United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
(E.D. La.)
Map

Appeals to Fifth Circuit
Established March 3, 1849
Judges assigned 12
Chief judge Kurt Engelhardt
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).

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]

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]

Current judges

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.

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
50 Chief Judge Kurt Engelhardt New Orleans 1960 2001–present 2015–present G.W. Bush
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
43 District Judge Sarah Vance New Orleans 1950 1994–present 2008–2015 Clinton
46 District Judge Eldon Fallon New Orleans 1939 1995–present Clinton
49 District Judge Carl Barbier New Orleans 1944 1998–present Clinton
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
55 District Judge Susie Morgan New Orleans 1953 2012–present Obama
56 District Judge vacant
35 Senior Judge Peter Hill Beer New Orleans 1928 1979–1994 1994–present Carter
42 Senior Judge Stanwood Duval New Orleans 1942 1994–2008 2008–present Clinton
47 Senior Judge Mary Ann Lemmon New Orleans 1941 1996–2011 2011–present Clinton
48 Senior Judge Ivan Lemelle New Orleans 1950 1998–2015 2015–present Clinton

Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
13 Ivan Lemelle Senior Status June 29, 2015 Claude J. Kelly III February 4, 2016

Former judges

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Age at appointment Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Dick, JohnJohn Dick LA 1788–1824 1823[10]–1824 {{{age at appointment}}} Monroe, Monroe death
2 Robertson, Thomas B.Thomas B. Robertson LA 1779–1828 1824–1828 {{{age at appointment}}} Monroe, Monroe death
3 Harper, Samuel HaddenSamuel Hadden Harper LA 1783–1837 1829–1837 {{{age at appointment}}} Jackson, Jackson death
4 Lawrence, Philip KissickPhilip Kissick Lawrence LA unknown–1841 1837–1841 {{{age at appointment}}} Van Buren, Van Buren death
5 McCaleb, Theodore HowardTheodore Howard McCaleb LA 1810–1864 1841–1861[11] {{{age at appointment}}} Tyler, Tyler resignation
6 Durell, Edward HenryEdward Henry Durell LA 1810–1887 1863[12]–1866 {{{age at appointment}}} Lincoln, Lincoln reassignment
7 Billings, Edward CokeEdward Coke Billings LA 1829–1893 1876–1893 {{{age at appointment}}} Grant, Grant death
8 Parlange, CharlesCharles Parlange LA 1851–1907 1894–1907 {{{age at appointment}}} Cleveland, Cleveland death
9 Saunders, Eugene DavisEugene Davis Saunders LA 1853–1914 1907–1909 {{{age at appointment}}} Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt resignation
10 Foster, Rufus EdwardRufus Edward Foster LA 1871–1942 1909–1925 {{{age at appointment}}} Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt reappointment
11 Beattie, Charlton ReidCharlton Reid Beattie LA 1869–1925 1925 {{{age at appointment}}} Coolidge, Coolidge death
12 Burns, Louis HenryLouis Henry Burns LA 1878–1928 1925–1928 {{{age at appointment}}} Coolidge, Coolidge death
13 Borah, Wayne G.Wayne G. Borah LA 1891–1966 1928–1949 {{{age at appointment}}} Coolidge, Coolidge reappointment
14 Caillouet, Adrian JosephAdrian Joseph Caillouet LA 1883–1946 1940–1946 {{{age at appointment}}} Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt death
15 Christenberry, Herbert WilliamHerbert William Christenberry LA 1897–1975 1947–1975 1949–1967 {{{age at appointment}}} Truman, Truman death
16 Wright, J. SkellyJ. Skelly Wright LA 1911–1988 1949[13]–1962 {{{age at appointment}}} Truman, Truman reappointment
17 West, Elmer GordonElmer Gordon West LA 1914–1992 1961–1972 1967–1972 {{{age at appointment}}} Kennedy, Kennedy reassignment
18 Ainsworth, Jr., Robert AndrewRobert Andrew Ainsworth, Jr. LA 1910–1981 1961–1966 {{{age at appointment}}} Kennedy, Kennedy reappointment
19 Ellis, Frank BurtonFrank Burton Ellis LA 1907–1969 1962–1965 {{{age at appointment}}} 1965–1969 Kennedy, Kennedy death
20 Reagan Heebe, Frederick JacobFrederick Jacob Reagan Heebe LA 1922–2014 1966–1992 1972–1992 {{{age at appointment}}} 1992–2014 Johnson, L.L. Johnson death
21 Boyle Sr., Edward JamesEdward James Boyle Sr. LA 1913–2002 1966–1981 {{{age at appointment}}} 1981–2002 Johnson, L.L. Johnson death
22 Cassibry, Fred JamesFred James Cassibry LA 1918–1996 1966–1984 {{{age at appointment}}} 1984–1987 Johnson, L.L. Johnson retirement
23 Mitchell, Lansing LeroyLansing Leroy Mitchell LA 1914–2001 1966–1981 {{{age at appointment}}} 1981–2001 Johnson, L.L. Johnson death
24 Rubin, Alvin BenjaminAlvin Benjamin Rubin LA 1920–1991 1966–1977 {{{age at appointment}}} Johnson, L.L. Johnson reappointment
25 Comiskey, James AugustJames August Comiskey LA 1926–2005 1967–1975 {{{age at appointment}}} Johnson, L.L. Johnson resignation
26 Gordon, Jack MurphyJack Murphy Gordon LA 1931–1982 1971–1982 {{{age at appointment}}} Nixon, Nixon death
27 West, Roger BlakeRoger Blake West LA 1928–1978 1971–1978 {{{age at appointment}}} Nixon, Nixon death
28 Schwartz, CharlesCharles Schwartz LA 1922–2012 1976–1991 {{{age at appointment}}} 1991–2012 Ford, Ford death
29 Sear, Morey LeonardMorey Leonard Sear LA 1929–2004 1976–2000 1992–1999 {{{age at appointment}}} 2000–2004 Ford, Ford death
30 Collins, Robert FrederickRobert Frederick Collins LA 1931–present 1978–1993 {{{age at appointment}}} Carter, Carter resignation
31 Duplantier, Adrian G.Adrian G. Duplantier LA 1929–2007 1978–1994 {{{age at appointment}}} 1994–2007 Carter, Carter death
32 Arceneaux, Jr., GeorgeGeorge Arceneaux, Jr. LA 1928–1993 1979–1993 {{{age at appointment}}} Carter, Carter death
33 Carr, Patrick EugenePatrick Eugene Carr LA 1922–1998 1979–1991 {{{age at appointment}}} 1991–1998 Carter, Carter death
34 Wicker, Veronica DiCarloVeronica DiCarlo Wicker LA 1930–1994 1979–1994 {{{age at appointment}}} Carter, Carter death
36 McNamara, A.J.A.J. McNamara LA 1936–2014 1982–2001 1999–2001 {{{age at appointment}}} 2001–2014 Reagan, Reagan death
37 Mentz Jr., Henry AlvanHenry Alvan Mentz Jr. LA 1920–2005 1982–1992 {{{age at appointment}}} 1992–2001 Reagan, Reagan retirement
39 Livaudais, Jr., MarcelMarcel Livaudais, Jr. LA 1925–2009 1984–1996 {{{age at appointment}}} 1996–2008 Reagan, Reagan retirement
40 Clement, Edith BrownEdith Brown Clement LA 1948–present 1991–2001 2001 {{{age at appointment}}} Bush, G.H.W.G.H.W. Bush reappointment
44 Jones II, OklaOkla Jones II LA 1945–1996 1994–1996 {{{age at appointment}}} Clinton, Clinton death
45 Porteous, ThomasThomas Porteous LA 1946–present 1994–2010 {{{age at appointment}}} Clinton, Clinton removal[Note 1]
  1. Impeached and convicted

Succession of seats

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 2
Seat established on March 18, 1938 by 52 Stat. 110
Caillouet 1940–1946
Christenberry 1947–1975
Schwartz, Jr. 1976–1991
Clement 1991–2001
Africk 2002–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 4
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Ainsworth, Jr. 1961–1966
Boyle, Sr. 1966–1981
McNamara 1982–2001
Zainey 2002–present

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 7
Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Rubin 1966–1977
Collins 1978–1993
Porteous, Jr. 1994–2010
Morgan 2012–present

Seat 8
Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Comiskey 1967–1975
Sear 1976–2000
Engelhardt 2001–present

Seat 9
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
R. West 1971–1978
Duplantier 1978–1994
Fallon 1995–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 12
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Arceneaux, Jr. 1979–1993
Duval, Jr. 1994–2008
Brown 2011–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

Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr. has served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana since September 20, 2013.

See also

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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 U.S. District Courts of Louisiana, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  9. 1 2 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.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, April 13, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.