The Louisiana Supreme Court announced that considering the resurgence in the spread of COVID-19 and the rising number of cases in Louisiana, and in consideration of public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure, the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse will be closed to the public, effective December 28, 2021 through January 17, 2022.

The Louisiana Supreme Court appointed retired Opelousas City Court Judge Vanessa Harris as judge pro tempore of Division A, Lafayette City Court, for the period of December 17, 2021 through February 28, 2022, subject to the completion of any unfinished business.

Louisiana 24th Judicial District Court Judge Scott U. Schlegel was presented the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) 26th Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence at a ceremony at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse. Bestowed upon the Jefferson Parish judge for being a facilitator of innovative technological advancement in the Louisiana judiciary, the award is one of the highest judicial honors in the country; Judge Schlegel is the first recipient from Louisiana.

The Louisiana Supreme Court Justices announced several substantive changes to its rules, effective immediately, that will increase accountability for judges facing allegations of judicial misconduct, protect the public fisc, and help expedite judicial discipline matters. These amendments are a continuation of the Court’s ongoing study and revision of judicial discipline rules and the adoption last year of rules that increased public access to and transparency in proceedings before the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana.

The last few years have challenged our system of justice in unique ways. The pandemic as well as recent damaging storms in Louisiana have contributed to a surge in the need for attorneys to offer legal services to those who lack financial resources.

Attorney John D. Fitzmorris, Jr. has been appointed to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana for a four-year term which commenced September 1, 2021. Mr. Fitzmorris was selected by the Conference of Court of Appeal Judges to serve as an attorney member of the Judiciary Commission, succeeding Edward J. Walters, Jr.

Baton Rouge City Court Judge Yvette Mansfield Alexander was sworn in as president of the American Judges Association (AJA) on Monday, October 4, 2021.

Louisiana District Court Judge Scott U. Schlegel, an energetic and passionate jurist who is a pioneer in using technology in Louisiana state courts, has been named the recipient of the National Center for State Courts’ 26th Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, one of the highest judicial honors in the country.

The Louisiana Supreme Court announced today that oral arguments will be held October 18-20, 2021. Attorneys will appear in person before the Justices at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse. Social distancing guidelines and additional precautions will be observed.

At a meeting of its general membership on Monday, October 4, 2021, the Louisiana District Judges Association elected new officers for the 2021-2022 term.

Louisiana judges donned their robes and gathered at St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square in New Orleans this morning for the 69th annual Red Mass, traditionally held the first Monday in October. Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond was the Celebrant and the Most Reverend Robert E. Barron, the Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, theologian and well-known Catholic media personality, was the Homilist.

Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, acting under the authority of Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 958, and considering the state of emergency declared by Governor John Bel Edwards as a result of then-Tropical Storm Ida on August 26, 2021 in Proclamation Number 165 JBE 2021 and the disruption that the damage from Hurricane Ida continues to cause, released the following order regarding certain deadlines in six parishes.

Amid COVID variants and ongoing recovery from Hurricane Ida, the Louisiana Supreme Court continues its work. Additionally, the Court, along with judges statewide, continues community outreach initiatives designed to bolster civics education for Louisiana’s students. Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, in observance of Constitution Day, visited Morgan City High School in St. Mary Parish on Thursday, September 16, where he met with dual enrollment U.S. History and honors Civics students. The presentation was in conjunction with the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom program.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, acting under the authority of Article V, Sections 1 and 5 of Constitution of 1974, and the inherent power of this Court, and considering the ongoing interruption from Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Nicholas, Governor John Bel Edwards’ declaration of emergency in Proclamation Numbers 173 JBE 2021 and 165 JBE 2021, Governor John Bel Edwards’ extension of emergency provisions in Proclamation Number 170 JBE 2021, and the need to amend the Order of this Court dated August 31, 2021, released the following Order.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has today issued an Order extending the deadline for attorneys to comply with notices of delinquency for failure to complete annual registration by 30 days.

The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court announced that the work of the Court is continuing during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Although the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse is currently closed due to the COVID pandemic, as a convenience to the public, the Court will immediately resume accepting filings brought in person to the courthouse at 400 Royal Street, New Orleans.

In observance of Constitution Day 2021, judges throughout the state are visiting schools to participate in civics education for students. Today, Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton visited C.E. Byrd High School to present his Crime Consequences and the Power of Choice program. Justice Crichton was joined by Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart, himself a Byrd High School graduate who served nearly 25 years as a judge on the 1st JDC in Shreveport and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal. Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jay B. McCallum was also in attendance for the program.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, acting under the authority of Article V, Section 1 of Constitution of 1974, and the inherent power of this Court, and considering the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida, including road closures, damage due to high winds, and flooding, and the loss of power and water in many areas of the state, for the safety of the public and court staff issued three orders addressing closure of the Louisiana Supreme Court; emergency suspension of prescription and peremption and emergency suspension of abandonment; and emergency suspension of time limitations.

In recognition of Governor John Bel Edwards’ proclamation of Juneteenth becoming a legal holiday in the State of Louisiana and that all state offices will close for a half-day, the offices of the Louisiana Supreme Court will close at noon on Friday, June 18, 2021.

The Law Library of Louisiana and the Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society recently co-sponsored a free CLE titled, Translating the Louisiana Civil Code into Spanish: A Jurilinguistic Exercise. This free CLE, which was held via webinar, was attended by 284 people including 42 persons who joined from other countries around the world. This is the latest translation project undertaken by the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law School’s Center of Civil Law Studies (CCLS). Previous projects include translating the Louisiana Civil Code into French, and a new translation of the English version of Louisiana’s 1825 Civil Code.

Today the Louisiana Supreme Court made history when it appointed attorney Veronica O. Koclanes as its Clerk of Court. Ms. Koclanes becomes the first female Clerk of Court in the Louisiana Supreme Court’s 208-year history. She will succeed current Clerk John Tarlton Olivier upon his retirement at the end of this year. Mr. Olivier has served as Clerk of Court since March 1, 1996.

Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer presented the Court’s inspirational Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom initiative on Friday, May 21, 2021, before the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education at the State Capitol. The Chief Justice was eager to share with the Commission and Commission Chair, Judge Wendell Manning, the court’s strategy for encouraging Louisiana’s judges to visit elementary, middle, and high schools to present civics education instruction.

Chief Justice John L. Weimer announced today the Court’s adoption of amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct pertaining to lawyer advertising. The Rules of Professional Conduct set forth the standards of ethical conduct required of lawyers.

The Law Library of Louisiana is now open to the public by appointment only.

Several new appointments have been made to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana.

Friday, April 16, 2021 at 2:00 pm - Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse - 400 Royal Street, New Orleans

Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Bar Admissions (COBA), the Louisiana Supreme Court issued an Order announcing the method of administering the July 2021 Louisiana Bar Examination due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin swore in New Orleans Paralegal Association (NOPA) 2021 Board Members

As part of its ongoing “Judges in the Classroom” initiative, the Louisiana Supreme Court Justices welcomed students from Tulane University School of Law to the Supreme Court to witness oral arguments presented to the Court.

3/17/2021

By Supreme Court Order of February 11, 2021, the moratorium on jury trials will expire on March 31, 2021, and trial courts are free to resume jury trials on April 1, 2021. According to the Order, jury trials may resume when local courts have determined that jury trials can be held in a safe environment, with observance of safety protocols, including strict social distancing and mask mandates.

The Court Improvement Program of the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Louisiana Judicial College, and the Pelican Center for Children and Families today announced the publication of the Louisiana Child in Need of Care (CINC) Benchbook for Juvenile Judges. The Benchbook project is a part of the Child and Family Services Review Program Improvement Plan. The Benchbook incorporates State and Federal laws, best practices, and the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) Child Welfare Assessment and Decision Making Model, which is designed to expedite permanency and decrease the trauma experienced by families and children in CINC proceedings. This work is the culmination of a year-long collaborative effort involving many legal stakeholders in Louisiana.

02/17/2021 - 02/19/2021

Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer announced that the Louisiana Supreme Court has issued an Order closing the offices of the Louisiana Supreme Court and Supreme Court Clerk of Court’s office on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 due to the emergency created by the hazardous conditions caused by severe winter weather resulting in road closures, loss of power, and other safety risks statewide, and the Commissioner of Administration announcing that state offices will be closed statewide Wednesday, February 17th.

The Louisiana Supreme Court announced the launch of several Black History Month educational initiatives to spotlight contributions of prominent African Americans to the field of law. The Supreme Court will partner with the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to bring these initiatives to schools statewide.

24th Judicial District Court Judge Scott Schlegel, who serves as Chair of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission, was recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as a 2021 Legal Rebel. The designation was given to 10 individuals in the legal profession who help to bring about change in the judicial system by establishing a blueprint for courts to better serve the general public. Judge Schlegel is featured in the article, 2021 Legal Rebels: Meet 10 legal professionals who are courting change, in the February issue of the American Bar Journal, a publication of the American Bar Association.

State’s highest court and top school board to partner on education initiatives

Chief Justice Weimer began his service on the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2001 when he was elected to serve as an Associate Justice, District 6, comprised of the parishes of: Assumption, Iberia, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and a portion of the west bank of Jefferson, which includes Grand Isle. In 2002 and again in 2012, Chief Justice Weimer was re-elected to 10-year terms without opposition.