# United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (in case citations, E.D. La.) is a United States federal court based in New Orleans.
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).
As of March 1, 2021, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana is Duane A. Evans.

## 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.

## 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. The United States District Court for the District of Louisiana was established on April 8, 1812, by 2 Stat. 701, 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.
On February 13, 1845, Louisiana was reorganized into a single District with one judgeship, by 5 Stat. 722, but was again divided into Eastern and the Western Districts on March 3, 1849, by 9 Stat. 401. Congress again abolished the Western District of Louisiana and reorganized Louisiana as a single judicial district on July 27, 1866, by 14 Stat. 300. 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. The Middle District was formed from portions of those two Districts on December 18, 1971, by 85 Stat. 741.
After the United States District Court for the Canal Zone was abolished on March 31, 1982, all pending litigation was transferred to the Eastern District of Louisiana.

## Current judges

As of November 17, 2024:
| # | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Term of service | Term of service | Appointed by |
| # | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Active | Chief | Senior | Appointed by |
| 53 | Chief Judge | Nannette Jolivette Brown | New Orleans | 1963 | 2011–present | 2018–present | — | Obama |
| 51 | District Judge | Jay C. Zainey | New Orleans | 1951 | 2002–present | — | — | G.W. Bush |
| 54 | District Judge | Jane Triche Milazzo | New Orleans | 1957 | 2011–present | — | — | Obama |
| 55 | District Judge | Susie Morgan | New Orleans | 1953 | 2012–present | — | — | Obama |
| 56 | District Judge | Barry Ashe | New Orleans | 1956 | 2018–present | — | — | Trump |
| 57 | District Judge | Wendy Vitter | New Orleans | 1961 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
| 58 | District Judge | Greg G. Guidry | New Orleans | 1960 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
| 59 | District Judge | Darrel J. Papillion | New Orleans | 1968 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
| 60 | District Judge | Brandon Scott Long | New Orleans | 1976 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
| 61 | District Judge | vacant | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 62 | District Judge | vacant | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 63 | District Judge | vacant | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 43 | Senior Judge | Sarah S. Vance | New Orleans | 1950 | 1994–2024 | 2008–2015 | 2024–present | Clinton |
| 46 | Senior Judge | Eldon E. Fallon | New Orleans | 1939 | 1995–2024 | — | 2024–present | Clinton |
| 47 | Senior Judge | Mary Ann Vial Lemmon | New Orleans | 1941 | 1996–2011 | — | 2011–present | Clinton |
| 48 | Senior Judge | Ivan L. R. Lemelle | New Orleans | 1950 | 1998–2015 | — | 2015–present | Clinton |
| 49 | Senior Judge | Carl Barbier | New Orleans | 1944 | 1998–2023 | — | 2023–present | Clinton |
| 52 | Senior Judge | Lance Africk | New Orleans | 1951 | 2002–2024 | — | 2024–present | G.W. Bush |

## Vacancies and pending nominations

| Seat | Prior judge's duty station | Seat last held by | Vacancy reason | Date of vacancy | Nominee | Date of nomination |
| 9 | New Orleans | Eldon E. Fallon | Senior status | January 1, 2024 | – | – |
| 5 | New Orleans | Sarah S. Vance | Senior status | January 16, 2024 | – | – |
| 2 | New Orleans | Lance Africk | Senior status | October 1, 2024 | – | – |

## Former judges

| # | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
| 1 | John Dick | LA | 1788–1824 | 1823–1824 | — | — | Madison/Operation of law | death |
| 2 | Thomas B. Robertson | LA | 1779–1828 | 1824–1828 | — | — | Monroe | death |
| 3 | Samuel Hadden Harper | LA | 1783–1837 | 1829–1837 | — | — | Jackson | death |
| 4 | Philip Kissick Lawrence | LA | c.1793–1841 | 1837–1841 | — | — | Van Buren | death |
| 5 | Theodore Howard McCaleb | LA | 1810–1864 | 1841–1845 1849–1861 | — | — | Tyler Operation of law | reassignment to D. La. resignation |
| 6 | Edward Henry Durell | LA | 1810–1887 | 1863–1866 | — | — | Lincoln | reassignment to D. La. |
| 7 | Edward Coke Billings | LA | 1829–1893 | 1881–1893 | — | — | Grant/Operation of law | death |
| 8 | Charles Parlange | LA | 1851–1907 | 1894–1907 | — | — | Cleveland | death |
| 9 | Eugene Davis Saunders | LA | 1853–1914 | 1907–1909 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | resignation |
| 10 | Rufus Edward Foster | LA | 1871–1942 | 1909–1925 | — | — | T. Roosevelt | elevation to 5th Cir. |
| 11 | Charlton Beattie | LA | 1869–1925 | 1925 | — | — | Coolidge | death |
| 12 | Louis Henry Burns | LA | 1878–1928 | 1925–1928 | — | — | Coolidge | death |
| 13 | Wayne G. Borah | LA | 1891–1966 | 1928–1949 | — | — | Coolidge | elevation to 5th Cir. |
| 14 | Adrian Joseph Caillouet | LA | 1883–1946 | 1940–1946 | — | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 15 | Herbert William Christenberry | LA | 1897–1975 | 1947–1975 | 1949–1967 | — | Truman | death |
| 16 | J. Skelly Wright | LA | 1911–1988 | 1949–1962 | — | — | Truman | elevation to D.C. Cir. |
| 17 | Elmer Gordon West | LA | 1914–1992 | 1961–1972 | 1967–1972 | — | Kennedy | reassignment to M.D. La. |
| 18 | Robert A. Ainsworth Jr. | LA | 1910–1981 | 1961–1966 | — | — | Kennedy | elevation to 5th Cir. |
| 19 | Frank Burton Ellis | LA | 1907–1969 | 1962–1965 | — | 1965–1969 | Kennedy | death |
| 20 | Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe | LA | 1922–2014 | 1966–1992 | 1972–1992 | 1992–2014 | L. Johnson | death |
| 21 | Edward James Boyle Sr. | LA | 1913–2002 | 1966–1981 | — | 1981–2002 | L. Johnson | death |
| 22 | Fred James Cassibry | LA | 1918–1996 | 1966–1984 | — | 1984–1987 | L. Johnson | retirement |
| 23 | Lansing Leroy Mitchell | LA | 1914–2001 | 1966–1981 | — | 1981–2001 | L. Johnson | death |
| 24 | Alvin Benjamin Rubin | LA | 1920–1991 | 1966–1977 | — | — | L. Johnson | elevation to 5th Cir. |
| 25 | James August Comiskey | LA | 1926–2005 | 1967–1975 | — | — | L. Johnson | resignation |
| 26 | Jack Murphy Gordon | LA | 1931–1982 | 1971–1982 | — | — | Nixon | death |
| 27 | Roger Blake West | LA | 1928–1978 | 1971–1978 | — | — | Nixon | death |
| 28 | Charles Schwartz Jr. | LA | 1922–2012 | 1976–1991 | — | 1991–2012 | Ford | death |
| 29 | Morey Leonard Sear | LA | 1929–2004 | 1976–2000 | 1992–1999 | 2000–2004 | Ford | death |
| 30 | Robert Frederick Collins | LA | 1931–present | 1978–1993 | — | — | Carter | resignation |
| 31 | Adrian G. Duplantier | LA | 1929–2007 | 1978–1994 | — | 1994–2007 | Carter | death |
| 32 | George Arceneaux | LA | 1928–1993 | 1979–1993 | — | — | Carter | death |
| 33 | Patrick Eugene Carr | LA | 1922–1998 | 1979–1991 | — | 1991–1998 | Carter | death |
| 34 | Veronica DiCarlo Wicker | LA | 1930–1994 | 1979–1994 | — | — | Carter | death |
| 35 | Peter Beer | LA | 1928–2018 | 1979–1994 | — | 1994–2018 | Carter | death |
| 36 | A. J. McNamara | LA | 1936–2014 | 1982–2001 | 1999–2001 | 2001–2014 | Reagan | death |
| 37 | Henry Mentz | LA | 1920–2005 | 1982–1992 | — | 1992–2001 | Reagan | retirement |
| 38 | Martin Leach-Cross Feldman | LA | 1934–2022 | 1983–2022 | — | — | Reagan | death |
| 39 | Marcel Livaudais Jr. | LA | 1925–2009 | 1984–1996 | — | 1996–2008 | Reagan | retirement |
| 40 | Edith Brown Clement | LA | 1948–present | 1991–2001 | 2001 | — | G.H.W. Bush | elevation to 5th Cir. |
| 41 | Helen Ginger Berrigan | LA | 1948–2024 | 1994–2016 | 2001–2008 | 2016–2024 | Clinton | death |
| 42 | Stanwood Duval | LA | 1942–present | 1994–2008 | — | 2008–2017 | Clinton | retirement |
| 44 | Okla Jones II | LA | 1945–1996 | 1994–1996 | — | — | Clinton | death |
| 45 | Thomas Porteous | LA | 1946–2021 | 1994–2010 | — | — | Clinton | impeachment and conviction |
| 50 | Kurt D. Engelhardt | LA | 1960–present | 2001–2018 | 2015–2018 | — | G.W. Bush | elevation to 5th Cir. |
* 1 2 3 Reassigned from the District of Louisiana.
* 1 2 3 4 5 Jointly appointed to both the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana.
* ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on February 8, 1864, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 17, 1864, and received commission the same day.
* ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 8, 1925, confirmed by the Senate on December 21, 1925, and received commission the same day.
* ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 6, 1928, confirmed by the Senate on December 17, 1928, and received commission the same day.
* ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1950, confirmed by the Senate on March 8, 1950, and received commission on March 9, 1950.

## Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.
A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

## 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 |
| Burns | 1925–1928 |
| Borah | 1928–1949 |
| Wright | 1950–1962 |
| Ellis | 1962–1965 |
| Heebe | 1966–1992 |
| Jones II | 1994–1996 |
| Barbier | 1998–2023 |
| Papillion | 2023–present |
Seat 2 :
| Seat established on March 18, 1938 by 52 Stat. 110 ||||
| Caillouet | 1940–1946 |
| Christenberry, Sr. | 1947–1975 |
| Schwartz, Jr. | 1976–1991 |
| Clement | 1991–2001 |
| Africk | 2002–2024 |
| vacant | 2024–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 | 1994–2024 |
| vacant | 2024–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 | 2001–2018 |
| Guidry | 2019–present |
Seat 9 :
| Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 ||||
| R. West | 1971–1978 |
| Duplantier, Sr. | 1978–1994 |
| Fallon | 1995–2024 |
| vacant | 2024–present |
Seat 10 :
| Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 ||||
| Gordon | 1971–1982 |
| Feldman | 1983–2022 |
| Long | 2023–present |
Seat 11 :
| Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 ||||
| Carr | 1979–1991 |
| Berrigan | 1994–2016 |
| Vitter | 2019–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 |
| Ashe | 2018–present |
Seat 14 :
| Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 ||||
| Beer | 1979–1994 |
| Lemmon | 1996–2011 |
| Milazzo | 2011–present |

## List of U.S. Attorneys

The U.S. Attorney is the chief law-enforcement officer for the district.
* John W. Smith (1821–1829)
* John Slidell (1829–1833)
* Henry Carlton (1833–1836)
* P. K. Lawrence (1836–1837)
* Thomas Slidell (1837–1838)
* Benjamin F. Linton (1838–1841)
* Balie Peyton (1841–1845)
* Solomon W. Downs (1845–1846)
* Thomas I. Durant (1846–1850)
* Logan Hunton (1850–1853)
* E. Warren Moise (1853–1855)
* Thomas S. McCay (1855–1856)
* Franklin H. Clack (1856–1857)
* Thomas J. Semmes (1857–1859)
* Henry C. Miller (1859–1863)
* Rufus Waples (1863)
* James R. Beckwith (1870)
* Albert H. Leonard (1878–1885)
* Charles Parlange (1885–1889)
* William Grant (1889–1892)
* Ferdinand B. Earhart (1892–1896)
* J. Ward Gurley Jr. (1896–1900)
* William W. Howe (1900–1907)
* Rufus E. Foster (1907–1909)
* Carlton R. Beattie (1909–1913)
* Walter Guion (1913–1917)
* Joseph W. Montgomery (1917–1919)
* Henry Mooney (1919–1921)
* Louis H. Burns (1921–1925)
* Wayne G. Borah (1925–1928)
* Edmond E. Talbot (1928–1933)
* William H. Norman (1933)
* Rene A. Viosca (1933–1934)
* Warren Doyle (1934–1937)
* Herbert W. Christenberry (1937–1941)
* Robert Winestein (1941–1947)
* J. Skelly Wright (1948–1949)
* John M. McKay (1949–1950)
* George R. Blue (1950–1953)
* M. Hepburn Many (1953–1957)
* Kathleen Ruddell (1957–1961)
* Louis C. LaCour (1967–1969)
* Gerald J. Gallinghouse (1969–1978)
* John P. Volz (1978–1991)
* Harry A. Rosenberg (1991–93)
* Robert J. Boitmann (1993)
* Eddie J. Jordan Jr. (1994–2001)
* Jim Letten (2001–2012)
* Dana Boente (2013)
* Kenneth Polite (2013–2017)
* Duane A. Evans (2017–2018)
* Peter G. Strasser (2018–2021)
* Duane A. Evans (2021–present)