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CONTACT PERSON:
ROBERT GUNN
(504) 310-2588
| NOVEMBER
23, 2005 |
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Louisiana Supreme
Court Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. announced that
the Louisiana
Supreme Court will formally return to its French Quarter home
at 400 Royal Street, New Orleans, and will be open to the
public beginning Monday, December 5, 2005. Chief Justice Calogero
stated, “Just a little over a year ago, the Louisiana
Supreme Court returned to its newly renovated quarters in
the French Quarter. We are happy to return after a short absence
made necessary by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.”
The move back to
the Court’s home at 400 Royal Street comes after the
Louisiana Office of
State Buildings completed the necessary cleanup and inspections
and gave the clearance for occupancy. Chief Justice Calogero
thanked Governor Kathleen Blanco and the Office of State Buildings
for their efforts which made it possible for the Court to
return to New Orleans sooner than anticipated.
Although closed
from August 29, 2005 through November 25, 2005 for regular
filing purposes, the Louisiana Supreme Court has been operating
out of its temporary location at the First Circuit Court of
Appeal in Baton Rouge, handling emergency filings and administrative
matters, and assisting lower courts in resuming normal operations
after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Supreme Court’s
limited closure order expires Friday, November 25, 2005, and
pleadings otherwise due during this time period must be filed
no later than Monday, November 28, 2005. The Court will hold
earlier scheduled oral arguments in a series of cases in Baton
Rouge at the First Circuit Court of Appeal November 28-30,
2005. Then on Thursday, December 1, 2005, the Court will participate
in a Red Mass for the Healing and Renewal of New Orleans at
noon at St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. Members
of the bench and bar as well as the public are invited to
this Red Mass.
On Monday, December
5, 2005, the Supreme Court Clerk’s office will open
at 9:00 a.m. at 400 Royal Street and will resume its normal
operating hours of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. As of December 5, 2005, court filings by hand will only
be accepted at the Clerk’s office in New Orleans and
will no longer be accepted in person at the Clerk’s
temporary office at the First Circuit Court of Appeal. Filings
may continue to be filed by mail addressed to the Louisiana
Supreme Court, 400 Royal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.
In addition, the Law Library of Louisiana
will also reopen its doors to the public to make available
the many services and resources it offers to the citizens
of Louisiana. As of December 5, 2005, the Law Library of Louisiana
will be open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
with limited weekend hours. For further information, call
the Law Library of Louisiana at 504-310-2400.
“These last few months have been challenging ones for
the state judiciary, but the judges and
personnel of the affected courts worked tirelessly to ensure
the protection of constitutional rights of our citizens, access
to the civil and criminal justice systems, and the resumption
of normal operations as early as possible. I’d like
to thank these judges and staff members for their dedication
and efforts. I would also like to extend a special thanks
to Chief Judge Burrell Carter and the judges and personnel
of the First Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge for the
courtesies and hospitality shown to the Louisiana Supreme
Court during our stay there,” said Chief Justice Calogero.
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