32nd JDC Judge Jason A. Dagate was appointed by Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer to serve on the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education. Judge Dagate, who serves on the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom Task Force, will serve as the Louisiana Supreme Court designee.

Third Judicial District Court Chief Judge Bruce E. Hampton has been appointed to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana for a four-year term which commenced September 13, 2022. Chief Judge Hampton was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as a judge member of the Judiciary Commission, succeeding Judge Brady O’Callaghan.

At general meetings held during the 2022 Fall Judges Conference, officers were elected by the membership of judicial associations representing different levels of courts in Louisiana.

As is the tradition to mark the opening of the judicial year, Louisiana judges gathered this morning for the 70th annual Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. Red Mass is held annually on the first Monday in October. Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond was the Celebrant and the Most Reverend Bishop Robert W. Marshall, Jr., the thirteenth Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria, was the Homilist. Judges, lawyers, officials of all faiths, and the public were invited to attend the Mass.

The Louisiana Supreme Court adopted a new rule that allows military spouse attorneys who reside with their service members in the state to apply for a limited license to practice law. The new rule went into effect September 23, 2022.

Retired Orleans Parish JuvenIn honor of Constitution Day 2022, Chief Justice John L. Weimer hosted 70 students and teachers from Thibodaux, South Lafourche, Central Lafourche, and E.D. White High Schools at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse on September 20, 2022 at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans.

The Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission, which was established by Supreme Court Order September 10, 2020, today announced a number of technological improvements in Louisiana courts advanced over the past two years.

Retired Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Judge Ernestine Gray was recently named chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Judicial Division. Members of the Judicial Division include judges, lawyers, tribal members, court administrators, academics, and students interested in the courts and the justice system.

Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Edwin Lombard, Orleans Civil District Court Judge Kern A. Reese, and Shreveport City Court Judge Sheva M. Sims were recently honored at the 2022 American Judges Association (AJA) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Constitution Day 2022 is Saturday, September 17. On Friday, September 16, 2022, in observance of this day the Louisiana Supreme Court will give free pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution to visitors of the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse located at 400 Royal Street. This marks the first time since COVID-19 protocols halted in-person visits to this majestic building that the court will welcome guests in celebration of this annual occasion. All are encouraged to pick up a copy and visit the exhibits in the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum and the Law Library of Louisiana.

New Orleans First City Court Senior Judge Veronica Henry was among a select group of individuals invited by the White House to give a presentation during a summit titled, “Building on Emergency Rental Assistance to Ensure Long-Term Eviction Reform” on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Senior Judge Henry spoke specifically about First City Court’s Eviction Diversion Program.

The Louisiana Supreme Court announced an amendment to its rule on applications seeking priority review to require that such applications be filed as soon as possible after the court of appeal’s disposition and in no event more than ten days after the mailing of notice of judgment by the court of appeal. The Order, signed July 26, 2022, amends Louisiana Supreme Court Rule X, Section 5(a), and is effective September 1, 2022.

The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court and Governors of the Louisiana Judicial College mourn the passing of Louisiana State University Law Professor Emeritus Frank L. Maraist, who served as Executive Director of the Louisiana Judicial College from 1985-1994.

Recipients of the 2022 Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) Pro Bono Publico and Children's Law Awards were honored recently in a special ceremony at the Louisiana Supreme Court. In a show of support, appreciation, and respect, all seven Louisiana Supreme Court Justices participated in the ceremony, which recognized outstanding individuals and organizations who have given their time and talent to ensuring access to justice for citizens of Louisiana, regardless of their ability to pay. The Justices, who hold in high regard the pro bono work of the award recipients, have also encouraged state judges to assist attorneys who seek to provide 20 hours of pro bono service in 2022, a current initiative of the LSBA.

The Louisiana Supreme Court e-filing system will be unavailable on Monday, July 4, 2022 from 1:00 am – 6:00 pm for scheduled maintenance. Attorneys seeking to file priority writs can send to TMcCarthy@lasc.org.

Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton was named the recipient of the Judge Benjamin Jones Judges in the Classroom Award by the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education on Friday, June 10, 2022 at the General Assembly of the Louisiana State Bar Association Annual Meeting.

Beginning July 1, 2022, the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse, located at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans, and the Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court’s Office will be open to the public 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. These updated courthouse hours are a change from the previous operating hours of 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer joined judges of the 40th Judicial District Court and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeal for a Law Day 2022 event with students from throughout the St. John the Baptist School District on May 6, 2022 at the courthouse in Edgard.

Two staff members of the Law Library of Louisiana were recently elected as officers of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). Law Library Director Miriam D. Childs was elected AALL treasurer, and Law Library Head of Public Services Sara V. Pic was elected AALL secretary/treasurer of the Government Law Libraries Special Interest Section.

The Louisiana Supreme Court held the official investiture ceremony for Clerk of Court Veronica Odinet Koclanes on Monday, May 9, 2022, at an evening ceremony in the Supreme Court courtroom at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse. Surrounded by her husband and children, with her parents, close family, and friends in attendance, Koclanes was sworn in by Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, after an introduction by Justice Jay B. McCallum.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has issued a Resolution commemorating Law Day 2022, in recognition of the 64th annual celebration of Law Day. The Resolution reads in part “all judges have a unique ability to educate young people about our legal system and respect for the law.” It encourages Louisiana state court judges to dedicate the month of May to spending time either visiting with students in schools or in their courtrooms teaching students about the legal system, utilizing the Law Day 2022 theme: Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has unanimously appointed Shreveport attorney/mediator Donald W. Weir, Jr., as Judge pro tempore of First Judicial District Court, to fill the vacancy created by the election of Caddo Judge Craig Marcotte to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal. The appointment of attorney Weir as Judge pro tempore is for the period of May 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, or until the vacancy is filled, whichever occurs sooner. This pro tempore assignment will be to the family division on the First JDC.

Prior to recent oral arguments held at the Louisiana Supreme Court, retired Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Judge Ernestine S. Gray was presented the prestigious American Bar Association’s Mark Hardin Award for Child Welfare Legal Scholarship and Systems Change for her service in improving the welfare of children through legal representation and advocacy. Judge Gray is the first Louisiana recipient to receive the award.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 3 p.m. the Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court will attend a joint session of the Louisiana State Legislature. Chief Justice John L. Weimer will deliver the State of the Judiciary address in the chambers of the House of Representatives.

The Supreme Court of Louisiana invites qualified insurers to submit proposals for providing comprehensive dental insurance to employees of the Court. Sealed proposals will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. (CST) on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

The Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and staff and Law Library of Louisiana will once again host special activities in observance of Black History Month. These educational outreach initiatives highlight the contributions of prominent African Americans to the field of law and recount these accomplishments through interaction with local school students and special informational publications and displays.

The Supreme Court of Louisiana, Office of the Judicial Administrator invites qualified Court and Community Liaison in Louisiana to submit proposals to serve as an independent training consultant to the Louisiana Protective Order Registry. Sealed proposals will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.

The Louisiana Supreme Court announced that until further notice, the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse will remain closed to the public. This closure extension is due to 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.

Chief Judge James F. McKay III has announced his retirement from the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, effective January 3, 2022. With the retirement of Chief Judge McKay, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Terri Fleming Love becomes the Chief Judge of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Judge Terri Fleming Love has become Chief Judge of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal following the retirement of former Chief Judge James F. McKay III. Chief Judge Love officially became Chief Judge January 4, 2022.

Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court John Tarlton Olivier, who in early 2021 announced his retirement, exited the magnificent Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse at 400 Royal Street for the last time as Clerk of Court on December 31, 2021. He served the Louisiana Supreme Court for 36 years, including 25 years and 9 months as Clerk of Court. Olivier has the distinction of being the longest serving Clerk of Court in the history of the Louisiana Supreme Court.