF – Program Administrator Appointment
September 26, 2022
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana is pleased to announce that the Honorable Sarah S. Vance, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, is the 2022 recipient of the federal judiciary’s highest honor, the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. The award was established in 1982 to honor the unsung heroes of the federal judiciary. Judge Vance has served on the Eastern District of Louisiana’s federal bench since 1994 and served as the court’s Chief Judge from 2008-2015. She has served on the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference, as Chair of the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, and currently serves on the Federal Judiciary Workplace Conduct Working Group. Judge Vance will be honored at a ceremony opened by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., at the U.S. Supreme Court. To read more about Judge Vance’s selection for the Devitt Award and her distinguished career, please select this link.
September 9, 2022
On August 4, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana held a naturalization ceremony in which thirty-six individuals from twenty-three countries across the globe became U.S. citizens. The Honorable Wendy B. Vitter, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, presided over the ceremony. The Jesuit ROTC Color Guard presented the colors for the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, which was followed by a keynote speech by the Honorable Bernadette D’Souza, Chief Judge for the Orleans Civil District Court. Chief Judge D’Souza, a native of Goa, India, told her personal story of immigration and citizenship, and recounted how with the encouragement of her beloved husband and children, she was able to achieve her life-long dream of becoming a lawyer. She impressed upon the candidates the notion that with hard work and determination, their goals and dreams could be fully realized in these great United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gutierrez served as the U.S. Attorney General’s designee and certified the candidates’ eligibility for naturalization. The candidates then swore an oath of allegiance to the United States, as administered by Judge Vitter, thus becoming fully-fledged United States citizens. Afterwards, the candidates were invited to register to vote at a table staffed by volunteers from the New Orleans Chapter of the League of Women Voters. U.S. Passport Agency employees were also on hand to provide information to the newly, sworn-in citizens. To view photographs from the ceremony, please select this link.