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 ).
Jurisdiction [ edit ]
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]
History [ edit ]
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]
Current judges [ edit ]
The court has twelve authorized judgeships. The Hon. Kurt Engelhardt has been Chief Judge since 2015. In addition to the active district judges, the court currently has four senior district judges and six magistrate judges .
Vacancies and pending nominations [ edit ]
Former judges [ edit ]
#
Judge
State
Born–died
Active service
Chief Judge
Senior status
Appointed by
Reason for
termination
1
Dick, John John Dick
LA
1788–1824
1823[10] –1824
—
—
Monroe, Monroe
death
2
Robertson, Thomas B. Thomas B. Robertson
LA
1779–1828
1824–1828
—
—
Monroe, Monroe
death
3
Harper, Samuel Hadden Samuel Hadden Harper
LA
1783–1837
1829–1837
—
—
Jackson, Jackson
death
4
Lawrence, Philip Kissick Philip Kissick Lawrence
LA
unknown–1841
1837–1841
—
—
Van Buren, Van Buren
death
5
McCaleb, Theodore Howard Theodore Howard McCaleb
LA
1810–1864
1841–1861[11]
—
—
Tyler, Tyler
resignation
6
Durell, Edward Henry Edward Henry Durell
LA
1810–1887
1863[12] –1866
—
—
Lincoln, Lincoln
reassignment
7
Billings, Edward Coke Edward Coke Billings
LA
1829–1893
1876–1893
—
—
Grant, Grant
death
8
Parlange, Charles Charles Parlange
LA
1851–1907
1894–1907
—
—
Cleveland, Cleveland
death
9
Saunders, Eugene Davis Eugene Davis Saunders
LA
1853–1914
1907–1909
—
—
Roosevelt, T. T. Roosevelt
resignation
10
Foster, Rufus Edward Rufus Edward Foster
LA
1871–1942
1909–1925
—
—
Roosevelt, T. T. Roosevelt
reappointment
11
Beattie, Charlton Reid Charlton Reid Beattie
LA
1869–1925
1925
—
—
Coolidge, Coolidge
death
12
Burns, Louis Henry Louis Henry Burns
LA
1878–1928
1925–1928
—
—
Coolidge, Coolidge
death
13
Borah, Wayne G. Wayne G. Borah
LA
1891–1966
1928–1949
—
—
Coolidge, Coolidge
reappointment
14
Caillouet, Adrian Joseph Adrian Joseph Caillouet
LA
1883–1946
1940–1946
—
—
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
15
Christenberry, Herbert William Herbert William Christenberry
LA
1897–1975
1947–1975
1949–1967
—
Truman, Truman
death
16
Wright, J. Skelly J. Skelly Wright
LA
1911–1988
1949[13] –1962
—
—
Truman, Truman
reappointment
17
West, Elmer Gordon Elmer Gordon West
LA
1914–1992
1961–1972
1967–1972
—
Kennedy, Kennedy
reassignment
18
Ainsworth, Jr., Robert Andrew Robert Andrew Ainsworth, Jr.
LA
1910–1981
1961–1966
—
—
Kennedy, Kennedy
reappointment
19
Ellis, Frank Burton Frank Burton Ellis
LA
1907–1969
1962–1965
—
1965–1969
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
20
Reagan Heebe, Frederick Jacob Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe
LA
1922–2014
1966–1992
1972–1992
1992–2014
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
21
Boyle Sr., Edward James Edward James Boyle Sr.
LA
1913–2002
1966–1981
—
1981–2002
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
22
Cassibry, Fred James Fred James Cassibry
LA
1918–1996
1966–1984
—
1984–1987
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
retirement
23
Mitchell, Lansing Leroy Lansing Leroy Mitchell
LA
1914–2001
1966–1981
—
1981–2001
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
24
Rubin, Alvin Benjamin Alvin Benjamin Rubin
LA
1920–1991
1966–1977
—
—
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
reappointment
25
Comiskey, James August James August Comiskey
LA
1926–2005
1967–1975
—
—
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
resignation
26
Gordon, Jack Murphy Jack Murphy Gordon
LA
1931–1982
1971–1982
—
—
Nixon, Nixon
death
27
West, Roger Blake Roger Blake West
LA
1928–1978
1971–1978
—
—
Nixon, Nixon
death
28
Schwartz, Charles Charles Schwartz
LA
1922–2012
1976–1991
—
1991–2012
Ford, Ford
death
29
Sear, Morey Leonard Morey Leonard Sear
LA
1929–2004
1976–2000
1992–1999
2000–2004
Ford, Ford
death
30
Collins, Robert Frederick Robert Frederick Collins
LA
1931–present
1978–1993
—
—
Carter, Carter
resignation
31
Duplantier, Adrian G. Adrian G. Duplantier
LA
1929–2007
1978–1994
—
1994–2007
Carter, Carter
death
32
Arceneaux, Jr., George George Arceneaux, Jr.
LA
1928–1993
1979–1993
—
—
Carter, Carter
death
33
Carr, Patrick Eugene Patrick Eugene Carr
LA
1922–1998
1979–1991
—
1991–1998
Carter, Carter
death
34
Wicker, Veronica DiCarlo Veronica DiCarlo Wicker
LA
1930–1994
1979–1994
—
—
Carter, Carter
death
36
McNamara, A.J. A.J. McNamara
LA
1936–2014
1982–2001
1999–2001
2001–2014
Reagan, Reagan
death
37
Mentz Jr., Henry Alvan Henry Alvan Mentz Jr.
LA
1920–2005
1982–1992
—
1992–2001
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
39
Livaudais, Jr., Marcel Marcel Livaudais, Jr.
LA
1925–2009
1984–1996
—
1996–2008
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
40
Clement, Edith Brown Edith Brown Clement
LA
1948–present
1991–2001
2001
—
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
reappointment
44
Jones II, Okla Okla Jones II
LA
1945–1996
1994–1996
—
—
Clinton, Clinton
death
45
Porteous, Thomas Thomas Porteous
LA
1946–present
1994–2010
—
—
Clinton, Clinton
removal[Note 1]
^ Impeached and convicted
Succession of seats [ edit ]
Seat 1
Seat reassigned from District of Louisiana on March 3, 1823 by 3 Stat. 774 (concurrent with Western District)
Dick
1823–1824
Robertson
1824–1828
Harper
1829–1837
Lawrence
1837–1841
McCaleb
1841–1845
Seat reassigned to District of Louisiana on February 13, 1845 by 5 Stat. 722
Seat reassigned from District of Louisiana on March 3, 1849 by 9 Stat. 401
McCaleb
1849–1861
Durell
1864–1866
Seat reassigned to District of Louisiana on July 27, 1866 by 14 Stat. 300
Seat reassigned from District of Louisiana on March 3, 1881 by 21 Stat. 507
Billings
1881–1893
Parlange
1894–1907
Saunders
1907–1909
Foster
1909–1925
Beattie
1925–1925
Burns
1925–1928
Borah
1928–1949
Wright
1950–1962
Ellis
1962–1965
Heebe
1966–1992
Jones II
1994–1996
Barbier
1998–present
Seat 3
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
E. West
1961–1972
Seat reassigned to Middle District on April 16, 1972 by 85 Stat. 741
Seat 5
Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Mitchell
1966–1981
Mentz, Jr.
1982–1992
Vance
1994–present
Seat 6
Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Cassibry
1966–1984
Livaudais, Jr.
1984–1996
Seat reassigned to Middle District on October 6, 1997 by 111 Stat. 1173
Seat 8
Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Comiskey
1967–1975
Sear
1976–2000
Engelhardt
2001–present
Seat 10
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Gordon
1971–1982
Feldman
1983–present
Seat 11
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Carr
1979–1991
Berrigan
1994–present
Seat 13
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Wicker
1979–1994
Lemelle
1998–2015
vacant
2015–present
Seat 14
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Beer
1979–1994
Lemmon
1996–2011
Milazzo
2011–present
United States Attorney [ edit ]
Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr. has served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana since September 20, 2013.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
^ 28 U.S.C. § 1331
^ 28 U.S.C. § 1332
^ 28 U.S.C. § 1333
^ 18 U.S.C. § 3231
^ Title 28, United States Code, Chapter 85
^ 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.
^ 28 U.S.C. § 98(a)
^ a b c d e f g h U.S. District Courts of Louisiana, Legislative history , Federal Judicial Center .
^ a b Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 392.
^ 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 .
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
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