United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

5th Circuit Baton Rouge, Louisiana

About This Court

Located in Baton Rouge, the Middle District of Louisiana is the smallest of Louisiana's three federal judicial districts by geographic scope, covering a focused region of central Louisiana that includes East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, and several surrounding parishes. As the state capital district, it encompasses significant government institutions and a substantial concentration of state and federal agencies.

The district sits within the Fifth Circuit and handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters arising within its parishes. Its proximity to the Louisiana state government and major regulatory bodies contributes to a docket that frequently includes administrative law, civil rights, and employment litigation involving state agencies.

Despite having only three authorized Article III judgeships, making it one of the smaller federal district courts in the country, the Middle District of Louisiana manages an active caseload. Senior judges and visiting judges often supplement the bench to address workload demands.

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, Middle District of Louisiana.

Caseload

The court's docket reflects its location in the state capital, with notable concentrations of civil rights litigation, employment disputes involving state government, and cases arising from Louisiana's substantial petrochemical and industrial corridor along the Mississippi River.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Middle District of Louisiana by submitting an application to the clerk's office and must be in good standing with the Louisiana State Bar or another state bar, subject to the court's local rules.

Clerk's Office

777 Florida Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801

(225) 389-3500

Active Judges 3

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
John deGravelles	Barack Obama	2014	Louisiana State University Law School (now Paul M. Hebert Law Center)
Shelly Dick	Barack Obama	2013	Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Brian Jackson	Barack Obama	2010	Southern University Law Center

Local Rules

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

Civil Rules 41

Rule	Title
LOCAL ADMIRALTY RULE 4	SUMMONS AND PROCESS
LOCAL ADMIRALTY RULE 64	SEIZURE OF PROPERTY
LOCAL ADMIRALTY RULE 65.1	SECURITY
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 10	FORM OF PLEADINGS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 11	SIGNING OF PLEADINGS, MOTIONS, AND OTHER PAPERS; REPRESENTATIONS TO COURT; SANCTIONS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 12	DEFENSES AND OBJECTIONS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 16	PRETRIAL CONFERENCES; SCHEDULING; MANAGEMENT
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 23	CLASS ACTIONS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 26	GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING DISCOVERY; DUTY OF DISCLOSURE
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 3	COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 33	INTERROGATORIES TO PARTIES
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 34	REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 35	MOTIONS FOR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL EXAMINATION
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 36	REQUESTS FOR ADMISSION
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 37	DISCOVERY VIOLATIONS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 38	JURY TRIAL OF RIGHT
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 39	TRIAL BY JURY OR BY THE COURT
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 4	SUMMONS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 41	DISMISSAL OF ACTIONS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 43	TAKING OF TESTIMONY
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 45	SUBPOENA
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 47	JURORS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 5	SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 5.2	PROTECTION OF PERSONAL AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION; PUBLIC ACCESS TO COURT FILES; REDACTED INFORMATION; SEALED INFORMATION
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 54	JUDGMENTS; COSTS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 55	DEFAULT
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 56	SUMMARY JUDGMENT
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 58	ENTRY OF JUDGMENT
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 62	STAY OF PROCEEDINGS TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 65	INJUNCTIONS AND RESTRAINING ORDERS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 65.1	SECURITY: PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SURETIES
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 67	DEPOSIT IN COURT
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 7	PLEADINGS ALLOWED; FORM OF MOTIONS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 7.1	CERTIFICATE OF INTERESTED PERSONS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 72	MAGISTRATE JUDGES; PRETRIAL ORDERS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 73	MAGISTRATE JUDGES; TRIAL BY CONSENT AND APPEAL OPTIONS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 77	DISTRICT COURTS AND CLERKS
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 78	MOTION DAY
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 79	BOOKS AND RECORDS KEPT BY THE CLERK OF COURT AND ENTRIES THEREIN
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 83	RULES BY DISTRICT COURTS; JUDGES' DIRECTIVES
LOCAL CIVIL RULE 9	PLEADING SPECIAL MATTERS

Criminal Rules 10

Rule	Title
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 12	PRETRIAL MOTIONS
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 23	JURY OR NON-JURY TRIAL
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 24	TRIAL JURORS
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 32	SENTENCE AND JUDGMENT
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 44	CONTINUING REPRESENTATION, WITHDRAWALS, SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 49	SERVICE AND FILING OF PAPERS
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 5	INITIAL APPEARANCE BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 53	REGULATION OF CONDUCT PERTAINING TO CRIMINAL MATTERS
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 55	RECORDS
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 58	PROCEDURE FOR MISDEMEANORS AND OTHER PETTY OFFENSES

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 5th Circuit

Eastern District of Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana Eastern District of Texas Tyler, Texas 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