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United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

5th Circuit New Orleans, Louisiana
Official Court Website

About This Court

The Eastern District of Louisiana is one of three federal judicial districts in Louisiana and is situated within the Fifth Circuit. It covers the southeastern portion of the state, including the New Orleans metropolitan area, and encompasses parishes such as Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. Mary, among others.

The district is headquartered in New Orleans and handles a wide range of federal civil and criminal matters. Given its geographic position along the Gulf Coast, the court has historically managed significant litigation arising from maritime and admiralty law, oil and gas operations, and major disaster events including Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The court is one of the busier federal district courts in the Fifth Circuit, reflecting the commercial and industrial activity of the New Orleans region. Its docket frequently includes complex multidistrict litigation, environmental matters, and cases arising from offshore energy operations.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.

Caseload

The Eastern District of Louisiana is known for a high volume of maritime, admiralty, and energy-related litigation, as well as complex multidistrict litigation consolidated from around the country. The court has administered several of the largest MDL proceedings in the nation, including those arising from the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, which generally requires admission to the Louisiana State Bar or admission pro hac vice for out-of-state attorneys in specific cases. The court's local rules govern admission procedures and continuing obligations of counsel.

Clerk's Office

500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 589-7650

Active Judges 17

Name Appointed By Confirmed Law School
Lance Africk George W. Bush 2002 University of North Carolina School of Law
Barry Ashe Donald J. Trump 2018 Tulane University Law School
Carl Barbier William J. Clinton 1998 Loyola University New Orleans School of Law
Nannette Brown Barack Obama 2011 Tulane University Law School
William Crain Donald J. Trump 2025 Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Eldon Fallon William J. Clinton 1995 Tulane University Law School
Greg Guidry Donald J. Trump 2019 Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Ivan Lemelle William J. Clinton 1998 Loyola University New Orleans School of Law
Mary Ann Lemmon William J. Clinton 1996 Loyola University New Orleans School of Law
Brandon Long Joseph R. Biden 2023 Duke University School of Law
Jane Milazzo Barack Obama 2011 Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Susie Morgan Barack Obama 2012 Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Darrel Papillion Joseph R. Biden 2023 Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Anna St. John Donald J. Trump 2026 Columbia Law School
Sarah Vance William J. Clinton 1994 Tulane University Law School
Wendy Vitter Donald J. Trump 2019 Tulane University Law School
Jay Zainey George W. Bush 2002 Louisiana State University Law School (now Paul M. Hebert Law Center)

Local Rules

134 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 105

Rule Title
LAR 4.1 Process
LAR 4.2 Summons to Show Cause Why Funds Should Not Be Paid to Court
LAR 64.1 Publication and Time to Claim and Answer Where Publication Necessary and Under Supplemental Rule C(4)
LAR 64.2 Release of Vessel or Property Under Admiralty
LAR 64.3 Movement of Vessels Under Seizure
LAR 64.4 Consent Guardian
LAR 64.5 Notices
LAR 64.6 Sales
LAR 64.7 Night Vessel Seizure
LAR 65.1 Sureties
LR 10.1 Form: Statement Regarding Filing of Documents
LR 10.2 Consolidated Cases
LR 10.3 Constitutional Questions
LR 11.1 Signing of Pleadings, Motions and Other Documents
LR 11.2 Trial Attorney
LR 11.3 Announcement of Representation
LR 16.1 Scheduling Orders
LR 16.2 Call of the Docket
LR 16.3 Responsibility for Settlement Discussions
LR 16.3.1 Alternative Dispute Resolution
LR 16.4 Notice of Settlement to Clerk
LR 16.5 Captious Settlement Tactics
LR 16.6 Reasonable Settlement Discussions
LR 16.7 Cases to Be Tried on Date Assigned - Exceptions
LR 16.8 Absence of Material Witness
LR 16.9 Retaining Position on Trial Calendar
LR 23.1 Class Action
LR 26.1 Disclosure Under FRCP 26(a)
LR 26.2 Meeting of Parties Under FRCP 26(f)
LR 26.3 Initial Disclosures in Misappropriation of Trade Secret Cases
LR3.1 Collateral Proceedings and Refiled Cases
LR3.1.1 Assignment of Collateral Proceedings and Refiled Cases
LR 3.2 Removal
LR 33.1 Number of Interrogatories
LR 33.2 Responses to Interrogatories
LR 34.1 Responses to Requests for Production
LR 36.1 Responses to Requests for Admission
LR 38.1 Designation of Jury Demand
LR 41.1 Dismissals
LR 41.2 Conditional Dismissals
LR 41.3 Dismissal for Failure to Prosecute
LR 41.3.1 Dismissal for Failure to Provide Notification of Change of Address
LR 43.1 Oral Testimony on Hearing of Motion
LR 43.2 One Counsel to Examine Witness and Present Objections
LR 45.1 Witness Fees and Mileage
LR 45.2 Notification of Witnesses
LR 45.3 Subpoena Duces Tecum to Hospitals
LR 47.1 Juries
LR 47.2 Voir Dire Examination
LR 47.3 Argument of Law to Jury Prohibited
LR 47.4 Contacting Prospective Jurors
LR 47.5 Interviewing Jurors
LR 5.1 Place and Manner of Filing
LR 5.2 Filing of Extraordinary Pleadings
LR 5.3 Advance Payment Required
LR 5.4 Certificate of Service
LR 54.1 Costs
LR 54.2 Award of Attorney's Fees
LR 54.3 Certification of Costs
LR 54.3.1 Cost Motions
LR 54.4 Security for Costs
LR 54.5 Payment and Application for Order of Satisfaction of Judgment
LR 54.6 Filing Acknowledgment of Satisfaction Notice in Docket
LR 54.7 Seaman and Pauper Cases
LR 5.5 Deposit for Service
LR 5.6 Procedure for Filing Documents Under Seal
LR 56.1 Motions for Summary Judgment
LR 56.2 Opposition to Summary Judgment
LR 58.1 Judgments and Orders
LR 58.2 Clerk May Require Draft of Judgment to Be Furnished
LR 58.3 Seaman Settlements
LR 62.1 Petitions to Stay Execution of State Court Judgments
LR 62.2 Bond or Other Security
LR 65.1.1 Qualifications of Sureties
LR 65.1.2 Court Officers Not to Be Sureties
LR 67.1 Receipt and Deposit of Registry Funds
LR 67.2 Form of Order
LR 67.3 Disbursement of Registry Funds
LR 7.1 Submission of Motions
LR 7.2 Noticing Motions for Submission
LR 72.1 Automatic Referral of Pre-trial Proceedings
LR 72.2 Review of Magistrate Judges' Orders
LR 7.3 Submission of Ex Parte or Consent Motions
LR 73.1 Jurisdiction
LR 73.2 Automatic Referral of Cases
LR 73.3 Referral of Other Cases
LR 73.4 Additional Duties
LR 73.5 Assignment of Matters to the Magistrate Judge
LR 7.4 Motions Must Be Accompanied by Memorandum
LR 7.5 Response and Memorandum
LR 7.6 Motions to Intervene, to Amend Pleadings and to File Third-Party Complaints
LR 7.7 Length of Memoranda and Briefs
LR 77.1 Conference In Chambers - Notice
LR 77.2 Sessions of Court
LR 7.8 Extension of Time to Plead
LR 78.1 Submission Dates and Oral Argument
LR 78.2 Calendar
LR 79.1 Withdrawal of Files
LR 79.2 Custody of Exhibits
LR 79.3 Disposition of Exhibits
LR 79.4 Offer and Marking of Exhibits
LR 79.5 Obtaining Record From Appellate Court for Hearing on Motions in district court
LR 83.5.1 Cases Transferred to a District Court Outside of the Fifth Circuit
LR 9.1 Three Judge Cases
LR 9.2 Social Security Cases

General Rules 16

Rule Title
LR 83.1 Naturalization
LR 83.3.1 Reasons for Building Security
LR 83.3.10 Weapons
LR 83.3.11 Enforcement
LR 83.3.2 Security Personnel
LR 83.3.3 Carrying of Parcels, Bags, and Other Objects
LR 83.3.4 Search of Persons
LR 83.3.5 Unseemly Conduct
LR 83.3.6 Entering and Leaving
LR 83.3.7 Spectators
LR 83.3.8 Cameras and Electronic Equipment
LR 83.3.9 Photographs, Radio or Television Broadcasting
LR 83.4.1 Reference to Bankruptcy Judge
LR 83.4.2 Appeal to the District Court
LR 83.4.3 Motion Seeking Relief From a District Judge
LR 83.4.4 Record Transmitted to the District Court

Attorney Rules 13

Rule Title
LR 83.2.1 Roll of Attorneys
LR 83.2.10 Practicing Before Admission or During Suspension
LR 83.2.11 Continuing Representation, Withdrawals, Substitution of Counsel
LR 83.2.12 Additional Counsel
LR 83.2.13 Appearances by Law Students
LR 83.2.2 Procedure for Admission
LR 83.2.3 Rules of Conduct
LR 83.2.4 Attorney Representation
LR 83.2.5 Visiting Attorneys
LR 83.2.6 Waiver by Court Order of Requirements for Local Counsel
LR 83.2.7 Familiarity With and Compliance With Rules
LR 83.2.8 Familiarity With the Record
LR 83.2.9 Counsel's Failure to Appear

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 5th Circuit

Eastern District of Texas Tyler, Texas Middle District of Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana Northern District of Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi Northern District of Texas Dallas, Texas Southern District of Mississippi Jackson, Mississippi Southern District of Texas Houston, Texas Western District of Louisiana Shreveport, Louisiana Western District of Texas San Antonio, Texas