United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

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United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
(E.D. La.)
Map
EDLA map.PNG
Appeals to Fifth Circuit
Established March 3, 1849
Judges assigned 12
Chief judge Sarah S. Vance
Official site

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (in case citations, E.D. La.) is a federal trial court based in New Orleans. Like all U.S. district courts, the court has original jurisdiction over civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States;[1] certain civil actions between citizens of different states;[2] civil actions within the admiralty or maritime jurisdiction of the United States;[3] criminal prosecutions brought by the United States;[4] and many other types of cases and controversies.[5] It also has appellate jurisdiction over a very limited class of judgments, orders, and decrees.[6]

Appeals from the Eastern District of Louisiana are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

Contents

[edit] Jurisdiction

This district comprises the following parishes: Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Washington.[7]

[edit] History

On March 26, 1804, Congress organized the Territory of Orleans and created the United States District Court for the District of Orleans — the only time Congress provided a territory with a district court equal in its authority and jurisdiction to those of the states.[8] The United States District Court for the District of Louisiana was established on April 8, 1812, by 2 Stat. 701,[8][9] several weeks before Louisiana was formally admitted as a state of the union. The District was thereafter subdivided and reformed several times. It was first subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on March 3, 1823, by 3 Stat. 774.[8][9]

On February 13, 1845, Louisiana was reorganized into a single District with one judgeship, by 5 Stat. 722,[8], but was again divided into Eastern and the Western Districts on March 3, 1849, by 9 Stat. 401.[8] Congress again abolished the Western District of Louisiana and reorganized Louisiana as a single judicial district on July 27, 1866, by 14 Stat. 300.[8] On March 3, 1881, by 21 Stat. 507, Louisiana was for a third time divided into Eastern and the Western Districts, with one judgeship authorized for each.[8] The Middle District was formed from portions of those two Districts on December 18, 1971, by 85 Stat. 741.[8]

[edit] Current judges

The court has twelve authorized judgeships, three of which are currently vacant. The Hon. Sarah Vance has been Chief Judge since 2008. In addition to the active district judges, the court currently has six senior district judges and six magistrate judges. Jim Letten, the United States Attorney for the district, represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation before the court.

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
43 Chief Judge Sarah Vance New Orleans 1950 1994–present 2008–present — Clinton
38 District Judge Martin Leach-Cross Feldman New Orleans 1934 1983–present — — Reagan
41 District Judge Helen Ginger Berrigan New Orleans 1948 1994–present 2001–2008 — Clinton
46 District Judge Eldon Fallon New Orleans 1939 1995–present — — Clinton
48 District Judge Ivan Lemelle New Orleans 1950 1998–present — — Clinton
49 District Judge Carl Barbier New Orleans 1944 1998–present — — Clinton
50 District Judge Kurt Engelhardt New Orleans 1960 2001–present — — G.W. Bush
51 District Judge Jay Zainey New Orleans 1951 2002–present — — G.W. Bush
52 District Judge Lance Africk New Orleans 1951 2002–present — — G.W. Bush
53 District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown New Orleans 1963 2011–present — — Obama
54 District Judge Jane Margaret Triche-Milazzo New Orleans 1957 2011–present — — Obama
— District Judge (vacant) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a)
20 Senior District Judge Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe (inactive) 1922 1966–1992 1972–1992 1992–present L. Johnson
28 Senior District Judge Charles Schwartz, Jr. (inactive) 1922 1976–1991 (none) 1991–present Ford
35 Senior District Judge Peter Hill Beer New Orleans 1928 1979–1994 (none) 1994–present Carter
36 Senior District Judge A.J. McNamara New Orleans 1936 1982–2001 1999–2001 2001–present Reagan
42 Senior District Judge Stanwood Duval New Orleans 1942 1994–2008 (none) 2008–present Clinton
47 Senior District Judge Mary Ann Lemmon New Orleans 1941 1996–2011 (none) 2011–present Clinton

[edit] Pending nominations

As of December 8, 2010, a vacancy exists in the Eastern District of Louisiana due to the removal from office of Judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr. by the U.S. Senate. On June 7, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Susie Morgan to fill the vacancy. The Senate has not yet acted on the nomination.

[edit] Current Magistrate Judges

  • Alma Chasez
  • Daniel Knowles, III
  • Louis Moore, Jr.
  • Karen Wells Roby
  • Sally Shushan
  • Joseph Wilkinson, Jr.

[edit] Former judges

# Judge State Born/Died Active service Term as Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Dick, JohnJohn Dick LA 1788–1824 1823[10]–1824 (none) (none) Monroe, Monroe death
2 Robertson, Thomas B.Thomas B. Robertson LA 1779–1828 1824–1828 (none) (none) Monroe, Monroe death
3 Harper, Samuel HaddenSamuel Hadden Harper LA 1783–1837 1829–1837 (none) (none) Jackson, Jackson death
4 Lawrence, Philip KissickPhilip Kissick Lawrence LA unknown–1841 1837–1841 (none) (none) Van Buren, Van Buren death
5 McCaleb, Theodore HowardTheodore Howard McCaleb LA 1810–1864 1841–1861[11] (none) (none) Tyler, Tyler resignation
6 Durell, Edward HenryEdward Henry Durell LA 1810–1887 1863[12]–1866 (none) (none) Lincoln, Lincoln reassignment to D. La.
7 Billings, Edward CokeEdward Coke Billings LA 1829–1893 1876–1893 (none) (none) Grant, Grant death
8 Parlange, CharlesCharles Parlange LA 1851–1907 1894–1907 (none) (none) Cleveland, Cleveland death
9 Saunders, Eugene DavisEugene Davis Saunders LA 1853–1914 1907–1909 (none) (none) Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt resignation
10 Foster, Rufus EdwardRufus Edward Foster LA 1871–1942 1909–1925 (none) (none) Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt appointment to 5th Cir.
11 Beattie, Charlton ReidCharlton Reid Beattie LA 1869–1925 1925 (none) (none) Coolidge, Coolidge death
12 Burns, Louis HenryLouis Henry Burns LA 1878–1928 1925–1928 (none) (none) Coolidge, Coolidge death
13 Borah, Wayne G.Wayne G. Borah LA 1891–1966 1928–1949 (none) (none) Coolidge, Coolidge appointment to 5th Cir.
14 Caillouet, Adrian JosephAdrian Joseph Caillouet LA 1883–1946 1940–1946 (none) (none) Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
15 Christenberry, Herbert WilliamHerbert William Christenberry LA 1897–1975 1947–1975 1949–1967 (none) Truman, Truman death
16 Wright, J. SkellyJ. Skelly Wright LA 1911–1988 1949[13]–1962 (none) (none) Truman, Truman appointment to D.C. Cir.
17 West, Elmer GordonElmer Gordon West LA 1914–1992 1961–1972 1967–1972 (none) Kennedy, Kennedy reassignment to M.D. La.
18 Ainsworth, Jr., Robert AndrewRobert Andrew Ainsworth, Jr. LA 1910–1981 1961–1966 (none) (none) Kennedy, Kennedy appointment to 5th Cir.
19 Ellis, Frank BurtonFrank Burton Ellis LA 1907–1969 1962–1965 (none) 1965–1969 Kennedy, Kennedy death
21 Boyle Sr., Edward JamesEdward James Boyle Sr. LA 1913–2002 1966–1981 (none) 1981–2002 Johnson, L.L. Johnson death
22 Cassibry, Fred JamesFred James Cassibry LA 1918–present 1966–1984 (none) 1984–1987 Johnson, L.L. Johnson retirement
23 Mitchell, Lansing LeroyLansing Leroy Mitchell LA 1914–2001 1966–1981 (none) 1981–2001 Johnson, L.L. Johnson death
24 Rubin, Alvin BenjaminAlvin Benjamin Rubin LA 1920–1991 1966–1977 (none) (none) Johnson, L.L. Johnson appointment to 5th Cir.
25 Comiskey, James AugustJames August Comiskey LA 1926–2005 1967–1975 (none) (none) Johnson, L.L. Johnson resignation
26 Gordon, Jack MurphyJack Murphy Gordon LA 1931–1982 1971–1982 (none) (none) Nixon, Nixon death
27 West, Roger BlakeRoger Blake West LA 1928–1978 1971–1978 (none) (none) Nixon, Nixon death
29 Sear, Morey LeonardMorey Leonard Sear LA 1929–2004 1976–2000 1992–1999 2000–2004 Ford, Ford death
30 Collins, Robert FrederickRobert Frederick Collins LA 1931–present 1978–1993 (none) (none) Carter, Carter resignation
31 Duplantier, Adrian G.Adrian G. Duplantier LA 1929–2007 1978–1994 (none) 1994–2007 Carter, Carter death
32 Arceneaux, Jr., GeorgeGeorge Arceneaux, Jr. LA 1928–1993 1979–1993 (none) (none) Carter, Carter death
33 Carr, Patrick EugenePatrick Eugene Carr LA 1922–1998 1979–1991 (none) 1991–1998 Carter, Carter death
34 Wicker, Veronica DiCarloVeronica DiCarlo Wicker LA 1930–1994 1979–1994 (none) (none) Carter, Carter death
37 Mentz Jr., Henry AlvanHenry Alvan Mentz Jr. LA 1920–2005 1982–1992 (none) 1992–2001 Reagan, Reagan retirement
39 Livaudais, Jr., MarcelMarcel Livaudais, Jr. LA 1925–2009 1984–1996 (none) 1996–2008 Reagan, Reagan retirement
40 Clement, Edith BrownEdith Brown Clement LA 1948–present 1991–2001 2001 (none) Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush appointment to 5th Cir.
44 Jones II, OklaOkla Jones II LA 1945–1996 1994–1996 (none) (none) Clinton, Clinton death
45 Porteous, ThomasThomas Porteous LA 1946–present 1994–2010 (none) (none) Clinton, Clinton impeachment

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ 28 U.S.C. § 1331
  2. ^ 28 U.S.C. § 1332
  3. ^ 28 U.S.C. § 1333
  4. ^ 18 U.S.C. § 3231
  5. ^ Title 28, United States Code, Chapter 85
  6. ^ Under 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), for example, the U.S. district courts are authorized to hear appeals from final judgments, orders, and decrees of U.S. bankruptcy judges.
  7. ^ 28 U.S.C. § 98(a)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h U.S. District Courts of Louisiana, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  9. ^ a b Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 392.
  10. ^ Dick was appointed to the District of Louisiana on March 2, 1821; when the District was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts, he was reassigned to both by operation of law.
  11. ^ From February 13, 1845 to March 3, 1849, the Eastern District of Louisiana was recombined with the Western to form a single District of Louisiana; McCaleb continued his service throughout this period as a judge of the District of Louisiana.
  12. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on February 8, 1864, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 17, 1864, and received commission on February 17, 1864.
  13. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the United States Senate on March 8, 1950, and received commission on March 9, 1950.

[edit] External links

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