Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer Named Board Member of National Conference of Chief Justices - Press Release

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Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer Named Board Member of National Conference of Chief Justices 
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>November 30, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN L. WEIMER NAMED BOARD MEMBER OF NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CHIEF JUSTICES</strong> </p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer was named as a Board Member of the <a href="https://ccj.ncsc.org/" target="_blank">Conference of Chief Justices</a> (CCJ) at its Annual Meeting earlier this year. Chief Justice Weimer&rsquo;s term as a Board Member expires in 2025. </p><p>&ldquo;I am humbled and grateful and very much appreciate being named by my colleagues to serve in a leadership role for the national Conference of Chief Justices,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Weimer. &ldquo;The benefits to Louisiana&rsquo;s judiciary are immense. The Board develops policy and has access to cutting edge information related to the judiciary. I am pleased to report that in many instances, Louisiana is leading the way in providing services to the public. In particular, the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom program is both envied and being replicated in other states. Additionally, there will be an economic benefit to the state, as the midyear meeting will be held in New Orleans in 2025.&rdquo; </p><p>The Conference of Chief Justices was founded in 1949 to provide an opportunity for the highest judicial officers of the states to meet and discuss matters of importance in improving the administration of justice, rules and methods of procedure, and the organization and operation of state courts and judicial systems, and to make recommendations and bring about improvements on such matters.</p><p>Membership in the Conference of Chief Justices consists of the highest judicial officer of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Virgin Islands. The Conference of Chief Justices is governed by a Board of Directors and has several standing, temporary and special committees to assist the Conference in meeting its objectives.</p><p>Chief Justice John L. Weimer became the 26th Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court on January 1, 2021. He began his service on the 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, 2012 and again in 2022, Justice Weimer was re-elected to a 10-year term without opposition.</p><p>Prior to taking the bench, Chief Justice Weimer was a full-time faculty member at Nicholls State University where he taught law and ethics classes for 16 years. He received the <em>Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence</em> and was also named to <em>Who's Who Among America's Teachers</em>. He also served as director of the Free Enterprise Week Program at Nicholls.</p><p>Upon becoming Chief Justice, he immediately set out to reinvigorate the <em>Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom</em> program, which has been embraced by judges, teachers and schools, and a number of other interested partners to educate students and teachers alike in civics, personal responsibility and respect for the law, themselves and fellow citizens while addressing the consequences of inappropriate behavior.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer was honored with the <em>Outstanding Judicial Award</em> from Victims and Citizens Against Crime and with the <em>Outstanding Jurist Award</em> from Crimefighters, Inc. &ndash; both statewide organizations dedicated to victims of crime. Additionally, Justice Weimer was honored by Common Sense Against Crime and Crimefighters with an <em>Award of Merit</em>. In 2006, Justice Weimer was named as one of the leading judges in America by a national publication, <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Law Dragon</span>. He was also recognized for his significant assistance in establishing the Lafourche Parish Drug Treatment Court.</p><p>He formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education. He frequently teaches at schools throughout the district he serves and re-established and coordinates the Lafourche Parish Student Government Day Program.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer was born and raised in Lafourche Parish, graduated from Thibodaux High School and was an academic honors and Hall of Fame graduate of Nicholls State University, where he twice served as student body President. He received his Juris Doctorate from LSU. Chief Justice Weimer is married to Penny Hymel, a former elementary school teacher, who was born and raised in the River Parishes. They are the parents of three daughters: Jacqueline, Katherine and Emily.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-27_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-27_Weimer_John_L.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_picgrid.css" /><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>November 28, 2023</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA JUDICIAL ASSOCIATIONS ELECT 2023 OFFICERS AT FALL JUDGES CONFERENCE</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; At general meetings held during the 2023 Fall Judges Conference, officers were elected by the membership of judicial associations representing different levels of courts in Louisiana. The officers are as follows: </p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><div class="COA"><p><strong>CONFERENCE OF COURT OF APPEAL JUDGES</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Chair: Chief Judge Elizabeth A. Pickett, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Vice-Chair: Chief Judge Terri F. Love, 4th Circuit Court of Appeal </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary-Treasurer: Judge Jude G. Gravois, 5th Circuit Court of Appeal </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Immediate Past Chair: Chief Judge Frances J. Pitman, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal </p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p></div><div class="DJA"><p><strong>LOUISIANA DISTRICT JUDGES ASSOCIATION</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">President: Judge Lala B. Sylvester, 10th Judicial District Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">First Vice President: Judge Lee V. Faulkner, Jr., 24th Judicial District Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Second Vice President: Chief Judge Robin D. Pittman, Orleans Criminal District Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary: Judge Kelly E. Balfour 19th Judicial District Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Treasurer: Chief Judge Bruce Hampton, 3rd Judicial District Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Immediate Past President: Judge Patricia E. Koch, 9th Judicial District Court </p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p></div><div class="CJA"><p><strong>LOUISIANA CITY COURT JUDGES ASSOCIATION</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">President: Senior Judge Theodore M. &ldquo;Trey&rdquo; Haik, III, New Iberia City Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">1st Vice President: Senior Judge Matthew H. Hagen, Houma City Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">2nd Vice President: Judge Erin Wiley Lanoux, Ascension Parish Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary: Senior Judge Gary K. Hays, Pineville City Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Treasurer: Senior Judge Sherb Sentell, Minden City Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Immediate Past President, Judge Brian H. Barber, Sr. Shreveport City Court </p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p></div><div class="JuvFam"><p><strong>LOUISIANA COUNCIL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">President: Chief Judge Desiree Duhon Dyess, 10th Judicial District Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Vice President: Chief Judge Gail Grover, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary: Senior Judge Theodore M. &ldquo;Trey&rdquo; Haik III, New Iberia City Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Treasurer: Judge Jeffrey C. Cashe, 21st Judicial District Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;"><strong>TRUSTEES AT LARGE:</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">City Courts: Senior Judge Bryan D. Haggerty, City Court of East St. Tammany </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">District Courts: Judge Jeff Joyce, 4th Judicial District Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Family Courts: Judge Cynthia Clay Guillory, 14th Judicial District Court </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Juvenile Courts: Judge Amanda Chauvin Calogero, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court </p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p></div><div class="retjudge"><p><strong>RETIRED JUDGES ASSOCIATION</strong></p><p><em>The Retired Judges Association elects new officers in the spring of 2024. The following officers will continue in service until that time.</em> </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">President, Retired 19th Judicial District Court Judge Curtis Calloway </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Vice President, Retired 15th Judicial District Court Judge Ronald Cox </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary, Retired East Baton Rouge Family Court Judge Luke La Vergne </p><p>&nbsp;</p></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em> </p><p><strong>For more information visit lasc.org or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div id="photos"><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="COApics"><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class=" pic-title" =""="">2023 Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Association <div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Pickett.jpg" alt="Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Chair, Third Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Elizabeth A. Pickett" /><br /><span class="caption">Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Chair, Third Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Elizabeth A. Pickett</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Love.jpg" alt="Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Vice-Chair, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Terri F. Love" /><br /><span class="caption">Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Vice-Chair, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Terri F. Love</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Gravois.jpg" alt="Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Secretary-Treasurer, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Jude G. Gravois" /><br /><span class="caption">Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Secretary-Treasurer, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Jude G. Gravois</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Pitman.jpg" alt="Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Immediate Past Chair, Second Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Frances J. Pitman" /><br /><span class="caption">Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Immediate Past Chair, Second Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Frances J. Pitman</span> </p></div><p>&nbsp;</p></div></h4></div><div class="DJApics"><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class="pic-title">2023 Louisiana District Judges Association Officers</h4><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Sylvester.jpg" alt="Louisiana District Judges Association President, 10th Judicial District Judge Lala B. Sylvester" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana District Judges Association President, 10th Judicial District Judge Lala B. Sylvester</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Faulkner.jpg" alt="Louisiana District Judges Association First Vice-President, 24th Judicial District Judge Lee V. Faulkner, Jr." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana District Judges Association First Vice-President, 24th Judicial District Judge Lee V. Faulkner, Jr.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Pittman.jpg" alt="Louisiana District Judges Association Second Vice-President, Orleans Criminal District Court Chief Judge Robin D. Pittman" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana District Judges Association Second Vice-President, Orleans Criminal District Court Chief Judge Robin D. Pittman</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Balfour.jpg" alt="Louisiana District Judges Association Secretary, 19th Judicial District Judge Kelly E. Balfour" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana District Judges Association Secretary, 19th Judicial District Judge Kelly E. Balfour</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Hampton.jpg" alt="Louisiana District Judges Association Treasurer, 3rd Judicial District Chief Judge Bruce Hampton" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana District Judges Association Treasurer, 3rd Judicial District Chief Judge Bruce Hampton</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Koch.jpg" alt="Louisiana District Judges Association Immediate Past President, 9th Judicial District Judge Patricia Koch" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana District Judges Association Immediate Past President, 9th Judicial District Judge Patricia Koch</span> </p></div></div></div><div class="CJApics"><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class="pic-title">2023 Louisiana City Court Judges Association Officers </h4><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Haik.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association President, New Iberia City Court Senior Judge Theodore M. 'Trey' Haik, III" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association President, New Iberia City Court Senior Judge Theodore M. 'Trey' Haik, III</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Hagen.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association First Vice-President, Houma City Court Judge Matthew H. Hagen" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association First Vice-President, Houma City Court Judge Matthew H. Hagen</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Lanoux.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association Second Vice-President, Ascension Parish Court Judge Erin Wiley Lanoux" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association Second Vice-President, Ascension Parish Court Judge Erin Wiley Lanoux</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Hays.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association Secretary, Pineville City Court Judge Gary K. Hays" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association Secretary, Pineville City Court Judge Gary K. Hays</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Sentell.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association Treasurer, Minden City Court Senior Judge Sherb Sentell" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association Treasurer, Minden City Court Senior Judge Sherb Sentell</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Barber.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association Immediate Past President, Shreveport City Court Judge Brian H. Barber, Sr." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association Immediate Past President, Shreveport City Court Judge Brian H. Barber, Sr.</span> </p></div></div></div><div class="JuvFamPics"><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class="pic-title">2023 Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Officers </h4><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Dyess.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges President, 10th Judicial District Court Chief Judge Desiree Duhon Dyess" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges President, 10th Judicial District Court Chief Judge Desiree Duhon Dyess</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Grover.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Vice-President, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court Chief Judge Gail Grover" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Vice-President, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court Chief Judge Gail Grover</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Haik.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Secretary, New Iberia City Court Senior Judge Theodore M. 'Trey' Haik, III" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Secretary, New Iberia City Court Senior Judge Theodore M. 'Trey' Haik, III</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Cashe.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Treasurer, 21st Judicial District Court Judge Jeffrey C. Cashe" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Treasurer, 21st Judicial District Court Judge Jeffrey C. Cashe</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Burmaster.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Immediate Past President Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Judge Barron C. Burmaster" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Immediate Past President Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Judge Barron C. Burmaster</span> </p></div></div></div><div class="JuvFamTrust"><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class="pic-title">2023 Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Trustees At Large </h4><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Haggerty.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Trustee at Large City Courts, City Court of East St. Tammany Senior Judge Brian D. Haggerty" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Trustee at Large City Courts, City Court of East St. Tammany Senior Judge Brian D. Haggerty</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Joyce.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Trustee at Large District Courts, 4th Judicial District Court Judge Jeffy Joyce" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Trustee at Large District Courts, 4th Judicial District Court Judge Jeffy Joyce</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Guillory.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Trustee at Large Family Courts, 14th Judicial District Court Judge Cynthia Clay Guillory" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Trustee at Large Family Courts, 14th Judicial District Court Judge Cynthia Clay Guillory</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Calogero.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Trustee at Large Juvenile Courts, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Judge Amanda C. Calogero" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Trustee at Large Juvenile Courts, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Judge Amanda C. Calogero</span> </p></div></div></div><div class="retpics"><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class="pic-title">Louisiana Retired Judges Association *2022-2023 Officers </h4><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Calloway.jpg" alt="Louisiana Retired Judges Association President, Retired 19th Judicial District Court Judge Curtis A. Calloway" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Retired Judges Association President, Retired 19th Judicial District Court Judge Curtis A. Calloway</span> </p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Cox.jpg" alt="Louisiana Retired Judges Association Vice President, Retired 15th Judicial District Court Judge Ronald D. Cox." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Retired Judges Association Vice President, Retired 15th Judicial District Court Judge Ronald D. Cox</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-26_Lavergne.jpg" alt="Louisiana Retired Judges Association Secretary, Retired East Baton Rouge Family Court Judge Luke A. Lavergne." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Retired Judges Association Secretary, Retired East Baton Rouge Family Court Judge Luke A. Lavergne.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div></div></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 26, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN REPORTING OF CRIMINAL DATA TO FBI NICS</strong> </p><p>The Court Case Management Information Systems (CMIS) Division of the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s Office of the Judicial Administrator, which is responsible for reporting certain qualifying information relative to firearms denials to federal partners and databases, was recently recognized as a national leader in reporting that data.</p><p>This recognition was included in a report published by SEARCH Group, Inc. for the Louisiana Integrated Criminal Justice Information System (ICJIS) Policy Board. In that report, citing statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Louisiana is named &ldquo;at or very near the top in all categories of NICS record submissions among states.&rdquo; The report also states that Louisiana ranks first in the nation in absolute number of records reported to NICS in felony convictions, persons under indictment, unlawful drug users/substance addiction, and misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence convictions. Louisiana additionally ranks second nationally in reporting qualifying domestic violence protection orders to NICS.</p><p>As part of its record-keeping and processing responsibilities, CMIS provides certain qualifying information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the FBI's national system that reviews records on persons applying to purchase or own a firearm. In 1988, the FBI established NICS to assist with background checks on prospective firearm transferees, following the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993.</p><p>&ldquo;The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court and I commend our CMIS staff in the processing and reporting of this critical data. While this recognition acknowledges Louisiana as a leader in reporting this information to our federal partners, we also note the importance of timely reporting to prevent those who are not legally allowed to purchase a firearm from doing so,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer.</p><p>&ldquo;SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, expresses their support for Louisiana&rsquo;s longstanding, successful efforts in making records available to the FBI&rsquo;s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to support firearms purchase decisions,&rdquo; said David J. Roberts, Executive Director, SEARCH. &ldquo;Given the critical nature of making disqualifying records available to prevent unauthorized persons from accessing firearms, Louisiana&rsquo;s efforts to make disqualifying records available for firearms background checks is to be commended and demonstrates the state courts&rsquo; commitment to protecting citizens by keeping weapons out of the hands of potentially dangerous individuals.&rdquo;</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 17, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT AND LAW LIBRARY OF LOUISIANA 
OBSERVE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans</strong> - In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Louisiana Supreme Court and Law Library of Louisiana recently published a special series of articles highlighting Louisiana&rsquo;s Spanish colonial roots.</p><p>Through the Law Library&rsquo;s publication, De Novo, certain areas of Louisiana&rsquo;s Spanish history were featured, including an overview of the Spanish Cabildo, the center of government in Louisiana during the Spanish Colonial Era from 1767-1803; a profile of Edouard (Edward) E. Bermudez, the first Creole Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court; an examination of <em>Las Siete Partidas</em> and the <em>Recopilacion de Leyes de los Reynos de las Indias</em>, two bodies of Spanish law in effect in Colonial Louisiana; and Spanish Colonial documents relating to Louisiana &ndash; where they are housed, how to find them, and what is available online.</p><p>&ldquo;The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court and I join many others in highlighting the rich and diverse contributions to Louisiana&rsquo;s founding by those of Hispanic heritage,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer.  &ldquo;I believe it would be especially interesting to those in the legal profession to be reminded of the foundational aspects of Louisiana law and its Spanish influences&rdquo;.</p><p>Those interested in viewing the special Hispanic Heritage Month issues of <em>De Novo</em> can view them via the Hispanic Heritage Month section of the Court&rsquo;s website at <a href="/HispanicHeritageMonth">https://www.lasc.org/HispanicHeritageMonth</a>.&nbsp;Enacted into law on August 17, 1988, National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed for 30 days beginning September 15th to celebrate the history and culture of American citizens with Hispanic ancestry.  
</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 2, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>71ST ANNUAL RED MASS IS OBSERVED </strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA </strong>&ndash; Louisiana judges gathered this morning at St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square for the 71st annual Red Mass, which marks the opening of the judicial year. Traditionally, Red Mass is held the first Monday in October. Members of the bench and bar, as well as officials of all faiths and the public, were invited to attend.</p><p>&ldquo;The Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and I attend Red Mass for the divine blessing of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and discernment in decision-making relative to the administration of laws and justice for those we serve,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;It is no coincidence that during this time, Louisiana judges are in New Orleans attending the Louisiana Judicial College-sponsored Fall Conference for continuing legal education sessions and conference business meetings. While attending sessions they can participate in this centuries-old traditional ceremony.&rdquo;</p><p>The Red Mass is sponsored by the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association and goes back many centuries in Rome, Paris, and London. The name makes reference to the red vestments worn by the celebrants. In Louisiana, Red Mass was first offered in St. Louis Cathedral on October 5, 1953. The Red Mass has also been celebrated annually in communities throughout Louisiana and in various venues such as California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia, and the District of Columbia.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-08_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-23_71st_Red_Mass_Archbishop_Aymond_LASC_CJ_Weimer.jpg" alt="The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, pauses to greet Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer at the 71st annual Red Mass." width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, pauses to greet Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer at the 71st annual Red Mass.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-23_LASC_Justices_at_71st_Red_Mass.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justices attend the 71st annual Red Mass at the St. Louis Cathedral (l-r) Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice Jay B. McCallum, Justice Piper D. Griffin, Justice James T. Genovese, Ret. Justice Jeanette T. Knoll, Justice Scott J. Crichton, Justice William J. Crain" width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justices attend the 71st annual Red Mass at the St. Louis Cathedral (l-r) Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice Jay B. McCallum, Justice Piper D. Griffin, Justice James T. Genovese, Ret. Justice Jeanette T. Knoll, Justice Scott J. Crichton, Justice William J. Crain</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-23_71st_Red_Mass_at_the_St_Louis_Cathedral.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and Judges from across Louisiana were joined by local and state public officials at the 71st annual Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral." width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and Judges from across Louisiana were joined by local and state public officials at the 71st annual Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral.</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 27, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN L. WEIMER HOSTS  LAFOURCHE PARISH STUDENTS FOR CONSTITUTION DAY 2023
</strong> </p><p>In observance of Constitution Day 2023, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer hosted 120 students and teachers from Lafourche Parish at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse.</p><p>The students, who were from Thibodaux High School, South Lafourche High School, and E.D. White Catholic High School, took part in a tour of the courthouse, which included the Louisiana Supreme Court courtroom, the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum, and the Law Library of Louisiana. In the courtroom, the students engaged in a discussion with Chief Justice Weimer about the U.S. Constitution and the rights it guarantees all citizens, whether by birth or through naturalization.</p><p>&ldquo;It is my pleasure to share civics education with the students who visited our Courthouse today, as do many judges through the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom program. Constitution Day offers a perfect occasion to teach students about the judicial branch of government, how it functions, and what it means to them as citizens,&rdquo; remarked Chief Justice John L. Weimer. </p><p>Justice Weimer discussed his passion for education, namely civic education, an affinity that continues from his days as a full time instructor of law and ethics at Nicholls State University. He discussed the importance of learning about the branches of government, the legal system, and the laws that govern all. For inspiration, Justice Weimer shared stories about his days as a student and his experiences as a district judge, a Court of Appeal judge, as a Louisiana Supreme Court justice, and ultimately as Chief Justice.  He encouraged students to aspire to whatever positive career they wished by pursuing an education and having zeal, fortitude, and dedication. </p><p>Constitution Day is a federal observance of September 17, 1787, when 39 Founding Fathers signed and adopted the U.S. Constitution, which recognizes the rights of all citizens whether by birth or naturalization.</p><p>The Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse is located at <strong>400 Royal Street in the French Quarter</strong> and is open to visitors between <strong>8:30 a.m. &ndash; 4:30 p.m., Monday &ndash; Friday</strong>.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-08_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-22_JLW_ConstitutionDay.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer led a QandA with Lafourche Parish School Students during Constitution Day 2023" width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer led a Q&amp;A with Lafourche Parish School Students during a Constitution Day 2023 visit to the  Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-22_JLW_South_Lafourche.jpg" alt="Chief Justice Weimer with South Lafourche High School Students" width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer hosted students from Lafourche Parish Schools at the  Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse for Constitution Day 2023. He is pictured above with South Lafourche High School students.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-22_JLW_Thibodaux.jpg" alt="Chief Justice Weimer with Thibodaux High School students" width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer hosted students from Lafourche Parish Schools at the  Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse for Constitution Day 2023. He is pictured above with Thibodaux High School students.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-22_JLW_ED_White.jpg" alt="Chief Justice Weimer with E.D. White Catholic High School Students" width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer hosted students from Lafourche Parish Schools at the  Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse for Constitution Day 2023. He is pictured above with E.D. White Catholic High School students.</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 26, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CONGRATULATES LOCAL AMERICAN JUDGES ASSOCIATION HONOREES</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans</strong> - The Louisiana Supreme Court congratulates several local honorees recently recognized at the 2023 American Judges Association&rsquo;s (AJA) 62nd Annual Conference.</p><p>In recognition of outstanding service to the AJA, Justice Piper D. Griffin was bestowed the 2023 President&rsquo;s Award by AJA President Judge Yvette M. Alexander. Justice Griffin serves on the AJA Board of Governors, and was elected secretary for the 2023-2024 year. She also chairs the AJA Diversity Committee, and will be co-hosting the 2024 American Judges Association 63rd Annual Conference in New Orleans with Judge Alexander. </p><p>Additional local honorees included Orleans Civil District Court Judge Bernadette D&rsquo;Souza, who received the Judge Libby Hines Domestic Violence Award; 19th Judicial District Court Chief Judge Donald R. Johnson, who received the Judge Elliot Zide Judicial Educator Award; and Louisiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program Executive Director Dr. Angela White-Bazile, Esq., who received the Nachtigal Award/Contributions to the Judiciary. </p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer remarked, &ldquo;I speak on behalf of myself and the Justices in congratulating Justice Griffin on receiving this notable award. It is an honor that is well deserved. Congratulations are also deserving to Judge D&rsquo;Souza, Chief Judge Johnson, and Dr. White-Bazile, and I thank them for their contributions to our state judiciary.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I am honored to receive the 2023 AJA President&rsquo;s Award and to be acknowledged along with my colleagues from Louisiana by this association which, while facilitating judicial camaraderie, provides for collaborative leadership, networking, and access to continued educational resources from judicial peers from throughout the United States,&rdquo; said Justice Piper D. Griffin. &ldquo;Further, I am enthused about AJA&rsquo;s new &lsquo;Courts in the Community Initiative&rsquo; which reflects AJA&rsquo;s mission to serve by identifying organizations and individuals in need and assisting through member-donated contributions.&rdquo;</p><p>The purpose of the &ldquo;Courts in the Community Initiative&rdquo; is to allow AJA members to provide assistance and support through contributions made to communities where AJA events take place. The agency chosen to receive assistance this year was <a href="https://usvets.org/locations/waianae/" target="_blank"><strong>U.S. Vets Wai'Anae</strong></a> in Hawaii, which is a shelter for military veterans and the homeless but has also been aiding those in need affected by the Maui wildfires. AJA members contributed a total of 200 bags of needed items, which were prepared and delivered for veterans and Maui wildfire victims. Further, AJA members were provided a link to contribute at any time to U.S. Vets Wai&rsquo;Anae, whose mission is to aid in the successful transition of military veterans and their families through the provision of housing, counseling, career development, and comprehensive support.</p><p>AJA is the largest independent, judge-only, member-driven organization in North America. Members include present and former judges of courts of all jurisdictions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-08_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-21_AJA_Louisiana_Honorees.jpg" alt="2023 AJA Annual Conference Louisiana Honorees with AJA President Yvette M. Alexander" width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">2023 AJA Annual Conference Louisiana Honorees with AJA President Yvette M. Alexander: (L-R) Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin, 19th JDC Chief Judge Donald R. Johnson, AJA President Alexander, Orleans Civil District Court Judge Bernadette D'Souza, Louisiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program Executive Director Dr. Angela W-Bazile, Esq.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-21_Griffin_AJA_Pres_Award_.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin received the American Judges Associtation 2023 President's Award from AJA President Judge Yvette M. Alexander at the AJA 2023 Annual Conference. " width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin received the American Judges Associtation 2023 President's Award from AJA President Judge Yvette M. Alexander at the AJA 2023 Annual Conference. Depicted in the picture are some fof the AJA 'Courts in the Community Initiative' members' contributions for U.S. Vets Wai'Anae/Maui wildfire victims.</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 18, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT OBSERVES CONSTITUTION DAY 2023</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans</strong> - The Louisiana Supreme Court is celebrating Constitution Day 2023 by offering free pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution from Monday, September 18, 2023 through Friday, September 22, 2023 to visitors of the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse, located at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans&rsquo; French Quarter.</p><p>Constitution Day, which is observed annually on September 17, is a federal observance of September 17, 1787, when 39 Founding Fathers signed and adopted the U.S. Constitution, recognizing the rights of all citizens whether by birth or naturalization.</p><p>Commenting on behalf of Associate Justices Jefferson D. Hughes III, Scott J. Crichton, James T. Genovese, William J. Crain, Jay B. McCallum and Piper D. Griffin, Chief Justice John L. Weimer remarked, &ldquo;Courts throughout Louisiana give reverence daily to the U.S. Constitution. In observance of the 236th Anniversary of its signing, we pause with respect to the creation of this governing document which is the foundation of our laws. This week, many Louisiana judges will commemorate the Constitution by visiting schools and inviting students to courtrooms for educational discussions on the importance of the Constitution.&rdquo; </p><p>The Supreme Court encourages all who pick up a copy of the Constitution to additionally visit the exhibits in the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum and the Law Library of Louisiana, both of which are open to visitors between <strong>8:30 a.m. &ndash; 4:30 p.m., Monday &ndash; Friday</strong>. No food, drink or cameras are permitted in the building, however cell phones are permitted.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 15, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>RETIRED LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CLERK OF COURT FRANS J. LABRANCHE, JR. DIES AT 89 </strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans</strong> - Retired Louisiana Supreme Clerk of Court Frans J. Labranche, Jr., 89, passed away on Friday, September 8, 2023. Mr. Labranche served at the state&rsquo;s high court for 18 years, serving as clerk of court from 1978-1996 and was a deputy clerk from 1977-1978.</p><p>Mr. Labranche earned his bachelor&rsquo;s degree from St. Joseph Seminary College and his juris doctor degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 1960. From 1961-1964, he served in the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate General and as a reserve officer from 1964-1974. From 1964-1977, he worked in private practice until his appointment as a deputy clerk at the Louisiana Supreme Court. During his tenure at the Supreme Court, he served as president of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks.</p><p>Mr. Labranche was a member of the American, Louisiana State, and New Orleans Bar Associations. He also served as a member of the American Judicature Society, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association. He was a committed member of the St. Joseph Seminary Alumni Board, president of the Loyola Alumni Association and the Loyola Law Alumni Association, serving as its secretary, vice president, and president. He worked on the Loyola Law School Task Force on Legal Education. Mr. Labranche additionally worked as a lecturer in Business Law at Loyola and as an associate professor in Legal Medicine at Tulane University. </p><p>For his outstanding service professionally, to Loyola Law School and the community, Mr. Labranche was honored with the St. Ives Award and was awarded the J.O. Sentell Award for Leadership and outstanding service and the President&rsquo;s Award from the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks. In the community, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion and the Royal Order of the Hibernians. From 1981-1996, he served as an ordained permanent deacon in St. Jane de Chantal Parish in Abita Springs. He was an Archdiocese Spiritual Director in 1991 and was an instructor for the Diaconate Formation Program of social teachings from 1983-2016. He was appointed an Associate Judge of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Metropolitan Tribunal by Pope John Paul II in 1992 and served until 2013.</p><p>&ldquo;I am honored by the service of Mr. Labranche, who was one of my predecessors,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court Veronica O. Koclanes. &ldquo;His unwavering commitment to public service, tireless efforts to improve the operations of the Clerk&rsquo;s Office and his legacy of professionalism have left an indelible mark on our Court.&rdquo; </p><p>Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court John T. Olivier said, &ldquo;Frans was my predecessor at the Supreme Court. In addition to being my mentor, he was very active in the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks, serving as President and host for the conference. Frans strove to improve the Court&rsquo;s operations, moving it from cumbersome and weighty bound books, known affectionately as &ldquo;hernia&rdquo; books, to computerized data during his tenure.&rdquo;</p><p>He was married to the former Ms. Delphine LeBourgeois for 64 years; his family includes Michael Labranche (Shanna), Jeannine Gonzales (Edwin), Gregory Labranche (Andrea), Richard Labranche (Melissa-deceased), and Robert Labranche, twelve grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 12, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED WITH PRESTIGIOUS HARRISON TWEED AWARD </strong> </p><p>New Orleans - The Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) recently received the Harrison Tweed Award, a significant and important national honor, for its volunteer efforts to help impoverished citizens of our state with invaluable and needed legal services.</p><p>The LSBA was honored with the Harrison Tweed Award for its creation of innovative Legal Help Access Points. Made possible through a National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Justice for All grant, the Legal Help Access Points provide access to legal services in underserved areas of the state where civil legal in-person services and resources are further than a 45-minute drive. (The Louisiana Bar Foundation was the fiscal agent for the grant.) With assistance from local courts, public libraries, and non-profit community agencies, Harrisonburg, Lake Providence and Vidalia currently have access points. The LSBA&rsquo;s Access to Justice Commission hopes to continue beyond the grant to establish access points throughout the state.</p><p>The Harrison Tweed Award recognizes the extraordinary achievements of state and local bar associations that develop or significantly expand projects or programs to increase access to civil legal services to persons living in poverty or criminal defense services to indigents, and is presented by the ABA&rsquo;s Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID) and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA).</p><p>&ldquo;NLADA is honored to co-present this year&rsquo;s Harrison Tweed Award to the Louisiana State Bar and the Louisiana Access to Justice Commission,&rdquo; said Radhika Singh, Vice President, Civil Legal Services and Strategic Policy Initiatives for the National Legal Aid &amp; Defender Association (NLADA). &ldquo;Harrison Tweed believed that legal aid was an obligation of the bar and essential to secure the success of the adversary system. Those of us who work to advance equal justice know that legal services are vital to securing justice and basic human needs, but remain inaccessible to so many. The efforts of the State Bar and Access to Justice Commission working together and partnering with others across to weave legal aid into the fabric of human services is an inspiration to all of us across the country.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court and I congratulate the Louisiana State Bar Association on being selected as the recipient of the 2023 Harrison Tweed Award,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;I am immensely proud that the attorneys and staff of the Louisiana State Bar Association received this richly deserved significant national recognition. By establishing Legal Help Access Points in underserved areas of Louisiana, the LSBA continues to rightly and positively address access to justice issues faced by certain of our state&rsquo;s citizens, utilizing technology and available resources to assist in &lsquo;civil legal deserts&rsquo; to provide a starting point for legal help in those communities. This award appropriately publicly recognizes that Louisiana attorneys are dedicated to assisting the needy and less fortunate and ensuring that all have access to justice. This recognition underscores that our state&rsquo;s attorneys voluntarily devote that which is irreplaceable, namely their time, training and talent, plus their financial support in doing so much for so many who have so little but such great needs,&rdquo; Chief Justice Weimer added.</p><p>&ldquo;The Supreme Court district from which I am elected contains the most economically depressed areas in the United States,&rdquo; said Justice Jay B. McCallum. &ldquo;It is encouraging that the people of this area have taken the lead in implementing this program for the benefit of their fellow man. We may be poor, but we are concerned and resourceful.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;The LSBA&rsquo;s commitment to &lsquo;Serving the Public&rsquo; has been an ongoing, long-term goal. We are privileged and honored to have our access to justice work recognized by the ABA with the prestigious Harrison Tweed Award,&rdquo; said 2022-23 LSBA President Stephen I. Dwyer.</p><p>&ldquo;The Legal Help Access Points are the most recent demonstration of the LSBA&rsquo;s promise to ensure access to justice. The ABA&rsquo;s recognition of our access to justice work with the Harrison Tweed Award reassures us that these efforts are important and should continue,&rdquo; commented 2023-24 LSBA President Shayna L. Sonnier.</p><p>The award was created in 1956 and was named for Harrison Tweed, an outstanding leader in the promotion of free legal services to the poor. Harrison Tweed served in many areas of public service, including as chairman of the legal aid committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York; and president of the Legal Aid Society of New York, the National Legal Aid &amp; Defender Association, the New York City Bar Association, and the American Law Institute.</p><p>The LSBA was presented with the 2023 Harrison Tweed Award at the American Bar Association (ABA) Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado on August 4, 2023. The presentation took place during the annual joint luncheon of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, the National Association of Bar Executives and the National Conference of Bar Foundations.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-08_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-18_HarrisonTweedAward.jpg" alt="(Pictured L to R): Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John L. Weimer, 2022-23 LSBA President Stephen I. Dwyer, 2023-24 LSBA President Shayna L. Sonnier, and 2023-24 LSBA President-elect Patrick A Talley. Jr." width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">(Pictured L to R): Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John L. Weimer, 2022-23 LSBA President Stephen I. Dwyer, 2023-24 LSBA President Shayna L. Sonnier, and 2023-24 LSBA President-elect Patrick A Talley. Jr.</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 22, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT APPOINTS ATTORNEY AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE <br />JOSEPH A. MARINO III AS JUDGE <em>PRO TEMPORE</em> OF 24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT</strong> </p><p>New Orleans - The Louisiana Supreme Court <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/2023-17_Marino_ProTempore_Order.pdf" target="_blank">has appointed</a> Jefferson Parish attorney and former state Representative Joseph A. Marino III as Judge <em>pro tempore</em> of Division D of the 24th Judicial District Court, to fill the vacancy created by the election of 24th JDC Judge Scott Schlegel to the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. The appointment of attorney Marino as Judge <em>pro tempore</em> is for the period of August 28, 2023 through December 31, 2023, or until the vacancy is filled, whichever occurs sooner.</p><p>Marino, who is an alumni of Holy Cross School in New Orleans, graduated from Louisiana State University with a BA in Journalism and the University of South Carolina School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. Marino has been in the practice of law for over 31 years, focusing on criminal defense work for most of his career. He most recently served as Louisiana State Representative for District 85 in Gretna, and was appointed to the House Judiciary Committee and the Civil Law Committee. He served as the Chairman of the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee for the past two years.</p><p>Prior to being elected a State Representative, he served as a Gretna City Councilman. Additionally Marino was a two-term President of the Jefferson Parish Bar Association and a Board Member for eight years. He has been a guest lecturer at Loyola School of Law and Tulane University and is a certified instructor for the Gretna, Kenner, and Westwego Police Academies. He is a Fellow of the Louisiana Bar Foundation and Representative in the Louisiana Bar Association House of Delegates. He additionally was a Front End Committee Member of the Louisiana Sentencing Commission.</p> <p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-08_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-17_Joseph_A_Marino_III.jpg" alt="Joseph A. Marino III" width="300" /><br /><span class="caption">Joseph A. Marino III</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 21, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>RETIRED 16TH JDC JUDGE WILLIAM D. HUNTER, EARLY LEADER OF LOUISIANA&rsquo;S DRUG COURTS, PASSES AWAY AT 85</strong> </p><p>Retired 16th Judicial District Court Judge William D. Hunter, who was one of the early pioneers of the drug court movement in Louisiana, died on July 24, 2023 at the age of 85.</p><p>Judge Hunter started the 16th Judicial District Adult Drug Court in St. Mary Parish in 1997, which is believed to be among the nation&rsquo;s first drug courts.  The 16th JDC Drug Court later expanded to Iberia Parish in 1998 and St. Martin Parish in 2002.  For his efforts in establishing drug treatment courts in Louisiana, Judge Hunter received national recognition.  As a testament to the success of these programs, currently Louisiana&rsquo;s Drug and Specialty Courts include 31 Adult Drug Courts, seven Juvenile Drug Courts, nine Family Preservation/Intervention Courts, seven Reentry Courts, three Behavioral Health/Co-Occurring Courts, nine Sobriety/DWI Courts, and five Veterans Courts among the 71 operational specialty courts in Louisiana in 2022.</p><p>&ldquo;Judge Hunter&rsquo;s innovation, dedication, and belief in rehabilitation has served countless people in Louisiana while saving souls and an astronomical amount of state funds related to incarceration,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer.  &ldquo;When I served as a district court judge in Lafourche Parish, we patterned our drug court after Judge Hunter&rsquo;s program due to the success of the treatment-based model provided by specialty courts.&rdquo;</p><p>Judge Hunter served as a judge on the 16th JDC from 1995 until his retirement in 2008.  He received a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis and his LL.B. degree from LSU Law School.  He served as a Law Clerk at the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana from 1963-1964.  He was in the private practice of law with Lippman, Hunter &amp; Rawls from 1964-1977, and Hunter &amp; Plattsmier from 1978-1994, where he practiced law alongside Chuck Plattsmier, who now serves as Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel.</p><p>&ldquo;I had the privilege of working with Bill as his law partner for 15 years,&rdquo; said Plattsmier.  &ldquo;He quite literally taught me how to practice law.  To this day he was the finest trial lawyer I&rsquo;ve ever seen.  His compassion and concern for his clients was real and was evident later to those who appeared before him when he became a judge.  He left our legal profession and our system of justice better.&rdquo;</p><p>Judge Hunter was a member of the American and Louisiana State Bar Associations; the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association; member and Past President of the St. Mary Parish Bar Association; Chairman of the Louisiana Association of Drug Court Professionals; Chairman of the Task Force of Louisiana Drug Court Issues; National Co-Chairman on Study and Implementation of Drug Court Laws in the U.S.; and received the 1998 National Association of Drug Court Professionals Leadership Award.</p><p>Louisiana&rsquo;s Drug and Specialty Courts operate under the guidance of the Louisiana Supreme Court through the Supreme Court Drug and Specialty Court Office (SCDSCO).  Funds for Louisiana&rsquo;s drug and specialty courts are primarily appropriated by the Louisiana Legislature and administered by the Supreme Court Drug and Specialty Court Office. The SCDSCO awards funds annually to programs and monitors each program&rsquo;s operations throughout the year.
</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1115.5px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1115.5px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1115.5px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>AUGUST 4, 2023</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WILLIAM J. CRAIN NAMED CRIMEFIGHTERS, iNC. JUDGE OF THE YEAR</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong>&nbsp;&ndash; Louisiana Supreme Court Justice William J. Crain was honored by Crimefighters, Inc. with the Judge of the Year Award at the organization&rsquo;s annual gala on July 25, 2023.&nbsp;</p><p>Crimefighters, Inc., Louisiana&rsquo;s largest victims&rsquo; rights organization, represents more than 12,500 victims or family members of victims of crime throughout the state. The organization&rsquo;s board of over fifty members, comprised primarily of law enforcement leaders, is a leading advocate for protecting the rights of victims and promoting the benefits of our criminal justice system.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Receiving this distinguished award from a group of volunteers committed to advocating for the rights of crime victims is truly an honor,&rdquo; said Justice Crain.&nbsp; &ldquo;Their efforts have supported victims of crime for nearly 30 years, and have resulted in protections now found in both our statutory and constitutional law.&nbsp; I applaud their efforts and am humbled that they would select me for this award.&rdquo;</p><p>Justice Crain has served on the Louisiana Supreme Court since 2019.&nbsp; Prior to his election to the high court, he served on the First Circuit Court of Appeal.&nbsp; From 2009 to 2013 he was a judge on the Twenty-Second Judicial District Court for St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. Justice Crain earned his juris doctor degree from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1986 and his bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Louisiana State University in 1983. Prior to his election to the district court, he maintained a general litigation law practice for 22 years handling complex judge and jury trial cases.&nbsp; He has been a lecturer at continuing legal education seminars on many topics including &ldquo;Evidence and Persuasion at Trial&rdquo;, &ldquo;Professionalism&rdquo; and writ and appellate practice. He co-chairs the Board of Governors of the Louisiana Judicial College and formerly served as President of the Board.&nbsp; He also chairs the Court Cost Committee of the Louisiana Judicial Council, has served on the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics, and was a member of the 2011 inaugural class of the Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute.<br /></p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong>&nbsp;To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-15_Justice_Crain_Crimefighters_Judge_of_the_Year_01.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice William J. Crain was named 2023 Judge of the Year by Crimefighters, Inc. at the organization's annual gala on July 25, 2023." width="300" /></p><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-15_Justice_Crain_Crimefighters_Judge_of_the_Year_02.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice William J. Crain was named 2023 Judge of the Year by Crimefighters, Inc. at the organization's annual gala on July 25, 2023." width="600" /></p><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2023%2Fimages%2F2023-15_Justice_Crain_Crimefighters_Judge_of_the_Year_03.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice William J. Crain was named 2023 Judge of the Year by Crimefighters, Inc. at the organization's annual gala on July 25, 2023." width="600" /></p><div class="picgrid" style="display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill, minmax(500px, 1fr));gap:0.8rem;align-content:center;max-width:100%;"><div style="text-align:justify;max-width:500px;width:500px;height:auto;font-size:10px;padding-bottom:0.8rem;"><p><br /></p></div><div style="text-align:justify;max-width:500px;width:500px;height:auto;font-size:10px;padding-bottom:0.8rem;"><p>&nbsp;</p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 19, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT LIFTS GLOBAL STAY AND APPLAUDS WORK OF SPECIAL TRUSTEE IN MCCLENNY, MOSELEY, AND ASSOCIATES, PLLC CASES</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; Today, the Louisiana Supreme Court released an <strong><a href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/Huye_23-0277.global_order_20230719.pdf" target="_blank">Order</a> </strong>lifting in thirty days the global stay it previously imposed in the multitude of hurricane and storm-related suits filed by McClenny, Moseley and Associates, PLLC (&ldquo;MMA&rdquo;) in Louisiana state courts.  The stay will be lifted effective August 21, 2023.  Although the Court&rsquo;s order lifts the global stay, the order empowers trial courts to issue further stays in cases filed by MMA or former MMA clients as the interests of justice may require, in addition to issuing stays of up to 120 days for the purpose of facilitating the ability of newly retained attorneys of former MMA clients to investigate their clients&rsquo; claims.  </p><p>The Order also ends the appointment of attorney Edward J. Walters, Jr., of Walters, Thomas, Cullens, LLC, as special trustee. The Court&rsquo;s action was precipitated by Mr. Walters&rsquo; report that he had completed his duties as special trustee to provide notice to former MMA clients of the inability of MMA to continue to represent them and resources to help them obtain new counsel, if necessary.  As part of his role as special trustee, Mr. Walters created a website to display and provide information that would be helpful to all former MMA clients seeking information, <a href="https://www.edwalterstrustee.com" target="_blank">www.edwalterstrustee.com</a>.</p><p>&ldquo;The Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s extraordinary actions were in response to serious and unprecedented circumstances,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer.  &ldquo;The Supreme Court expresses its gratitude to Mr. Walters for his service as special trustee, the skill and professionalism that he brought to bear, and the expeditious manner in which he and his team fulfilled their duties.  I must also thank Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Chuck Plattsmier, and his staff for their concerted efforts in assisting Mr. Walters.  Now that Mr. Walters has diligently completed his work, we expect that these cases will be able to proceed in an efficient and orderly manner in the trial courts, while ensuring and recognizing that our state&rsquo;s hard-working trial court judges have the authority and flexibility to accomplish this important task.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>See the Court&rsquo;s previous <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/Huye_23-0277.stay_order.pdf" target="_blank">May 10, 2023 Order here</a> and <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/Huye_23-0277.global_order.pdf" target="_blank">May 18, 2023 Order here</a>.</strong></p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 18, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CONGRATULATES THE LSBA FOR RECEIVING THE HARRISON TWEED AWARD </strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court congratulate the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) on being selected to receive the 2023 Harrison Tweed Award presented by the American Bar Association&rsquo;s (ABA) Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID) and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA).  The award, which will be presented at the ABA Annual Meeting in Denver Colorado on August 4, 2023, recognizes the extraordinary achievements of state and local bar associations that develop or significantly expand projects or programs to increase access to civil legal services to persons living in poverty or criminal defense services to indigents.</p><p>The LSBA is being recognized with the Harrison Tweed Award for its creation of innovative Legal Help Access Points. Made possible through a National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Justice for All (JFA) grant, the Legal Help Access Points provide access to legal services in underserved areas of the state where civil legal in-person services and resources are further than a 45-minute drive.  (The Louisiana Bar Foundation was the fiscal agent for the grant.) With assistance from local courts, public libraries, and non-profit community agencies, Harrisonburg, Lake Providence and Vidalia currently have access points. The LSBA&rsquo;s Access to Justice Commission hopes to continue beyond the grant to establish access points throughout the state.</p><p>&ldquo;The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court and I congratulate the Louisiana State Bar Association on being selected as the recipient of the 2023 Harrison Tweed Award,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;I am immensely proud that the attorneys and staff of the Louisiana State Bar Association received this richly deserved significant national recognition. By establishing Legal Help Access Points in underserved areas of Louisiana, the LSBA continues to rightly and positively address access to justice issues faced by certain of our state&rsquo;s citizens, utilizing technology and available resources to assist in &lsquo;civil legal deserts&rsquo; to provide a starting point for legal help in those communities. This award appropriately publicly recognizes that Louisiana attorneys are dedicated to assisting the needy and less fortunate and ensuring that all have access to justice. This recognition underscores that our state&rsquo;s attorneys voluntarily devote that which is irreplaceable, namely their time, training and talent, plus their financial support in doing so much for so many who have so little but such great needs,&rdquo; Chief Justice Weimer added.</p><p>&ldquo;The Legal Help Access Points are the most recent demonstration of the LSBA&rsquo;s promise to ensure access to justice. The ABA&rsquo;s recognition of our access to justice work with the Harrison Tweed Award reassures us that these efforts are important and should continue,&rdquo; said 2023-24 LSBA President Shayna L. Sonnier.</p><p>The award was created in 1956 and was named for Harrison Tweed, an outstanding leader in the promotion of free legal services to the poor.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 17, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>ORLEANS PARISH JUDGES HOSTED AREA STUDENTS TO COMMEMORATE LAW DAY 2023 </strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash;Orleans Parish judges commemorated Law Day 2023 by hosting students from area schools throughout the month of May. Spearheaded by Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin, judges from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, Orleans Criminal District Court, Orleans Juvenile Court, and New Orleans First City Court spent time in their respective courthouses with students discussing aspects of the law. This is the first of many civic and community outreach initiatives planned for the parish by a strong coalition of Orleans Parish judges.</p><p>To give emphasis on the American Bar Association&rsquo;s Law Day 2023 theme <em>&ldquo;Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration,&rdquo;</em> Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice Piper D. Griffin, and Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court Veronica O. Koclanes, along with several New Orleans attorneys, met with St. Katharine Drexel Preparatory School students for a civics discussion. Students took part in a tour of the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse, located at 400 Royal Street, which included visiting the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum, the Law Library of Louisiana and the Louisiana Supreme Court Courtroom. The tour culminated with a visit to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, also located in the building.</p><p>Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judges Paula A. Brown, Rachael D. Johnson, and Nakisha Ervin-Knott invited St. Katharine Drexel Preparatory School students to observe oral arguments. Judge Johnson led a discussion about courtroom procedure with the students prior to oral arguments. Students participated in one-on-one conversations with the judges during a luncheon which included Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Dale N. Atkins, who also helped to organize the visit.</p><p>Orleans Criminal District Court Chief Judge Robin Pittman and Judges Marcus O. DeLarge and Angel S. Harris invited students from Christian Brothers School, St. Augustine High School, and the NET Charter High School: Gentilly to tour the criminal court building. The judges provided a presentation on the &ldquo;Cornerstones of Democracy&rdquo; to the students.</p><p>Orleans Juvenile Court Chief Judge Ranord J. Darensburg and Candice Bates-Anderson, joined First City Court Chief Judge Veronica E. Henry to provide a presentation to students from Sarah T. Reed High School and Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary Charter School regarding civility and women in the judiciary.</p><p>&ldquo;I was pleased to work with judges of Orleans Parish to bring students from my alma mater as well as other schools to their courtrooms. I appreciate my colleagues for taking time to welcome all of the students and to share nuggets for legal wisdom with them.&rdquo; said Justice Piper D. Griffin. &ldquo;We plan to participate in more community outreach initiatives going forward.&rdquo;</p><p>Law Day was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to strengthen our heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under the law. In 1961, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day. Every president since then has issued a Law Day proclamation on May 1 to celebrate the nation&rsquo;s commitment to the rule of law. Information on Law Day 2023 can be found on the website of the American Bar Association at <a href="https://www.americanbar.org" target="_blank">https://www.americanbar.org</a>. Although the official date of Law Day is May 1, Judges across Louisiana celebrate Law Day throughout the month of May. </p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-08_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-12_Orleans_Parish_Judges_Law_Day_Events_1.jpg" alt="Law Day Event Photos" width="800" /><br /><span class="caption"></span></p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-12_Orleans_Parish_Judges_Law_Day_Events_2.jpg" alt="Law Day Event Photos" width="800" /><br /><span class="caption"></span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>JULY 17, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE WEIMER MEETS LOUISIANA BOYS STATE CHIEF JUSTICE BLOCK</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash;Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer recently had the honor of meeting a fellow Chief Justice, Thomas F. Block, at Weimer&rsquo;s office in Thibodaux. This fellow Chief Justice, however, still has his sights set on high school graduation.</p><p>Chief Justice Thomas F. Block was elected Chief Justice at Louisiana Boy&rsquo;s State this summer. Block was also chosen as the Outstanding Jurist at Boy&rsquo;s State. Block is a senior at E.D. White High School in Thibodaux, which is named for former United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Edward Douglass White, a Thibodaux native.</p><p>Chief Justice Block is the son of Matthew Block, who served as Executive Counsel to Governor John Bel Edwards. As a youth, the elder Block was an altar server in the wedding of Weimer 37 years ago.</p><p>&ldquo;Thomas is the fourth generation of the Block family who have demonstrated an interest in serving his community, beginning with his Great Grandfather Ferd, his Grandfather Jerald, his Great Uncle Harold, and his Father Matthew, the later three who are attorneys,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Weimer. &ldquo;I appreciate having a contemporary Chief Justice in my hometown of Thibodaux which historically has been the home of US Chief Justice E.D. White and Louisiana Chief Justice Francis T. Nicholls.&rdquo;</p><p>According to the Louisiana Boys State website, &ldquo;Louisiana Boys State (LABS) is the premier leadership development program for young men in the state of Louisiana. Sponsored by the Louisiana Department of the American Legion, LABS is dedicated to providing a hands-on learning environment in which participants (termed &ldquo;Citizens&rdquo;) not only learn the ins and outs of the Louisiana political system but also learn how to transform themselves into effective leaders in their school, community, state, and country.&rdquo;</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-08_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-11_CJ_Weimer_and_CJ_Block.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer (l), with Louisiana Boys State Chief Justice Thomas F. Block (r)" width="600" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer (l), with Louisiana Boys State Chief Justice Thomas F. Block (r)</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1115.5px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1115.5px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1115.5px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>JUNE 23, 2023</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES ITS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THE LOUISIANA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION&rsquo;S TRANSITION INTO PRACTICE MENTORING PROGRAM </strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong>&nbsp;&ndash; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer and the Associate Justices announced today the Court&rsquo;s unanimous support for the Louisiana State Bar Association&rsquo;s Transition Into Program (TIP) mentoring program.&nbsp; The program, which is voluntary, matches newly admitted members of the Bar with an experienced attorney, who serves as a mentor.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;The Transition Into Practice program, which has been in existence since 2015, allows veteran attorneys to share their knowledge, advice, and hands-on experience with those who are just starting their careers,&rdquo; said LSBA President Shayna Sonnier.&nbsp; &ldquo;I encourage all newly admitted attorneys to take full advantage of this program, which will help give them the tools they need to be successful in today&rsquo;s legal profession.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br /><br />Chief Justice Weimer stated, "The Court is deeply grateful for the work and leadership of the Bar and its steadfast desire to support and improve the legal profession and provide mentorship and guidance to new attorneys.&nbsp; The Transition Into Practice program has proven over years of hard work and stewardship by the Bar its value to newly admitted attorneys, who would be well-served by participating in the program.&rdquo;</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong>&nbsp;To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 18, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT TAKES ACTION REGARDING CERTAIN LAWSUITS FILED BY MCCLENNY, MOSELEY AND ASSOCIATES, PLLC</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; In order to protect the public, the administration of justice, and the interests of affected litigants, the Louisiana Supreme Court has stayed the multitude of hurricane and storm-related suits filed by McClenny, Moseley and Associates, PLLC (&ldquo;MMA&rdquo;) in Louisiana state courts pending further orders of the Supreme Court. The chief judge of every state court will provide to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel within twenty (20) days information relative to these lawsuits filed in each parish of the state. <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/Huye_23-0277.stay_order.pdf" target="_blank">See the Court&rsquo;s May 10, 2023 Order here</a>.</p><p>To assist persons affected by these unprecedented developments, the Louisiana Supreme Court also appointed attorney Edward J. Walters, Jr., of Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens, LLC, as a special trustee to receive the information provided to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel relative to these lawsuits and contact each client formerly represented by MMA to provide resources to them in obtaining new counsel, if necessary. Clients represented by MMA in these lawsuits will receive communication from Mr. Walters in the coming weeks. <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/Huye_23-0277.global_order.pdf" target="_blank">See the Court&rsquo;s May 18, 2023 Order here</a>.</p><p>These orders were issued in connection with the Court&rsquo;s earlier March 3, 2023 Order suspending MMA&rsquo;s Louisiana supervising attorney, Richard William Huye, III, from the practice of law in Louisiana on an interim basis pending further orders of the Court.</p><p>The stays in these cases may be lifted by the presiding judge in any case (1) in which there is mutual consent of the parties to proceed with the litigation or (2) in which a voluntary motion to dismiss has been or will be filed. Clients represented by MMA who have already obtained new counsel may wish to consult with their counsel regarding the impact of the Court&rsquo;s Orders on their lawsuits.</p><p>&ldquo;The Supreme Court took this extraordinary action due to the serious and unprecedented circumstances presented by MMA&rsquo;s alleged recent actions and the possible consequences to affected litigants. We appreciate the assistance of our judges and Mr. Walters in protecting the orderly administration of justice and the hundreds of parties potentially affected by the alleged conduct of MMA,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 15, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT RECEIVES THE LOUISIANA BAR FOUNDATION 2023 HORN BLOWER AWARD</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; On Friday, April 21, 2023, the Louisiana Supreme Court received the <a href="https://www.raisingthebar.org/" target="_blank">Louisiana Bar Foundation</a> (LBF) 2023 Horn Blower Award during the LBF 37th Annual Fellows Gala at the National World War II Museum. The award was given in recognition of the Supreme Court&rsquo;s outstanding support and leadership in promoting the LBF&rsquo;s mission to advance the legal profession, increase public understanding of the legal system, and advance the reality of equal justice under the law. Alan G. Brackett, 2022-23 LBF president, presented the award to Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice James T. Genovese, and Justice Piper D. Griffin, who accepted the award on behalf of the Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court, including Justices Jefferson D. Hughes III, Scott J. Crichton, William J. Crain and Jay B. McCallum.</p><p>&ldquo;The Supreme Court is honored and grateful to receive the award from the LBF, which is a truly outstanding group consisting of judges and attorneys who volunteer their time, talent, and financial support to insure underprivileged individuals have access to civil justice in the courts of our state,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Weimer. &ldquo;Although the Court was honored to receive the award, it is the countless volunteer judges and lawyers who work so tirelessly who truly deserve the honor.&rdquo;</p><p>Additional honorees recognized at the LBF Gala included Distinguished Jurist Honorable Richard T. Haik, Ret., U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana; Distinguished Attorney Leo C. Hamilton, Esq. of Breazeale, Sachse &amp; Wilson, L.L.P.; Distinguished Professor Andrea Beauchamp Carroll, LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center; and Calogero Justice Award recipient Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.</p><p>The Louisiana Bar Foundation exists to preserve, honor, and improve our system of justice by funding, developing or otherwise promoting efforts which enhance the legal profession, increase public understanding of the legal system and advance the reality of equal justice under the law. The foundation is the single statewide funder that is fully committed to ensuring that Louisiana&rsquo;s civil justice system is accessible to all. With its robust network of well-established partnerships with more than 70 grantees across the state&rsquo;s 64 parishes that are leading community-driven efforts, the foundation helps hundreds of thousands of Louisiana residents gain access to the legal system regardless of mental or physical condition, economic status, or type of legal problem.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-08_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-08_LBF_Horn_Blower_Award.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court receives the Louisiana Bar Foundation Horn Blower Awards at the LBF 37th Annual Fellows Gala. (l-r): Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, 2022-2023 LBF President Alan Brackett, Justice Piper D. Griffin, and Justice James T. Genovese." width="600" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court receives the Louisiana Bar Foundation Horn Blower Awards at the LBF 37th Annual Fellows Gala. (l-r): Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, 2022-2023 LBF President Alan Brackett, Justice Piper D. Griffin, and Justice James T. Genovese.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 12, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES AMENDMENTS<br />TO THE RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer and the Associate Justices announced today the Court&rsquo;s adoption of <a href="/rules/orders/2023/ROPC1.10.pdf" target="_blank">amendments to Rule of Professional Conduct 1.10</a> pertaining to the imputation of conflicts of interest when lawyers are associated in a firm. The Rules of Professional Conduct set forth the standards of ethical conduct required of lawyers.</p><p>The amendments relax the imputation of conflicts of interest requirements relative to lateral hires; non-lawyers, such as paralegals and legal secretaries; and lawyers whose conflict arose because of events that occurred before the person became a lawyer (e.g., work that the person did as a law student). The amendments recognize the increasingly mobile nature of attorneys in today&rsquo;s legal climate and eliminate significant impediments on lateral transitions, while remaining sensitive to client concerns regarding loyalty and confidentiality. The amendments further provide needed clarity concerning non-lawyers, such as paralegals and legal secretaries, as well as the effect of events occurring before a person becomes an attorney.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer stated, "In an effort to respond expeditiously and to work cohesively with the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Louisiana Supreme Court enacted these amendments, which are in response to recommendations made by the LSBA as the result of resolutions from its Rules of Professional Conduct Committee."</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 1, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ISSUE LAW DAY RESOLUTION URGING JUDGES TO PARTICIPATE IN CIVICS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; In recognition of the 65th annual celebration of Law Day, the Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/2023-06-LawDayResolution.pdf" target="_blank">issued a Resolution</a> commemorating today as Law Day. The Resolution urges and requests &ldquo;judges of the State of Louisiana to dedicate the month of May 2023 to reaching out to schools to provide students with an opportunity to learn about the law, the role of a judge and the court system from members of the judiciary.&rdquo; The Law Day 2023 theme is &ldquo;<em>Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration</em>.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;Law Day is a perfect time for judicial outreach through the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom program,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;Over the past two years, participation in the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom initiative has increased among our state&rsquo;s judges, who have been visiting Louisiana students and welcoming them in courtrooms to teach about the law, the judicial system, the three branches of government, making wise decisions, and more.&rdquo;</p><p>During the month of May, the Louisiana Supreme Court will host several Law Day-themed activities, which will include tours of the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse, visits to the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum and the Law Library of Louisiana, and discussions with the Justices.</p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin is spearheading a strong coalition of judges in Orleans parish who will utilize the month of May and beyond for outreach to schools, civic, and community groups throughout the parish. Statewide, Judges will host students in their courtrooms and continue to find creative ways to present civics to students. Judges are encouraged to utilize the civics information available on the Louisiana Supreme Court website (<a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>) when they spend time talking to students, including the comprehensive presentation developed by Justice Scott Crichton titled, &ldquo;Crime, Consequences, and the Power of Choice.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I am convinced that judges can have a positive impact on the communities they serve by engaging in outreach programs that combine civics and lessons on equality, respect for all people, the consequences of inappropriate behavior, and personal responsibility,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Weimer. &ldquo;Most importantly, outreach programs benefit the community, while positively reflecting on the judiciary and having an immensely positive impact on judges who participate.&rdquo;</p><p>The <a href="/Education?p=Judges_in_the_Classroom">Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom</a> initiative is a partnership with the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom Supreme Court Task Force, Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education, the Louisiana District Judges Association, the Louisiana Commission on Civics Education, the Young Lawyers Division of the Louisiana State Bar Association, and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).</p><p>Law Day was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to strengthen our heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under the law. In 1961, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day. Every president since then has issued a Law Day proclamation on May 1 to celebrate the nation&rsquo;s commitment to the rule of law. Information on Law Day 2023 can be found on the website of the American Bar Association at <a href="https://www.americanbar.org" target="_blank">https://www.americanbar.org</a>.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 14, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>ORLEANS CIVIL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE BERNADETTE G. D&rsquo;SOUZA WAS THE FEATURED SPEAKER AT <br />THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF FAMILY LAW CARIBBEAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE </strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6026ae91e9901c22e746e32a/t/60b77f016898bf6499ddff9c/1622638337315/Judge+D%27Souza+Biography.pdf" target="_blank">Orleans Civil District Court Judge Bernadette G. D&rsquo;Souza</a> was the invited keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the International Society of Family Law (ISFL) Caribbean Regional Conference in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Human rights, child protection, and women and families advocates from around the world attended the conference, which highlighted the theme, &ldquo;Safeguarding the Human Rights of Family Members from the Womb to the Tomb.&rdquo; The conference chair was Independent Senator in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago Hazel Thompson-Aye.</p><p>Judge D'Souza, who was elected in 2012 as the first Family Court Judge of Orleans Civil District Court, is a longtime proponent of women&rsquo;s and families&rsquo; rights. She expounded on the topic, &ldquo;A Holistic Approach to Eradicating a Most Egregious Violation of Human Rights: Violence against Women and Children.&rdquo;   Judge D&rsquo;Souza, consistently passionate about justice for women and human rights for all, expressed, &ldquo;I am honored to have been given an opportunity at the ISFL Conference to speak with those who share in the fight for justice for women and children who are victims of violence.  It is important to give a voice to these countless innocent victims and discuss methods to combat this global challenge.&rdquo;</p><p>Judge D&rsquo;Souza has previously addressed these issues speaking internationally at the U.S. State Department INL Office at the &ldquo;Role of Women in Justice&rdquo; Conference, in Yerevan, Armenia.  She participated on a panel on &ldquo;Integrated Domestic Violence Courts&rdquo; at the United Nations Convention on Status of Women in New York, and at the invitation from His Holiness Pope Francis, she presented on Equal Access to Justice at the First Pan-American Judges Summit, at the Vatican in Rome.</p><p>A large number of judges, law professors, legal practitioners, lawyers, social workers, and policy- makers from the United States, Ireland, England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, Nigeria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts, Dominica, Antigua, Turks and Caicos, The Bahamas and Guyana also participated. New Zealand, Italy, Lithuania, and Argentina were among the countries that presented virtually.</p><p>The ISFL is an independent, international, scholarly association dedicated to the study, research, and discussion of family law and related disciplines. ISFL&rsquo;s membership includes professors, jurists, legal practitioners, and researchers from over fifty (50) countries.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-02_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-05_ISFLConf1.jpg" alt="Orleans Civil District Court Chief Judge Bernadette G. D'Souza delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the International Society of Family Law Regional Conference" width="600" /><br /><span class="caption">Orleans Civil District Court Chief Judge Bernadette G. D'Souza delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the International Society of Family Law Regional Conference</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-05_ISFLConf2.jpg" alt="Senator Hazel THompson-Ahye, Chair, International Society of Family Law Regional Conference and Orleans Civil District Court Chief Judge Bernadette G. D'Souza at 2023 ISFL Regional Conference." width="600" /><br /><span class="caption">(l-r)Senator Hazel THompson-Ahye, Chair, International Society of Family Law Regional Conference and Orleans Civil District Court Chief Judge Bernadette G. D'Souza at 2023 ISFL Regional Conference.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>February 13, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT OBSERVES BLACK HISTORY MONTH</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; Louisiana Supreme Court Justices, judges throughout the state, the Law Library of Louisiana and court staff are observing Black History Month in February through civic education initiatives that call attention to African American contributions to history and the legal profession. These initiatives will emphasize and recount these contributions through interaction with local school students and special informational publications and displays that are available to the public.</p><p>As in years past, the Louisiana Supreme Court hosted students from Homer A. Plessy Community School for a book reading and Q&amp;A session by the Justices, which was digitally recorded and shared with the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) for distribution to elementary schools statewide.</p><p>In alignment with the ongoing Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom initiative, judges throughout the state will incorporate historical facts regarding prominent African Americans&rsquo; accomplishments and contributions to history during their presentations as they visit schools during Black History Month. The Judges in the Classroom/Student in the Courtroom initiative works year-round in partnership with the BESE and LDOE, as well as the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education, the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education, and judges&rsquo; organizational groups.</p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer said, &ldquo;As part of our continuing civic education initiatives, my Colleagues on the Supreme Court and judges throughout Louisiana consistently engage in creative ways to enlighten students and the community on the diverse contributions and accomplishments woven into the state&rsquo;s justice system. Black History Month offers the opportunity to share African American achievements that may have historically been overlooked and is a time to reflect on the development of the legal system that allows our diverse citizenry the liberties we enjoy today.&rdquo;</p><p>Law Library of Louisiana Director Miriam Childs announced several additional educational outreach initiatives scheduled for February. They include four weekly special issues of the Law Library&rsquo;s newsletter, De Novo, featuring: Louis A. Martinet, Thomas Morris Chester, Retired First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Freddie Pitcher, Jr, and First Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge John Michael Guidry. Educational outreach initiatives can be accessed on the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s Press Room page under the <a href="/BlackHistoryMonth">Black History Month</a> link.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-02_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-04_HomerPlessySchool1.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Black History Month Observance: Justice Piper D. Griffin delivered a virtual message to Homer Plessy Community School students during a visit to the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse." width="600" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Black History Month Observance: Justice Piper D. Griffin delivered a virtual message to Homer Plessy Community School students during a visit to the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-04_HomerPlessySchool2.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Black History Month Observance: (1-r) Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, and Justice Jay B. McCallum read to 2nd-grade students from Homer Plessy Community School about the life of US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall." width="600" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Black History Month Observance: (1-r) Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, and Justice Jay B. McCallum read to 2nd-grade students from Homer Plessy Community School about the life of US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.</span> </p></div></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-04_HomerPlessySchool3.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Black History Month Observance: (1-r) Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, and Justice Jay B. McCallum discussed the life of US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall during a book reading at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse." width="600" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Black History Month Observance: (1-r) Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, and Justice Jay B. McCallum discussed the life of US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall during a book reading at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse.</span> </p></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 25, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA COURTS WRAP UP LANGUAGE ACCESS PROJECTS WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, <br />FOLLOWING EXEMPLARY IMPROVEMENTS TO SERVICES FOR LITIGANTS</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;">- <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/2023-03_Esp.pdf" target="_blank">En Espa&ntilde;ol</a> -&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/2023-03_Veit.pdf" target="_blank">bằng tiếng việt</a> -&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; In 2019, the Supreme Court of Louisiana entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Justice, whereby the Supreme Court would oversee improved services for non-English speakers involved in criminal and civil litigation throughout the state. Pursuant to the agreement, the Supreme Court embarked on a system-wide study of state courts, ascertained areas for improvement, implemented various changes to court procedures, and took numerous additional steps. The specific steps taken for improved language access to court proceedings and operations in the Louisiana court system included:</p><ol><li>Creation of an <a href="/LanguageAccess">Office of Language Access (OLA)</a>;<br /></li><li>Completion of a language access self-assessment of the Louisiana courts;</li><li>Adoption and publication of the first <a href="/Court_Interpreters/LAPwithAppend.pdf" target="_blank">Language Access Plan</a> for the Louisiana courts;</li><li>Removal of text from Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Article 192.2, which previously authorized courts to assess persons with limited English proficiency for the cost of interpreters (Act 207 of 2021 Regular Session);</li><li>Creation of a <a href="/LanguageComplaints">centralized complaint system</a> that addresses concerns about retaliation and includes an online complaint form in Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Chinese;</li><li>Establishment and maintenance of the Language Access Stakeholder Committee;</li><li>Creation of <a href="/LanguageAccess?p=OLATraining">training modules</a> for judiciary employees and other stakeholders;</li><li>Provision of quarterly language access communications to judges and court staff;</li><li>Creation of language access training protocols, presentations for judges and court personnel, and a language access article in the Louisiana Bar Journal;</li><li>Provision of funding for translated materials;</li><li>Adoption of language access plans by local courts;</li><li>Creation of a <a href="/court_interpreters/Language_Access_Bench_Card.pdf" target="_blank">language access judicial bench card</a> for judges and court staff;</li><li>Appointment of local court Language Access Coordinators; and</li><li>Adoption of <a href="/Supreme_Court_Rules?p=PartGSection14">Louisiana Supreme Court rules</a> in December 2022, applicable to all Louisiana courts, regarding language access. These rules include a requirement that judges appoint qualified interpreters for court proceedings upon a determination that a party in interest is a person with limited English proficiency.</li></ol><p>With the goals of their agreement having been met, the Supreme Court&rsquo;s work directly with the United States Department of Justice has drawn to an end. However, the Supreme Court remains engaged in improving access to the judicial system for everyone.</p><p>On the occasion of wrapping up the Supreme Court&rsquo;s work with the U.S. Department of Justice, Chief Justice Weimer commented, &ldquo;I would like to commend all those who worked diligently to improve access to justice in Louisiana for limited English proficient individuals. I look forward to continuing our positive progress in further expanding accessibility to courts for all individuals.&rdquo; Chief Justice Weimer also remarked, &ldquo;From the efforts made to date, Louisiana&rsquo;s judicial system now serves as a model for other states. We receive calls from other states asking for information to help improve their judicial systems. So, I would particularly like to thank our judges and dedicated court administrators from all over the state for their assistance with this effort. &rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;This process, which was spearheaded by Chief Deputy Judicial Administrator Brian Wiggins, required the full cooperation and involvement of the entire judiciary,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Judicial Administrator Sandra Vujnovich. &ldquo;In addition to our judges and court administrators, thank you to our various partners, including the Louisiana State Bar Association&rsquo;s Access to Justice Committee and the many other dedicated individuals who served on the Language Access Stakeholder Committee. From drafting the state&rsquo;s first Language Access Plan to producing online training modules for judges, lawyers, and judicial partners, we have dramatically increased the resources available to assist limited English proficient individuals.&rdquo;</p><p>The online training modules were produced by the National Center for State Courts with a grant provided by the <a href="https://www.sji.gov/" target="_blank">State Justice Institute</a>, a non-profit established by federal law to distribute grants to courts. The modules may be used by all justice system partners including judges, administrators, clerks of court, law enforcement and lawyers to learn more about language access and court interpreters.</p><p><strong>For more information on the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s Language Access and Court Interpreter Programs, visit <a href="/languageaccess">www.lasc.org/languageaccess</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 24, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN L. WEIMER<br />TAKES THE OATH TO SERVE HIS FINAL 10 YEAR TERM</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; Oaths of office were recently administered in Thibodaux, as both Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer as well as members of the Lafourche Parish School Board were sworn in for their new terms of office.</p><p>Thibodaux attorney Danny Cavell administered the oath of office to Chief Justice Weimer, who was first elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2001. This will mark Chief Justice Weimer&rsquo;s final ten-year term on the Louisiana Supreme Court due to the mandatory retirement age for Louisiana judges. Chief Justice Weimer&rsquo;s term will run through 2032.</p><p>Following his oath of office, Chief Justice Weimer then had the honor of administering oaths of office to members of the Lafourche Parish School Board. Prior to taking the bench, Chief Justice Weimer was a full-time faculty member at Nicholls State University where he taught law and ethics classes for 16 years. He received the Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence and was also named to Who's Who Among America's Teachers multiple times. Having the oath administered before the School Board and administering the oath to School Board members symbolizes the Chief Justice&rsquo;s commitment to education and demonstrates how important education is to a properly functioning democracy and the importance of education to individuals and our communities, state and nation.</p><p>As evidence of his commitment to promoting civic education, Chief Justice Weimer&rsquo;s first act was to send all Louisiana judges a letter on January 1, 2021, encouraging them to become active teachers: &ldquo;Judges have a unique opportunity to educate the community about the law and our legal system, and I urge my colleagues on the bench to take advantage of opportunities to teach &ndash; especially to teach our young people about respect for the law, personal responsibility, and consequences of inappropriate behavior.&rdquo; Judges statewide have embraced this opportunity to positively engage with students in classroom or courtroom educational settings to support Louisiana&rsquo;s teachers and schools in civic or law-related education. Based on reported numbers, 111 judges took part in educational outreach initiatives as part of &ldquo;Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom&rdquo; programs in 2022, which impacted nearly 11,500 students across the state.</p><p>A native of Lafourche Parish and Thibodaux, Chief Justice Weimer became the 26th Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court January 1, 2021. Under the Louisiana Constitution, the senior justice in point of service serves as Chief Justice and as the chief administrative officer of the judicial system. The Louisiana Supreme Court is composed of seven justices &ndash; one Chief Justice and six Associate Justices &ndash; elected from districts across Louisiana. Chief Justice Weimer began his judicial career with a 7&frac12; month appointment by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as Judge <em>pro tempore</em> of the 17th Judicial District Court in 1993. Two years later, in 1995, he was elected to serve as Judge of the 17th Judicial District Court, and was re-elected in 1996 without opposition. In 1998, he was elected to serve on the Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1st Circuit. In 2001, he was elected as an Associate Justice to the Louisiana Supreme Court. Chief Justice Weimer was subsequently re-elected without opposition to full ten-year terms in 2002, 2012, and in 2022. Since 2001, he has been dedicated to serving 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.</p><p>Newly elected Lafourche Parish School Board members include Tina Naquin Babin (President), Valerie Bourgeois (Vice President), Dr. Dennis Guillot, Myron Wright, Marian Fertitta, Clyde &ldquo;Joey&rdquo; Duplantis, III, Jamie Marlbrough, Leslie Wells, and BuffyLynn Charpentier.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-02_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-02_WeimerOath.jpg" alt="Thibodaux attorney Danny Cavell administers the oath of office to Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer" width="600" /><br /><span class="caption">Thibodaux attorney Danny Cavell administers the oath of office to Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-02_WeimerAndLafourcheSchoolBoard.jpg" alt="Lafourche Parish School Board Members (l-r): Dr. Dennis Guillot; Myron Wright; Tina Naquin Babin, President; Marian Fertitta; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer; Valerie Bourgeois, Vice President; Clyde " joey="" duplantis,="" iii;="" jamie="" marlbrough;="" leslie="" wells;="" buffy="" lynn="" charpentier="" width="600" /><br /><span class="caption">Lafourche Parish School Board Members (l-r): Dr. Dennis Guillot; Myron Wright; Tina Naquin Babin, President; Marian Fertitta; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer; Valerie Bourgeois, Vice President; Clyde "Joey" Duplantis, III; Jamie Marlbrough; Leslie Wells; Buffy Lynn Charpentier</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2023 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 3, 2023</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>APPOINTMENT OF NEW MEMBERS TO THE JUDICIARY COMMISSION OF LOUISIANA</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; Today the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana (JCL) announced the appointment of two new members: Third Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Sharon Darville Wilson and Judith Rozier. </p><p>Judge Wilson was appointed to serve on the Judiciary Commission by the Louisiana Supreme Court as the appellate court member for a term which commenced January 1, 2023 and will conclude December 31, 2026. She earned her bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Louisiana State University in 1988 and her juris doctor degree from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1991. Judge Wilson worked as an assistant district attorney at the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney&rsquo;s Office from 1992-1999. She worked as a chief felony prosecutor at the Allen Parish District Attorney&rsquo;s Office from 1999-2002. She returned to the Calcasieu Parish DA&rsquo;s office and worked from 2002-2009 when she began work in private practice. Prior to her election to the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, Judge Wilson was elected Fourteenth Judicial District Court Judge and served from 2014-2020; she served as Chief Judge of the Fourteenth JDC from 2017 to 2018 and co-founded the Veterans Treatment Court in Calcasieu Parish. Judge Wilson has served as an Executive Board Member for the Louisiana District Judges Association and also as a district judge-member of the Judiciary Commission from 2019 to 2020. Judge Wilson succeeds outgoing appellate judge member Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge John J. Molaison, Jr. </p><p>Judith Rozier was appointed to serve on the Judiciary Commission by the Louisiana District Judges Association as a citizen member for a term which commenced November 8, 2022 and will conclude November 7, 2026. Originally from Alexandria, LA, she earned her bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Speech Pathology from Louisiana State University, Shreveport and her master&rsquo;s degree in special education with an emphasis in Speech Pathology from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. She spent much of her career serving the students of Rapides Parish School District as a Speech Pathologist, working with the Deaf and as an Educational Strategist. She served an integral role on the Rapides Parish Coordinated Services Committee, working closely with the judiciary and professionals in education, medicine, and mental health to coordinate services for at-risk students. Ms. Rozier was director of the Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Services at St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria. Prior to her time with the hospital, she founded an outpatient physical rehabilitation center, providing physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. Now retired, she was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Alexandria and currently volunteers with the Bags of Hope Program at St. Vincent De Paul, a non-profit, charitable organization in Baton Rouge. Ms. Rozier succeeds outgoing citizen member Lloyd J. Clark. </p><p>The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a nine-member constitutionally-created body empowered to review allegations of judicial misconduct and to recommend to the Supreme Court that a judge be sanctioned when misconduct is proven by clear and convincing evidence. </p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-01_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-01_JudgeSharonDarvilleWilson.jpg" alt="Court of Appeal, Third Circuit Judge Sharon Darville Wilson" width="400" /><br /><span class="caption">Court of Appeal, Third Circuit <br />Judge Sharon Darville Wilson</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2023/images/2023-01_JUDITH_ROZIER.jpg" alt="Judith Rozier" width="400" /><br /><span class="caption">Judith Rozier</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 28, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>32ND JDC JUDGE JASON A. DAGATE APPOINTED TO SERVE<br />ON THE LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON CIVIC EDUCATION</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; 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. </p><p>Judge Dagate is a 2003 Hall of Fame graduate of Nicholls State University, where he earned a degree from the College of Business Administration, and a 2006 cum laude graduate of Southern University Law Center, where he earned his juris doctor degree. Prior to his election to the bench, Judge Dagate served as First Assistant District Attorney for Terrebonne Parish where he supervised assistant district attorneys. He additionally served as the Drug Court Prosecutor for the 32nd JDC, Chief of Trials, and the Director of the District Attorney&rsquo;s Project LEAD Program, which focuses on positive legal enrichment and decision making by students. </p><p>The Louisiana Commission on Civic Education was established to educate students of the importance of citizen involvement in a representative democracy and to promote communication and collaboration among organizations in the state that conduct civic education programs. The 26 member Commission is comprised of representatives of the Louisiana judiciary, legislature, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), Department of Education, Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education, Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR), and the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), among others. For more information on the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education, visit <a href="https://house.louisiana.gov/civiced/">https://house.louisiana.gov/civiced/</a>.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-21_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-29_Dagate.jpg" alt="32nd Judicial District Court Judge Jason A. Dagate" /><br /><span class="caption">32nd Judicial District Court Judge Jason A. Dagate</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 21, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>APPOINTMENT OF A NEW JUDICIARY COMMISSION OF LOUISIANA MEMBER</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; 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&rsquo;Callaghan.</p><p>Chief Judge Hampton earned his bachelor&rsquo;s degree cum laude from Louisiana Tech University in 1978, his juris doctor degree magna cum laude from Tulane University School of Law in 1981, and his master of laws degree from Southern Methodist University in 1990. Prior to his election to the bench in 2018, he practiced law for over 37 years in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. He worked as an assistant district attorney for 18 years, prosecuting felony and misdemeanor cases and handling drug court, juvenile court, and serving as counsel for the Union Parish Police Jury. He also served as an indigent defender for 10 years in the Third Judicial District. Chief Judge Hampton is a member of the Louisiana District Judges Association Executive Board and was appointed by Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer to serve on the Task Force on Statewide Standards for Clerks of Court Electronic Filing and Records Retention. Chief Judge Hampton is married to Cindy Hampton. They are the parents of two children and grandparents of seven.</p><p>The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a nine-member constitutionally created body empowered to review allegations of judicial misconduct and to recommend to the Supreme Court that a judge be sanctioned when misconduct is proven by clear and convincing evidence.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-21_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-28_Hampton.jpg" alt="Third Judicial District Chief Judge Bruce E. Hampton" /><br /><span class="caption">Third Judicial District Chief Judge Bruce E. Hampton</span> </p></div></div>
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<link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_picgrid.css" /><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 10, 2022</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA JUDICIAL ASSOCIATIONS ANNOUNCE 2022 OFFICERS</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; 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. The officers are as follows: </p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>CONFERENCE OF COURT OF APPEAL JUDGES</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Chair through 12/31/2022: Chief Judge Milton Moore, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal (Retires 12/31/2022)</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Chair for 2023: Chief Judge Frances Pitman, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal (Becomes Chief Judge 1/1/2023)</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Vice-Chair through 12/31/2022: Chief Judge Sylvia Cooks, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal (Retires 12/31/2022)</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Vice-Chair for 2023: Chief Judge Elizabeth Pickett, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal (Becomes Chief Judge 1/1/2023)</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary-Treasurer: Judge Jude Gravois, 5th Circuit Court of Appeal</p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>LOUISIANA DISTRICT JUDGES ASSOCIATION</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">President: Judge Patricia Koch, 9th Judicial District Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">First Vice President: Chief Judge Timothy Marcel, 29th Judicial District Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Second Vice President: Chief Judge Lala Sylvester, 10th Judicial District Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary: Judge Lee Faulkner, 24th Judicial District Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Treasurer: Chief Judge Robin Pittman, Orleans Criminal District Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Immediate Past President: Judge Scott U. Schlegel, 24th Judicial District Court</p><p><em>The Louisiana District Judges Association is a professional nonprofit corporation established in 1981. All Louisiana District Judges with general jurisdiction and Judges of Juvenile and Family Courts are eligible for membership. The mission of the LDJA includes the administration of justice, representation of the interests of judges, and the professional development of its membership to provide the greatest access to fair, just, and responsive trial courts. The newly elected officers will serve from October 4, 2022 through October 5, 2023. </em></p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>LOUISIANA CITY COURT JUDGES ASSOCIATION</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">President: Judge Brian Barber, Shreveport City Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">1st Vice President: Judge Theodore &ldquo;Trey&rdquo; Haik III, New Iberia City Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">2nd Vice President: Chief Judge Veronica Henry, New Orleans First City Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary: Judge Matthew Hagen, Houma City Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Treasurer: Judge Erin Wiley Lanoux, Ascension Parish Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Immediate Past President Jefferson Second Parish Court Judge Raylyn Beeers</p><p><em>The officers will serve one-year terms.</em></p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>LOUISIANA COUNCIL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">President: Judge Barron Burmaster, Jefferson Juvenile Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Vice President: Judge Jefferson &ldquo;Jeff&rdquo; Joyce, Monroe City Court</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary: Judge Desiree Duhon Dyess, 10th JDC</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Treasurer: Judge Theodore &ldquo;Trey&rdquo; Haik III, New Iberia City Court</p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>RETIRED JUDGES ASSOCIATION</strong></p><p><em>The Retired Judges Association elects new officers in the spring of 2023. The following officers will continue in service until that time.</em></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">President: Judge Curtis Calloway (Ret., 19th JDC)</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Vice President: Judge Ronald Cox (Ret., 15th JDC)</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Secretary: Judge Luke LaVergne (Ret., East Baton Rouge Family Court)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit lasc.org or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class="pic-title">Louisiana Conference of Court of Appeal Judges 2022-2023 Officers</h4><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Moore.jpg" alt="Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Chair through 2022, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge D. Milton Moore." /><br /><span class="caption">Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Chair through 2022 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge D. Milton Moore.</span> </p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Pitman.jpg" alt="Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Chair effective Jan. 2023, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Frances Pitman." /><br /><span class="caption">Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Chair effective Jan. 2023 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Frances Pitman.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Cooks.jpg" alt="Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Vice Chair through 2022, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Sylvia R. Cooks." /><br /><span class="caption">Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Vice Chair through 2022 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Sylvia R. Cooks.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Pickett.jpg" alt="Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Vice Chair effective Jan. 2023, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Elizabeth A. Pickett." /><br /><span class="caption">Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Vice Chair effective Jan. 2023 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Elizabeth A. Pickett.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Gravois.jpg" alt="Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Secretary-Treasurer, 5th Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Jude G. Gravois." /><br /><span class="caption">Conference of Court of Appeal Judges Secretary-Treasurer 5th Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Jude G. Gravois.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div></div><h4 class="pic-title">Louisiana District Judges Association 2022-2023 Officers</h4><div><div style="max-width:600px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;"><p><img style="object-fit:contain;width:100%;height:auto;margin:top 0.8rem;" src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_LDJA.jpg" alt="Judge Daniel Ellender, 4th Judicial District Court (pictured far left) swore-in the new officers. To his right are Judge Timothy Marcel, Judge Lala Sylvester, Judge Robin Pittman, Judge Lee Faulkner, Judge Patricia Koch, Judge Scott Schlegel." /><br /><span class="caption">Judge Daniel Ellender, 4th Judicial District Court (pictured far left) swore-in the new officers. To his right are Judge Timothy Marcel, Judge Lala Sylvester, Judge Robin Pittman, Judge Lee Faulkner, Judge Patricia Koch, Judge Scott Schlegel.</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 class="pic-title">Louisiana City Court Judges Association 2022-2023 Officers</h4><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Barber.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association President Shreveport City Cout Judge Brian H. Barber, Sr." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association President Shreveport City Cout Judge Brian H. Barber, Sr.</span> </p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Haik.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association 1st Vice President New Iberia City Court Judge Theodore 'Trey' Haik, III." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association 1st Vice President New Iberia City Court Judge Theodore "Trey" Haik, III.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Henry.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association 2nd Vice President New Orleans First City Court Judge Veronica E. Henry." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association 2nd Vice President New Orleans First City Court Judge Veronica E. Henry.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Hagen.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association Secretary Houma City Court Judge Matthew H. Hagen." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association Secretary Houma City Court Judge Matthew H. Hagen.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Lanoux.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association Treasurer Ascension Parish Court Judge Erin Wiley Lanoux." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association Treasurer Ascension Parish Court Judge Erin Wiley Lanoux.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Beevers.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Court Judges Association Immediate Past President Jefferson Second Parish Court Judge Raylyn R. Beevers." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana City Court Judges Association Immediate Past President Jefferson Second Parish Court Judge Raylyn R. Beevers.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div></div><h4 class="pic-title">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges 2022-2023 Officers</h4><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Burmaster.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges President Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Judge Barron C. Burmaster." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges President Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Judge Barron C. Burmaster.</span> </p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Joyce.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Vice President Monroe City Court Judge Fefferson 'Jeff' Joyce." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Vice President Monroe City Court Judge Fefferson "Jeff" Joyce.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Dyess.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Secretary 10th JDC Judge Desiree Duhon Dyess." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Secretary 10th JDC Judge Desiree Duhon Dyess.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Haik.jpg" alt="Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Treasurer New Ibearia City Court Judge Thoedore 'Trey' Haik, III." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Treasurer New Ibearia City Court Judge Thoedore "Trey" Haik, III.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div></div><h4 class="pic-title">Louisiana Retired Judges Association *2022-2023 Officers</h4><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Calloway.jpg" alt="Louisiana Retired Judges Association President Retired 19th JDC Judge Curtis A. Calloway." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Retired Judges Association President Retired 19th JDC Judge Curtis A. Calloway.</span> </p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Cox.jpg" alt="Louisiana Retired Judges Association Vice President Retired 15th JDC Judge Ronald D. Cox." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Retired Judges Association Vice President Retired 15th JDC Judge Ronald D. Cox</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-27_Lavergne.jpg" alt="Louisiana Retired Judges Association Secretary Retired East Baton Rouge Family Court Judge Luke A. Lavergne." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Retired Judges Association Secretary Retired East Baton Rouge Family Court Judge Luke A. Lavergne.</span> <p>&nbsp;</p></div></div><p><em>*The Retired Judges Association elects new officers in the spring of 2023. The above officers will continue in service until that time.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 3, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>70th Annual Red Mass is Observed</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; 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.</p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer remarked, &ldquo;Each year in October, the
Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and I join Louisiana judges for blessings directed to those we
serve and the challenges they face, for the integrity of the legal profession, and for wisdom and
discernment in making decisions.&rdquo; He continued, &ldquo;Judges from across the state are in New
Orleans for the annual Fall Conference, which is sponsored by the Louisiana Judicial College. In
addition to attending the continuing legal education sessions and business meetings of the
conference, state judges can also participate in this solemn ceremony, deeply rooted in tradition
dating back centuries.&rdquo;</p><p>The Red Mass is sponsored by the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association. The
celebration of Red Mass goes back many centuries in Rome, Paris, and London. In Louisiana,
Red Mass was first offered in St. Louis Cathedral on October 5, 1953. The Red Mass has also
been celebrated annually in communities throughout Louisiana and in various venues such as
California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia, and the District of Columbia.</p><p><strong>For more information visit lasc.org or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-24_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-26_Red_Mass 2022_LASC JLW_Archbishop_Aymond.jpg" alt="The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, pauses to greet Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer at the 70th annual Red Mass." /><br /><span class="caption">The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, pauses to greet Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer at the 70<sup>th</sup> annual Red Mass.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-26_Red_Mass_LASC_Justices.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justices attend the 70th annual Red Mass at the St. Louis Cathedral (l-r) Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice Scott J. Crichton, Justice Jay B. McCalum, Justice William J. Crain, Justice Piper D. Griffin, and Justice James T. Genovese" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justices attend the 70<sup>th</sup> annual Red Mass at the St. Louis Cathedral (l-r) Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice Scott J. Crichton, Justice Jay B. McCalum, Justice William J. Crain, Justice Piper D. Griffin, and Justice James T. Genovese</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-26_Red_Mass_LASC_Justices_and_Public_Officials.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and Judges from across Louisiana were joined by local and state public officials at the 70th annual Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and Judges from across Louisiana were joined by local and state public officials at the 70<sup>th</sup> annual Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 29, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:bold;">Louisiana Supreme Court Issues Order Allowing Limited Practice of Law for Attorney Spouses of U.S. Uniformed Service Members</p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; The <a href="/rules/orders/2022/Rule_XVII_§15.pdf" target="_blank">Louisiana Supreme Court adopted a new rule</a> 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.</p><p>The rule change Order issued by the Court stipulates that due to the need for the frequent relocation of active duty service members of the United States Uniformed Services, as defined by the United States Department of Defense, attorneys who are the spouses of these members, stationed within Louisiana, may obtain a limited license to practice law without examination according to the terms of Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XVII, Section 15. The Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana State Bar Association worked together to craft this rule change, making Louisiana the latest state to enact a similar rule.</p><p>&ldquo;I commend the work of the Louisiana State Bar and staff of the Supreme Court who collaborated on this rule change, which allows attorney spouses of active-duty military members who reside with their spouses in Louisiana the opportunity to practice law in our state in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the rule,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court and I appreciate the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and their families, and are glad to join other states who have passed similar rules.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>For more information&nbsp;visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 22, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT HOSTS CONSTITUTION DAY 2022 OBSERVANCE</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; In 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.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer, a past Nicholls State University instructor, told the eager students about the U.S. and state Constitutions, their purpose, their application in courts of law and importance to every citizen. He discussed his humble upbringing and real-life experiences in the same area where they now reside. The Chief Justice explained that with education, commitment, and a work ethic, they can aspire to whatever positive career path they choose. The students at the courthouse learned about women in law and Chief Justices throughout Louisiana history in the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum and observed the rare books collection in the Law Library of Louisiana, both located in the courthouse.</p><p>&ldquo;State judges and Louisiana Supreme Court Justices often welcome students to their courtrooms,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Weimer. &ldquo;The effort to increase law-related outreach programs coincides with the mission of the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom initiative. The initiative encourages judges to meet students in courtrooms and classrooms to share civic education.&rdquo; Justice Weimer also visited students at C.M. Washington Elementary School and St. Joseph Elementary School in Thibodaux in observance of Constitution Day.</p><p>Constitution Day is a federal observance of September 17, 1787, when 39 Founding Fathers signed and adopted the U.S. Constitution, which recognizes the rights of all citizens whether by birth or naturalization.</p><p>The courthouse is located at <strong>400 Royal Street in the French Quarter</strong> and is open to visitors between <strong>8:30 a.m. &ndash; 4:30 p.m., Monday &ndash; Friday.</strong></p><p><strong>For more information visit lasc.org or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-24_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-24_Constitution_Day 2022_Chief_Justice_John_L_Weimer_1.jpg" alt="Constitution Day 2022 Observance: Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer invited students from Lafourche Parish Schools to the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse." /><br /><span class="caption">Constitution Day 2022 Observance: Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer invited students from Lafourche Parish Schools to the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-24_Constitution_Day 2022_Chief_Justice_John_L_Weimer_2.jpg" alt="Constitution Day 2022 Observance: Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer invited students from Lafourche Parish Schools to the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse." /><br /><span class="caption">Constitution Day 2022 Observance: Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer invited students from Lafourche Parish Schools to the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 21, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS IN STATE COURT TECHNOLOGY</strong></p><p>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.</p><p>Those advancements include the following:</p><ul><li><strong>Website Rebuilding and Uniform Court Website Enhancements</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;">The Louisiana Supreme Court Information Technology department provided staff support to build and launch new uniform websites for approximately half of the 42 judicial district courts in the state. The goal is to construct new websites for all district courts to help unify a non-unified court system. The new state court websites can be accessed at <a href="https://www.geauxtocourt.com" target="_blank">www.geauxtocourt.com</a>, which is hosted by the Louisiana District Judges Association.</p></li><li><strong></strong><strong>Legislation and Rule Changes</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;" margin-left:30px"="">In the 2021 legislative session, several provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure were amended to modernize the procedure for e-signing orders and judgments. Additional legislation was passed in 2022 that allowed for remote testimony for hearings and trials in the ordinary course of litigation.</p></li><li><strong>Online Forms Platform</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;">The Technology Commission partnered with the Louisiana Access to Justice Commission to create guided forms that assist self-represented litigants. Currently, there are a couple of forms that were approved for use in Louisiana District Courts with more to follow. All completed forms can be accessed at <a href="https://www.geauxtocourt.com/forms" target="_blank">https://www.geauxtocourt.com/forms</a> and on the public resources page of the Louisiana State Bar Association: <a href="https://www.lsba.org/Public/FindLegalHelp/Forms.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.lsba.org/Public/FindLegalHelp/Forms.aspx</a></p></li><li><strong></strong><strong>Disaster Recovery/Disaster Assistance</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;" margin-left:30px"="">Subsequent to damage caused to the courts within Hurricane Ida&rsquo;s path in 2021, the Technology Commission contracted with an international company to provide cellular and internet capabilities for courts without local services. This allowed courts in the 14th Judicial District and 27th Judicial District to resume court operations on a remote platform even when there was insufficient cellular or internet service in the community. Because of the success of this endeavor, and with the continued threat of severe weather events potentially shutting down the court system, the Supreme Court contracted with the same company to provide two disaster recovery units for deployment in any area of the state, should the need arise.</p></li><li><strong>Cyber Security</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;">Due to the growing number of cyber security attacks on courts and court data, the Supreme Court Technology Commission organized and sponsored two full-day cyber security trainings for judges and court personnel. This training will continue on an annual basis.</p></li><li><strong>Technology Training for Judges</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;">The Technology Commission recommended that the Louisiana Judicial College offer one (1) hour of technology education to all judges at each Judicial College Seminar. This recommendation was implemented in the summer of 2021 and to date, each Louisiana Judicial College program has included training in some aspect of technological applications or cyber-security for all judges statewide.</p></li><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission was originally established September 10, 2020 to identify technology needs, create a list of technology improvements, establish goals for implementation, devise best practices, and suggest necessary rule changes and steps towards implementation of articulated technology goals for the judiciary. The fifteen (15) members originally named to the Commission have, over the span of their two-year term, advanced the mission of designing a more accessible, efficient, and effective justice system by utilizing existing technologies in courts statewide. The work of the Commission continues with new members being named for a two-year term. Both the original task force and the current membership consist of fifteen (15) judges from all levels of court, who serve two (2) year terms.</p><p>The following members have been appointed for the current term:</p><table style=""><tbody><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court:</strong></td><td>Justice Jay McCallum; Justice Will Crain</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana Courts of Appeal:</strong></td><td>Judge Jonathan Perry; Judge John Michael Guidry</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana District Courts:</strong></td><td>Judge Scott Schlegel (Chair), 24th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Laurie Brister, 6th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Nghana Lewis, 40th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Suzanne deMahy, 16th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Ellen Hazeur, Orleans Civil District Court <br />Judge Marla Abel, 17th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Clayton Davis, 14th Judicial District Court</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana Juvenile Courts:</strong><span style="white-space:pre;"> </span></td><td>Judge David Matlock, Caddo Juvenile Court&nbsp;</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana Fanily Courts:</strong></td><td>Judge Pamela Baker, East Baton Rouge Family Court</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana City Courts:</strong></td><td>Judge Bryan Haggerty, City Court of East St. Tammany <br />Judge Doug Saloom, Lafayette City Court</td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Justice of the Peace:</strong></td><td>Justice of the Peace: Judge Kevin Centanni, Jefferson Parish</td></tr></tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission continues to explore new ways to increase efficiency and accessibility within the court system. Other projects being explored include a statewide court interpreter platform, greater remote accessibility to courts in rural areas, online calendaring and scheduling, regional staff attorneys, cyber security, and assistance with work towards a statewide warrant registry. Information on the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission is available at <a href="https://www.geauxtocourt.com" target="_blank">www.geauxtocourt.com</a>.</p><p><strong>For more information&nbsp;visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p></ul>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 19, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>RETIRED ORLEANS PARISH JUVENILE COURT JUDGE ERNESTINE GRAY NAMED CHAIR OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION JUDICIAL DIVISION</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; 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.</p><p>Judge Gray has announced that her theme for the upcoming year is, &ldquo;For Our Children: A Justice System that Protects, Corrects, and Prepares&rdquo;. The goal is to bring attention to the impact of courts on the lives of children and families while maintaining the Division&rsquo;s focus on the rule of law, diversity in the profession, and security of judges.</p><p>Earlier this year, after serving 36 years on the juvenile court bench, Judge Gray became the first Louisiana recipient to earn the prestigious ABA Mark Hardin Award for Child Welfare Legal Scholarship and Systems Change. Upon bestowing the award, Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin expressed, &ldquo;&hellip;retired Judge Ernestine S. Gray has devoted her judicial career to serving children, youth and families. Through her intellectual courage, Judge Gray has pushed all members of our children&rsquo;s law community to think deeper and harder about the legal work we do in Louisiana and the citizens we serve.&rdquo; In 2020, Judge Gray was honored with the Charles R. English Award for a lifetime of service from the ABA Criminal Justice Section. A past president of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, National Court Appointed Special Advocates, and the local YMCA, YWCA, and Volunteers of America, Judge Gray developed innovative programs and is a recognized leader in the legal community.</p><p>Judge Gray received her bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Spelman College in 1970 and her juris doctor degree from the Louisiana State University School of Law in 1976. She was employed by the Baton Rouge Legal Aid Society, the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana, and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a trial attorney. She was elected to the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court bench in 1984 to fill an unexpired term. She was reelected in 1986, 1994, 2002, 2010, and again in 2018. She served until her retirement in 2020. She and her husband, James Austin Gray II, an attorney, are the proud parents of two children, former State Senator Cheryl Gray Evans, an attorney; and James Austin Gray III, a chemical engineer and attorney. They are also grandparents to four grandchildren.</p><p><strong>For more information visit lasc.org or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-21_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-22_Retired_Judge_Ernestine_Gray.jpg" alt="Retired Orleans Juvenile Court Judge Ernestine Gray American Bar Association Judicial Division Chair" /><br /><span class="caption">Retired Orleans Juvenile Court Judge Ernestine Gray American Bar Association Judicial Division Chair</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 16, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>Louisiana Judges are Honored by the American Judges Association</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; 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.</p><p>AJA is the largest independent, judge-only, member-driven organization in North America. Members include present and former judges of courts of all jurisdictions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands.</p><p>Judge Edwin Lombard was honored with the AJA Chief Justice Richard W. Holmes Award of Merit for his years of dedicated service and outstanding contributions to the judiciary. He was instrumental in writing laws and procedures for the Dayton Peace Accord (Bosnia), Indonesia&rsquo;s presidential election, and South African local elections. He has served as a lecturer at the University of Canto Domingo on the establishment of a criminal court record-keeping system. In addition, Judge Lombard was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to supervise the recovery, remediation, and restoration of criminal evidence at Orleans Criminal District Court after Hurricane Katrina.</p><p>Orleans Civil District Court Judge Kern A. Reese, who has taught pre-law and law students at Tulane Law School, Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law, and Dillard University, has positively influenced future generations of lawyers and judges. Judge Reese recently led the Dillard University Mock Trial Team, which advanced to compete in the American Mock Trial Association&rsquo;s National Championship Tournament, a first in the school&rsquo;s history. Judge Reese received the AJA Judge Elliot Zide Award, which is given to an AJA member in recognition of significant contributions to judicial education.</p><p>Shreveport City Court Judge Sheva M. Sims, who serves the AJA as an executive committee member, was honored by AJA President Yvette Mansfield Alexander with the President&rsquo;s Award for outstanding service. Through her involvement in leadership roles in several national and local organizations, Judge Sims has cultivated a wealth of organizational prowess which she brings to every project.</p><p>AJA President Baton Rouge City Court Judge Yvette Mansfield Alexander was elected as president for an unprecedented second term. Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin will continue to serve on the Board of Governors, and Shreveport City Court Judge Sheva Sims will continue serving as an executive committee member.</p><p><strong>For more information visit lasc.org or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-21_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-21_AJA_Honorees.jpg" alt="American Judges Association President, Baton Rouge City Court Judge Yvette Mansfield Alexander with AJA 2022 Confrence Award Honorees (L-R) Orleans Civil District Court Judge Kern A. Reese, Judge Alexander, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Edwin Lombard, and Shreveport City Court Judge Sheva M. Sims." /><br /><span class="caption">American Judges Association President, Baton Rouge City Court Judge Yvette Mansfield Alexander with AJA 2022 Confrence Award Honorees (L-R) Orleans Civil District Court Judge Kern A. Reese, Judge Alexander, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Edwin Lombard, and Shreveport City Court Judge Sheva M. Sims.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 15, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CELEBRATES CONSTITUTION DAY 2022</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; Constitution Day 2022 is Saturday, September 17. On <strong>Friday, September 16, 2022</strong>, 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. </p><p>On behalf of Associate Justices Jefferson D. Hughes III, Scott J. Crichton, James T. Genovese, William J. Crain, Jay B. McCallum and Piper D. Griffin, Chief Justice John L. Weimer commented, &ldquo;In courts throughout the nation, we give daily reverence to the U.S. Constitution as the blueprint for the rule of law. It is the foundation on which government was built and on which it is sustained. Every year in September throughout the United States, a day is set aside to acknowledge its importance and moreover on this, its 235th Anniversary, the Louisiana judiciary celebrates unwavering adherence to this document in application of justice. Throughout Louisiana, state judges will commemorate Constitution Day by inviting students into their courtrooms, or by visiting local schools to meet with students, and will be discussing the importance of our United States Constitution.&rdquo; Constitution Day is a federal observance of September 17, 1787, when 39 Founding Fathers signed and adopted the U.S. Constitution, which recognizes the rights of all citizens whether by birth or naturalization. </p><p>The courthouse is located at <strong>400 Royal Street in the French Quarter</strong> and is open to visitors between <strong>8:30 a.m. &ndash; 4:30 p.m., Monday &ndash; Friday</strong>. No food, drink or cameras are permitted in the building, however cell phones are permitted. </p><p><strong>For more information&nbsp;visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 12, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>NEW ORLEANS FIRST CITY COURT SENIOR JUDGE VERONICA HENRY INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN EVICTION REFORM SUMMIT BY THE WHITE HOUSE </strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans First City Court Senior Judge Veronica Henry</strong> was among a select group of individuals invited by the White House to give a presentation during a summit titled, &ldquo;Building on Emergency Rental Assistance to Ensure Long-Term Eviction Reform&rdquo; on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Senior Judge Henry spoke specifically about First City Court&rsquo;s Eviction Diversion Program.</p><p>This virtual event focused &ldquo;on the need to build on the American Rescue Plan&rsquo;s Emergency Rental Assistance Program to ensure long-term eviction reform, including highlighting model innovations across the country.&rdquo; Senior Judge Henry&rsquo;s presentation was part of the panel on <em>Visionary Court-Led Eviction System Reform</em>, and included Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice; Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, Michigan Supreme Court; Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon, New Mexico Supreme Court; and Senior Judge Veronica Henry, First City Court of New Orleans.</p><p>&ldquo;I am extremely honored to have received an invitation from the White House to detail the tremendous success of eviction diversion in New Orleans City Courts,&rdquo; said Senior Judge Henry. &ldquo;The passage of the White House American Rescue Plan gave municipalities the much needed funding to build an infrastructure to handle the swell of tenants and landlords in need of help as a result of the global pandemic. To date, Treasury dollars in New Orleans have helped over 17,000 tenants and landlords with 5,000 more anticipated to be served.</p><p>&ldquo;During the pandemic, the Judges of New Orleans First and Second City Courts determined that we needed to incorporate eviction diversion in order to cement Court-based reform in the way evictions were handled. The Eviction Diversion Program of First and Second City Courts incorporates legal assistance at every eviction hearing, on-site emergency rental assistance representatives from the City of New Orleans at every eviction hearing, an Evictions Help Desk, and other supportive services &mdash; all to prevent eviction and maintain housing stability.</p><p>&ldquo;In May 2022, the City of New Orleans built on the City Courts&rsquo; Eviction Diversion Program by approving a Right to Counsel Ordinance for tenants facing eviction in 2022. Two million dollars in Treasury funding was utilized to implement the Right to Counsel Program at First and Second City Court - a first in the state of Louisiana, yet there is still more work to be done to fully ensure equitable and meaningful access to justice in eviction cases.&rdquo;</p><p>In October 2021, New Orleans First and Second City Courts received the 2021 Legal Services Innovation Award from the Louisiana State Bar Association&rsquo;s Access To Justice Committee for its Eviction Diversion initiatives. </p><p>Further information on the White House Summit is available through <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/" target="_blank">www.whitehouse.gov</a>, or through <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/02/fact-sheet-white-house-summit-on-building-lasting-eviction-prevention-reform/" target="_blank">the fact sheet issued on the event</a>. </p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-19_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-19_Judge_Veronica_Henry.jpg" alt="Judge Veronica Henry" /><br /><span class="caption">Judge Veronica Henry</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 8, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;">Public Statement</p><p><strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Judicial College issued the following statement upon the death of LSU Law Professor Frank L. Maraist:</strong></p><p>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. Professor Maraist was an icon and truly beloved by all he taught which included scores and generations of Louisiana lawyers and judges. He was and will remain a giant in the law of Louisiana through his countless contributions in the Treatises and law review articles he wrote. His newsletter was a &ldquo;must read&rdquo; to keep up with statutory and jurisprudential changes. Professor Marist had the rare ability to address legal issues scholarly and practically but always with wit and charm and with good humor. He was a magnificent teacher who was beloved by his students.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer commented, &ldquo;As a former student of his, when I became an attorney, I called upon Professor Maraist&rsquo;s expertise and experience. When I became a teacher, I tried to emulate him. When I became a judge, he continued to encourage and promote my career. I am proud to say he became not only a mentor but a very dear friend.&rdquo;</p><p>Justice Scott J. Crichton, who serves as chair of the Louisiana Judicial College Board of Governors added, &ldquo;Professor Maraist, a pioneer in judicial education as an early leader of the Louisiana Judicial College and an exceptional Professor of Law at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, led an exemplary life of scholarship, service and grace. Those who knew him and learned from him - lawyers, judges, and students alike &ndash; are grateful for his enormous contributions and tireless commitment to the legal community in Louisiana. He will be dearly missed.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>For more information&nbsp;visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 8, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES AMENDMENT TO<br />RULE ON APPLICATIONS SEEKING PRIORITY REVIEW</p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; The Louisiana Supreme Court today 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&rsquo;s disposition and in no event more than ten days after the mailing of notice of judgment by the court of appeal. <a href="/rules/orders/2022/RULE_X_%C2%A75(a).pdf" target="_blank">The Order, signed July 26</a>, 2022, amends Louisiana Supreme Court Rule X, Section 5(a), and is effective September 1, 2022. </p><p>The Order, signed by Chief Justice John Weimer on behalf of the court, provides a time delay for the filing of formal requests for priority review. The Official Comment to Rule X, Section 5(a) notes &ldquo;[a]pplications requesting expedited review place a considerable burden on the resources of the court and its staff. The court&rsquo;s ability to address such applications in an orderly fashion can be significantly impaired when applicants elect to wait to until the last day of the thirty-day period following the court of appeal&rsquo;s disposition to request expedited attention in this court. Although this rule does not change the general thirty-day filing period set forth in La. Code Civ. P. art. 2166, it makes it clear that any request for expedited review must be made promptly.&rdquo; The amendment to Rule X, Section 5(a) provides an application seeking expedited review &ldquo;shall be filed as soon as possible after the court of appeal&rsquo;s disposition and in no event more than ten days after the mailing of notice of judgment by the court of appeal.&rdquo; In the event an application seeking priority review is not filed within the ten-day period and absent a showing of good cause for the delay, the court retains the discretion to summarily deny the request for priority review and/or impose other sanctions pursuant to La. Code Civ. P. art. 2164. </p><p><strong>For more information&nbsp;visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 20, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;">Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Participate in LSBA Pro Bono <br />Ceremony and Encourage Judges&rsquo; Assistance in &ldquo;20 Hours in 2022&rdquo; Initiative </p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; Recipients of the 2022 <a href="https://www.lsba.org/ProBono/ProBonoAwards.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1hYkW3v6zfKzzY73qL4PnsyuxsvuVkCET4VSIBH7Io_-L1NFr_tde5qlY" target="_blank">Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) Pro Bono Publico and Children's Law Awards</a> 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. </p><p>This is the 37th year the LSBA has held the Annual Pro Bono Publico &amp; Children&rsquo;s Law Awards Ceremony, which returned to an in-person ceremony at the Supreme Court after two years of virtual celebration honoring recipients. Their offering of legal services to those who otherwise may not have such access is a valued commodity. With challenges resulting from the pandemic and weather events experienced throughout the state of Louisiana and nationally, many of our citizens are unable to afford legal assistance. Pro bono work is impactful in serving these citizens and gives them equal attainable access to justice. A list of 2022 pro bono award recipients is available on the <a href="https://www.lsba.org/probono/default.aspx" target="_blank">pro bono section</a> of the LSBA website. </p><p>As a further demonstration of their support for pro bono services, the seven Justices recently sent a letter to all Louisiana attorneys, encouraging their participation in the LSBA<em> &ldquo;20 hours in 2022&rdquo; pro bono initiative, which encourages attorneys to provide 20 hours of pro bono legal services in 2022. The Justices also sent a letter to all Louisiana judges, which included a quote by United States Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell, Jr., who once said, &ldquo;Equal justice under the law is not merely a caption on the fa&ccedil;ade of the Supreme Court building. It is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society&hellip;it is fundamental that justice should be the same, in substance and availability, without regard to economic status.&rdquo;</em> The letter further explains that <em>&ldquo;judges can set a tone within the legal profession that pro bono is a central part of fulfilling the promise of justice for all.&rdquo;</em> According to the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct, attorneys are encouraged to provide 50 hours of pro bono legal service annually. In a recent ABA survey, &ldquo;judge solicitation&rdquo; was one of the most &ldquo;encouraging factors&rdquo; for attorney volunteerism. The Justices suggested that judges use their unique positions to promote the &ldquo;20 hours in 2022&rdquo; pro bono initiative to attorneys and to participate in events that honor attorneys offering pro bono work. </p><p>If ten percent of Louisiana attorneys provided 20 hours of pro bono service, the result would be over 40,000 hours of pro bono legal work provided for our needy citizens. This would have a significant impact on the lives of many people who cannot afford civil legal representation. </p><p>&ldquo;The attorneys of our state who perform pro bono service truly render a service to all of society, by championing the rule of law and by providing access to justice,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;The Justices and I applaud them for their efforts and thank them profusely for volunteering to serve those who cannot afford an attorney but cannot afford to be without an attorney.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>For more information&nbsp;visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> orcontact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-16_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-16_LSBA_Pro_Bono_Publico_Childrens_Law_Awards.jpg" alt="(l-r) Justices Jay B. McCallum, James T. Genovese, Jefferson D. Hughes III, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justices Scott J. Crichton, William J. Crain, and Piper D. Griffin with 37th Annual Pro Bono Publico & Children's Law Award Recipients" /><br /><span class="caption">(l-r) Justices Jay B. McCallum, James T. Genovese, Jefferson D. Hughes III, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justices Scott J. Crichton, William J. Crain, and Piper D. Griffin with 37th Annual Pro Bono Publico &amp; Children's Law Award Recipients</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>June 24, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SCOTT J. CRICHTON RECOGNIZED WITH THE JUDGE BENJAMIN JONES JUDGES IN THE CLASSROOM AWARD</strong></p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; 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. </p><p>Justice Crichton expressed, &ldquo;I am pleased to accept the Judge Benjamin Jones Judges in the Classroom Award. It has been my firm belief for many years that as judges, we should educate young people about basic concepts of criminal law and the real-life consequences of violating the law. In other words, we expect our children to obey the rule of law but we do not adequately teach them what those rules are. Simply saying &rsquo;don&rsquo;t break the law&rsquo; is not enough. I believe that knowledge is critical, and I encourage my judicial colleagues to educate our children with knowledge of basic legal concepts to enable them to intelligently exercise the power of choice.&rdquo; </p><p>The award, named for retired 4th Judicial District Court Judge Benjamin Jones, honors a member of the judiciary who has contributed greatly to the law-related education of Louisiana youth. Judge Jones served the judiciary for 22 years, created the Judges in the Classroom program, and is a facilitator of judges visiting schools to impart civic education and to encourage students. Judge Jones, who is still active in the program, currently serves as the 4th Judicial District Court Judicial Administrator. </p><p>Through his involvement in civic instruction of students and ethical education of adults throughout Louisiana, Justice Crichton personifies the spirit of the Judge Benjamin Jones Award. He is a member of the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom Task Force. The Task Force expands Judge Jones&rsquo; vision for judges to connect with local schools to instruct on law and the judiciary by incorporating Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer&rsquo;s newly added strategy to build statewide pedagogical partnerships.</p><p>Justice Crichton, as a district judge, proactively developed a program that teaches young people about the consequences of certain behavior in an effort to deter them from seeing him in his professional capacity as a judge. During his time on the district bench, some 20,000 students benefitted from his teachings, which often included parents. He has re-instituted his programs as a Justice and teaches students and their parents in standing-room-only auditoriums and gyms. </p><p>In addition to teaching as an adjunct faculty member at Tulane Law School and as faculty at the LSU Law Center Trial Advocacy Program, Justice Crichton works inside and outside of his district, visiting students to expound on the rule of law. Inspired by an experience as a district court judge when a juvenile litigant whose lack of knowledge of the law and consequences resulted in a negative penalty, Justice Crichton decided to make a difference by devising a way to inform young people about the law. He created <a href="/Education?p=Judges_in_the_Classroom"><strong>The Crime Consequences and the Power of Choice program</strong></a>, which is a PowerPoint presentation he uses to teach about the law and the consequences of bad choices. Justice Crichton has shared the program with other judges via the Louisiana Supreme Court website and various Continuing Legal Education seminars to use as they visit schools or host students in their courtrooms. The presentation helps viewers by defining the justice system in an easily comprehensible manner. </p><p>Before his election to the Supreme Court, Justice Crichton served 24 years as a judge with the First Judicial District Court (Shreveport/Caddo Parish), presiding in both the civil and criminal divisions. See more on Justice Scott J. Crichton&rsquo;s Bio <a href="/About/Biography?p=Scott_J._Crichton"><em>here</em></a>.</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-15_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-15_CrichtonAward.jpg" alt="24th JDC Judge Shayna Beevers Morvant, Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education President, presented the Judge Benjamin Jones Judges in the Classroom Award to Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton." /><br /><span class="caption">24th JDC Judge Shayna Beevers Morvant, Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education President, presented the Judge Benjamin Jones Judges in the Classroom Award to Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>June 1, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES NEW OPERATING HOURS FOR COURTHOUSE AND CLERK OF COURT&rsquo;S OFFICE</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>Today, the Louisiana Supreme Court announced new operating hours for the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse and the Clerk of Court&rsquo;s office.</p><p>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&rsquo;s Office will be open to the public 8:30 am &ndash; 4:30 pm. These updated courthouse hours are a change from the previous operating hours of 9:00 am &ndash; 5:00 pm.</p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s e-filing system, which launched in August 2012, remains accessible and available for filing 24 hours a day. For information on e-filing, see <a href="https://www.lasc.org/ClerksOffice">https://www.lasc.org/ClerksOffice</a>.</p><p>The hours of operation of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, which are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, remain unchanged.</p><p><strong>For more information&nbsp;</strong><strong>visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or</strong><strong> contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 31, 2022</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOINS JUDGES OF THE <br />40th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT AND 5TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL <br />FOR LAW DAY 2022 PROGRAM</strong> </p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; 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.</p><p>With a courtroom filled to capacity, students were engaged in a discussion about the Constitution with Chief Justice Weimer, 40th Judicial District Court Chief Judge Nghana Lewis, and 40th JDC Judges Vercell F. Fiffie and J. Sterling Snowdy. Retired 40th JDC Chief Judge Madeline Jasmine as well as 5th Circuit Court of Appeal Judges Jude G. Gravois and Marc E. Johnson also participated in the Law Day panel. A special thank you was extended to the St. John the Baptist School District teachers, parents, and students and St. John the Baptist Sheriff Michael Tregre for their support of the event. </p><p>The event, which was organized and sponsored by the Judges of the 40th JDC, has been a Law Day fixture for many years.</p><p>Law Day was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to strengthen our heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under the law. In 1961, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day. Every president since then has issued a Law Day proclamation on May 1 to celebrate the nation&rsquo;s commitment to the rule of law. The Louisiana Supreme Court issued a resolution dated April 28, 2022 encouraging Louisiana judges to participate in Law Day activities.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong></strong><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-13_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages/2022-13_40thJDCLawDay1.jpg" alt="40th JDC Chief Judge Nghana Lewis (l), retired 40th JDC Chief Judge Madeline Jasmine (seated rear) along with 40th JDC Judge Sterling Snowdy (r) hosted a Law Day 2022 event for the St. John the Baptist Parish School students." /><br /><span class="caption">40th JDC Chief Judge Nghana Lewis (l), retired 40th JDC Chief Judge Madeline Jasmine (seated rear) along with 40th JDC Judge Sterling Snowdy (r) hosted a Law Day 2022 event for the St. John the Baptist Parish School students.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages/2022-13_40thJDCLawDay2.jpg" alt="Louisiana Surpeme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer discusses the U.S. Constitution with students from St. John the Baptist Parish School District during a 40th JDC Law Day event." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Surpeme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer discusses the U.S. Constitution with students from St. John the Baptist Parish School District during a 40th JDC Law Day event.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages/2022-13_40thJDCLawDay3.jpg" alt="5th Circuit Court of Appeal Judges Jude G. Gravois and Mark E. Johnson participated in Law Day 2022 event at the 40th JDC for St. John the Baptist Parish School students." /><br /><span class="caption">5th Circuit Court of Appeal Judges Jude G. Gravois and Mark E. Johnson participated in Law Day 2022 event at the 40th JDC for St. John the Baptist Parish School students.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages/2022-13_40thJDCLawDay4.jpg" alt="40th JDC Judges invited students from St. John the Baptist Parish School District to a Law Day 2022 event at the courthouse." /><br /><span class="caption">40th JDC Judges invited students from St. John the Baptist Parish School District to a Law Day 2022 event at the courthouse.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 19, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LAW LIBRARY OF LOUISIANA STAFF MEMBERS ARE RECENTLY ELECTED AS KEY OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES</strong></p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; 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.</p><p>AALL is the premier national association for law librarians, whose members are legal information experts. It is the only national association that keeps law librarians and other legal information professionals informed of industry advancements. Ms. Childs, who has been an active member of the AALL since 2003, will serve as treasurer for a term that will commence July 2022 and will end July 2025.</p><p>Ms. Childs received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Louisiana State University in 1992 and her Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) from Louisiana State University in 1993. She has worked as a serials librarian at the University of New Orleans, reference and collection management librarian at Jefferson Parish Public Library, and assistant librarian at Exxon Chemical Baton Rouge. With a strong foundation in technical services, Ms. Childs began at the Law Library of Louisiana in 2003 as an assistant librarian responsible for serials and acquisitions. In 2006 she was promoted to head of technical services, and then to associate director in 2013. In May 2016, she was named director of the Law Library of Louisiana. During her tenure at the Law Library, Ms. Childs has been responsible for or provided support to all areas of library operations, including staff management and training; cataloging; database maintenance; outreach; reference and research services; government documents; and preservation.</p><p>Ms. Pic received her Bachelor of Arts in Women&rsquo;s Studies and Russian Civilization from Smith College in 2000, her Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law in 2005 and her Master of Library &amp; Information Science (M.L.I.S.) from LSU School of Library and Information Science in 2014. She worked as an assistant at Equal Justice Works from 2000-2002 before working from 2005-2007 as a Parmet Fellow/staff attorney at Health Law Advocates. She additionally worked as an AmeriCorps attorney at The Pro Bono Project in 2007. From 2008-2010 she worked as an attorney at Mental Health Advocacy Service and worked as a legal director with Health Law Advocates of Louisiana from 2010-2012. She was a fellow at LSU Law Library from 2013-2014 when she joined the staff at the Law Library of Louisiana.</p><p><strong></strong><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-12_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages/2022-12_Miriam_Childs.jpg" alt="Miriam D. Childs<br />Director, Law Library of Louisiana" /><br /><span class="caption">Miriam D. Childs<br />Director, Law Library of Louisiana</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages/2022-12_Sara_V_Pic.jpg" alt="Sara V Pic, Law Library of Louisiana" /><br /><span class="caption">Sara V. Pic<br />Law Library of Louisiana</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 10, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Holds Official Investiture Ceremony For Clerk of Court Veronica Odinet Koclanes</strong></p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; 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.</p><p>Koclanes earned her bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Louisiana State University in 1985, and her juris doctor degree from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1991. She joined the law firm of Milling, Benson, Woodward, and Hillyer and worked as an associate attorney from 1992 to 1995. She served as a Law Clerk/Research Attorney for five Louisiana Supreme Court justices as well as a Research Attorney for the Civil Staff division of the Supreme Court. Additionally, she served as a Law Clerk for three judges on the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal and as a Legislative Clerk in the Office of the Senate President for the Louisiana Legislature. Koclanes is admitted to practice in Louisiana and in the Eastern District, United States District Court. She is a member of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks, Louisiana Clerk of Courts Association, Louisiana Bar Foundation, Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society, American Bar Association, and Louisiana State Bar Association. Koclanes is married to Dr. George Koclanes and they are the parents of two adult children. She is one of 13 children of Kenneth Louis and Rosemary Popich Odinet.</p><p>&ldquo;I am honored to serve as Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court and I appreciate the confidence entrusted in me by the Justices and this court,&rdquo; said Koclanes. &ldquo;I am also grateful to my husband and children who inspire me daily; my parents, who instilled in me the fortitude to set and reach goals; and my close family, who consistently supports my efforts. I look forward to years of continued service to the Supreme Court and to the people of our great state.&rdquo;</p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer stated, &ldquo;The Justices and I congratulate Veronica and look forward to our continued working relationship. She is not unfamiliar to us; before this appointment she worked as a well-respected attorney at the Supreme Court for 23 years. Her diligence, professionalism, and expertise in matters of the Court heralded her advancement to the office of Clerk of Court. Due to her tenure at the Court and keen understanding of judicial processes, she has made a seamless transition to competently and adeptly serving our citizens as the Clerk of Court of the Louisiana Supreme Court.&rdquo;</p><p>Koclanes succeeded retired Clerk of Court John Tarlton Olivier, the longest-serving Clerk of Court in Louisiana&rsquo;s history. Olivier retired in 2021. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-11_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2022%2Fimages%2F2022-11_Koclanes_Investiture.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court Veronica Odinet Koclanes' Investiture Ceremony (l-r) Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Veronica O. Koclanes, Dr. George Koclanes, Isabella Koclanes, and Helena Koclanes." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court Veronica Odinet Koclanes' Investiture Ceremony (l-r) Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Veronica O. Koclanes, Dr. George Koclanes, Isabella Koclanes, and Helena Koclanes.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>April 28, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES LAW DAY 2022 RESOLUTION</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court has <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/2022-10-LawDayResolution.pdf" target="_blank">issued a Resolution</a> commemorating Law Day 2022, in recognition of the 64th annual celebration of Law Day. The Resolution reads in part &ldquo;all judges have a unique ability to educate young people about our legal system and respect for the law.&rdquo; 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.</p><p>During the month of May, the Louisiana Supreme Court will host several Law Day activities, including tours of the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse, and visits to the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum and the Law Library of Louisiana. Additionally, the Law Library of Louisiana will have a Law Day exhibit on display, which will be available to the public throughout the month of May at the Courthouse.</p><p>Chief Justice John L. Weimer, the Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court, and a host of state court judges have been heavily involved in the ongoing initiative, &ldquo;Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom.&rdquo; Chief Justice Weimer considers Law Day a chance to expand this initiative and increase students&rsquo; exposure to civics. &ldquo;We are pleased with the involvement we have seen from judges visiting schools throughout the state to share civics instruction,&rdquo; expressed Chief Justice Weimer. &ldquo;Law Day provides for us another welcomed chance to invite students to our courtrooms to observe real-life cases, take part in mock trials, or to simply converse about the day in the life of a judge; an opportunity most would only witness on television. I encourage all state judges to embrace the opportunity offered by Law Day to reach out to your local students&rdquo;</p><p>Law Day was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to strengthen our heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under the law. In 1961, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day. Every president since then has issued a Law Day proclamation on May 1 to celebrate the nation&rsquo;s commitment to the rule of law.</p><p><em><strong>Teachers or principals interested in coordinating a Law Day presentation with a local judge or a Louisiana Supreme Court tour are asked to please contact the Louisiana Supreme Court Community Relations Department at 504.310.2588 or email at <a href="mailto:webmaster@lasc.org">webmaster@lasc.org</a>.</strong></em></p><p><strong>For more information&nbsp;</strong><strong>visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or</strong><strong> contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>April 27, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT APPOINTS ATTORNEY DONALD W. WEIR, JR.&nbsp;AS JUDGE PRO TEMPORE OF FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT</strong></p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; The Louisiana Supreme Court has unanimously appointed Shreveport attorney/mediator Donald W. Weir, Jr., as Judge <em>pro tempore</em> 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 <em>pro tempore</em> is for the period of May 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, or until the vacancy is filled, whichever occurs sooner. This <em>pro tempore</em> assignment will be to the family division on the First JDC.</p><p>Weir attended public schools in Shreveport. He then graduated from Washington &amp; Lee University (1972) and LSU Law School (1975), both with honors. He has practiced law in Shreveport since 1975 and has also served as a mediator since 1998. From 2016-2020, Weir volunteered to represent minors in child protection cases at the Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, and in 2017 received the Shreveport Bar Association&rsquo;s Professionalism Award.</p><p>Weir has previously served by appointment as both Judge <em>ad hoc</em> and Judge <em>pro tempore</em> on Shreveport City Court.</p><p>Upon completion of his appointment, Weir will return to his private legal and mediation practice.</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-03_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2020%2Fimages%2FWeir_Don.jpg" alt="Don Weir" /><br /><span class="caption">Don Weir</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>April 21, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>RETIRED ORLEANS PARISH JUVENILE COURT JUDGE ERNESTINE S. GRAY <br />THE FIRST LOUISIANA RECIPIENT HONORED WITH THE ABA MARK HARDIN AWARD</strong></p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; Prior to recent oral arguments held at the Louisiana Supreme Court, retired Orleans Parish Juvenile Court <strong>Judge Ernestine S. Gray</strong> was presented the prestigious American Bar Association&rsquo;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.</p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer stated, &ldquo;Judge Gray&rsquo;s career, which includes 36 years on the Orleans Juvenile Court bench, has been dedicated to the improvement and welfare of the lives of children in Louisiana and this honor is fitting. Though retired, she serves as the Louisiana Court Improvement Program Judicial Fellow, where she provides technical assistance to state judges in matters concerning child welfare litigation. She additionally assists the Louisiana Supreme Court with its Court Improvement Strategic Plan and continues to be committed to bettering children&rsquo;s lives throughout the state.&rdquo; </p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin, who presented the award, expressed, &ldquo;On behalf of the American Bar Association I am honored today to present the Mark Hardin Award for Child Welfare Legal Scholarship and Systems Change for 2022 to the honorable retired Judge Ernestine S. Gray, who has devoted her judicial career to serving children, youth and families. Through her intellectual courage, Judge Gray has pushed all members of our children&rsquo;s law community to think deeper and harder about the legal work we do in Louisiana and the citizens we serve.&rdquo;</p><p>Judge Gray has served as the Chair of the ABA Commission on Youth at Risk for the last three years and has been an active member of the Commission and the ABA for decades. She has been involved in national and local legal and judicial organizations where she has worked to develop legal strategies to uphold the integrity of families in Louisiana and nationally. She has received national attention from legal scholars on the effectiveness of her courtroom procedure and application of the Children&rsquo;s Code Law, assisted in the drafting of child welfare policies for the Department of Children and Family Services, and has served as a mentor and trainer to Louisiana judges and lawyers on understanding aspects of laws pertaining to juvenile justice.&nbsp; </p><p>Judge Gray expressed, &ldquo;In many instances, the issues that plague children's welfare are based on poverty and not borne of neglect.&nbsp; Poverty and neglect are not the same thing.&nbsp; Our challenge is to implement laws, policies, procedures and services and supports that take these issues into consideration and lead to the best outcomes for children and families - where families are supported and children are nurtured.&nbsp; As a state, we are better when both families and children thrive. I am honored to receive this award in recognition of the attributes of Mark Hardin that I tried to emulate: a willingness to serve and a deep driving compassion for children and families.&rdquo;</p><p>ABA Center on Children and the Law, Director Legal Representation Mimi Laver commented, &ldquo;Judge Gray has devoted her entire career to serving children, youth and families and she has fundamentally reshaped the children&rsquo;s law field within her own courtroom and well-beyond. She brings qualities of excellence and integrity to everything she does, and she has had the &ldquo;intellectual courage&rdquo; to push all members of our children&rsquo;s law community to think deeper and harder about the work we do and the individuals we serve.&rdquo;</p><p>Born in Denmark, South Carolina in 1946, retired Judge Ernestine S. Gray received her early education in the public schools of Orangeburg, South Carolina. She received her bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Political Science from Spelman College in 1970 and her juris doctor degree from the Louisiana State University School of Law in 1976. She was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar Association that same year. She was employed by the Baton Rouge Legal Aid Society, the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana, and by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a trial attorney. She was elected to the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court bench in 1984 to fill an unexpired term. She was reelected in 1986, 1994, 2002, 2010, and again in 2018 where she served until her retirement in 2020. She and her husband, James Austin Gray II, an attorney, are the proud parents of two children, former State Senator Cheryl Gray Evans, an attorney; and James Austin Gray III, a chemical engineer and attorney, and grandparents to four grandchildren.</p><p>The American Bar Association (ABA) Mark Hardin Award for Child Welfare Legal Scholarship and Systems Change honors the work of ABA Center on Children and the Law Director of Child Welfare Mark Hardin.&nbsp; In 2011 with the approval from the ABA Board of Governors, the ABA Center on Children and the Law created and presented Mark Hardin with the award in honor of his 30 years of child welfare legal work. Since 2011, only eight other recipients from around the country have received the award after Mark Hardin.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-08_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-08_Judge_Ernestine_Gray01.jpg" alt="Retired Orleans Juvenile Court Judge Ernestine Gray makes remarks to Louisiana Supreme Court Justices after receiving the Mark Hardin Award from the American Bar Association prior to oral arguments." /><br /><span class="caption">Retired Orleans Juvenile Court Judge Ernestine Gray makes remarks to Louisiana Supreme Court Justices after receiving the Mark Hardin Award from the American Bar Association prior to oral arguments.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-08_Judge_Ernestine_Gray02.jpg" alt="Retired Orleans Juvenile Court Judge Ernestine Gray, recipient of the Mark Hardin Award from the American Bar Association" /><br /><span class="caption">Retired Orleans Juvenile Court Judge Ernestine Gray, recipient of the Mark Hardin Award from the American Bar Association</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 15, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>2022 STATE OF THE JUDICIARY ADDRESS TO THE JOINT SESSION OF THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE </strong><br /><strong>BY CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN L. WEIMER SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA </strong><br /><strong>TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022, 3:00 P.M.&nbsp;</strong><br /><strong>HOUSE CHAMBER</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><em>On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, Chief Justice John L. Weimer delivered the State of the Judiciary Address. His remarks included the following. -&nbsp;<a href="/Press_Release?p=2022_State_of_the_Judiciary_Address_Video">Watch the Video</a></em><em></em></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><em></em>President Cortez and Speaker Schexnayder, President pro tem Mizell, Speaker pro tem Magee, ladies and gentlemen of the Louisiana Legislature, and also the staff of the Legislature,</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I consider it an honor and am grateful to be provided an opportunity to address the Legislature on behalf of a group of fellow public servants, the judges and staff of the judiciary, who share the same concern as do the public servants and their employees who serve in this branch of government&ndash;our common concern is how to work together to best serve the citizens of our state. This is the first time a chief justice appears before the Legislature since 2018, due to scheduling and COVID issues.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Roughly 45 years ago, I sat in the back of this chamber, in this very corner. Needless to say, Representative Francis Thompson was here and I got to know him. I had the invaluable learning experience all those years ago to serve as a legislative assistant to a Senator&ndash;Harvey Peltier, Jr, and a Representative&ndash;Billy Tauzin, who went on to serve in Congress. Both served in the Legislature in the 1970&rsquo;s, apparently before many of you were born, except for my friend, Representative Thompson.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">My colleagues on the Supreme Court and I know very well the sacrifices each of you, and your families, make for you to serve. We thank you for that service. While sitting in the back of this chamber all those years ago, I allowed myself just a moment to contemplate the possibility of one day addressing legislative colleagues from this very podium. Like most legislative assistants, I guess I contemplated the possibility of serving in the Legislature. I have continued to work for the State of Louisiana in various judicial capacities, and last year became the 26th Chief Justice. Like you, it wasn&rsquo;t the financial rewards, but the opportunity to serve that attracted me to public service. I learned how gratifying it is to be of service to others, Mr. Speaker, growing up working in my father&rsquo;s service station.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I am joined today by my colleagues on the Supreme Court. By custom, we do things by seniority, but custom must yield to old fashion good manners and etiquette. Our newest colleague is Justice Piper Griffin of New Orleans. Justice Jay McCallum of Farmerville, is a former legislator; Justice Will Crain of Bogalusa and Madisonville, worked as a legislative aide to Senator Sixty Rayburn. All three of these Justices are relatively new to the Supreme Court, but are experienced jurists. Also here today are: Justice Jimmy Genovese of St. Landry Parish and the greater Opelousas metro area; Justice Scott Crichton of Shreveport and Webster Parish; and Justice Jeff Hughes of Walker and Denham springs. All of the Justices came up through the ranks of what I refer to as judicial first responders, having served as trial judges addressing citizens&rsquo; legal issues face to face and person to person. I am proud of my colleagues, individually and collectively, and together we work hard resolving the many cases before us as a group. The most important case we decide is the case immediately before the court. We are also joined by a new Clerk of Court, daughter of former Representative Ken Odinet, Veronica Odinet Koclanes, who was once a staff member for the Legislature.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Acknowledging the potential risk of being too basic, the judiciary, of course, is a separate and coequal branch of government, which performs core constitutional functions essential to our system of democracy and our constitutional system of checks and balances. The judiciary provides a forum for citizens to resolve disagreements, for adjudicating criminal cases, for ensuring constitutional rights are protected, and for addressing issues involving rights related to life, liberty, and property. In the course of a day on the bench, a judge may be called upon to resolve family matters involving the most fundamental and important relationships in society, or to determine how long someone must be incarcerated, or to determine the remedy when someone is involved in a tragic accident, or to determine an esoteric constitution matter, or to resolve a complicated tax question. On average, over the last five years, more than 1.2 million filings occurred annually in Louisiana courts. That means, if today is an average day, there will be 3,287 filings, which is over twice the number of bills filed here. Pre-COVID studies nationally indicate that approximately one percent of a state&rsquo;s population will appear in courts statewide on a weekly basis.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I firmly believe that a judge is a public servant who serves by being dedicated to the principles of justice, fairness, independence, and impartiality while applying the law as written by the Legislature and signed into law by the executive. Based on our civil law heritage, the Louisiana Civil Code teaches that the sources of law are legislation and custom, which cannot abrogate legislation. Legislation is the solemn expression of legislative will. When the law is clear and unambiguous, and its application does not lead to absurd consequences, the law shall be applied as written by the Legislature. Cases involving statutory construction often acknowledge that judges &ldquo;begin, as we must, with the statutory language enacted by the Legislature.&rdquo; This court does not &ldquo;legislate from the bench.&rdquo;</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Daily, and often many times in a day, judges are called upon to separate fact from fiction, truth from untruth. Judges are called upon to address infinitely difficult issues related to those who perceive that they have been wronged or have been wronged, committed a wrong, or are accused of wrongful behavior, and, after listening carefully and patiently, judges attempt to make it right based on the law. My belief is that judges do not declare winners or losers in litigation, but rather, apply the law to the facts to reach a solution. When people are treated as equals and impartiality prevails, society benefits because a disagreement is resolved and where there was conflict, there is now certainty.</p><p>Allow me to speak to finances: the judicial budget is a microcosm of the state budget, meaning the judicial budget has, like the state budget, constitutionally mandated expenditures that cannot be cut; statutorily dedicated funds that must be spent on the dedicated purpose; interagency transfers; and federal grants&ndash;all of which significantly limit the ability of the judiciary&ndash;just like the state--to respond to budgetary challenges in funding core judicial functions.</p><p>For fiscal year 2022, the judicial budget, including the programs I will address momentarily, is slightly less than one-half of one percent of the entire state of Louisiana budget. Last year, the Legislature restored some of the cuts from 5 years ago, but as you know, inflation has risen exponentially.</p><p>The current fiscal year judicial budget is only $4 million above the budget from July 1, 2015, even though the mandated expenses, such as healthcare and LASERS have increased by $6 million, which does not account for general inflation in other areas. If the inflation factor of the Division of Administration were applied to the judicial budget from six years ago, we would get $4 million more than we are currently requesting. So, from my perspective, we are saving the state $4 million.</p><p>As valuable and indispensable as your employees and staff are to you, our employees and staff are as valuable and indispensable to us. We need to recognize that value, particularly due to the inflation figures of the past year.</p><p>In our system of democracy, the institutional legitimacy of the judiciary depends on its independence. The declaration of independence referenced the lack of judicial independence as a grievance against the king. Let&rsquo;s not repeat that history. Granted, independence must be tempered with responsibility, respect, and comity. The Legislature has appropriately asserted its independence. The framers of our federal constitution were clear at the time of the birth of our nation that an independent judiciary was critical to the future of our nation.</p><p>Independence is contingent, in part, on proper funding. For our system of democracy to survive and flourish, the public must believe our courts have the necessary tools to render fair and impartial decisions.</p><p>The Legislature, year before last, provided $7 million of CARES Act funds that were onetime funds spent on onetime expenses related to the coronavirus, as required by federal law. As good stewards of these funds, the judiciary spent a portion of the funds on onetime expenses primarily to improve technology so the judiciary could continue to function to provide access to our system of justice during the continuing pandemic. I will come back to these funds later. I am proud to say that, although courthouses had to shutter due to public health issues, the courts remained open virtually and judges implemented and learned new technology to ensure our system of justice remained available. Jurisdictions innovated and utilized auditoriums, gyms, and even onsite tents to ensure public safety while conducting court proceedings. Throughout the pandemic, judges continued to provide services to our citizens in innovative and creative ways.</p><p>The Supreme Court established a Technology Commission, which has initiated a plan to bring every jurisdiction to a more consistent level of technology across our state, which is especially important to our rural areas. Technology is saving time and costs for litigants, is accommodating those who have legal issues before the courts, and provides access to justice. While we took a first step in making sure that our judges had the hardware that they needed to conduct court proceedings remotely, and to meet technological challenges, however, that was just the beginning and we are currently working on a proposal to seek funding for additional technological enhancements which would ensure that all of judges have the tools they need to run a court in the 21st-century and address cyber-security challenges. We are also working on the legislation known as clean slate and we look forward to our continued discussions with Representative Royce Duplessis on this important legislation.</p><p>The Supreme Court&rsquo;s Technology Commission has been ably chaired by a judge now known, particularly in this chamber, as the spouse of Representative Laurie Schlegel. I am proud to share that her husband, Judge Scott Schlegel, received the prestigious William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from the National Center for State Courts, conferred by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Judge Schlegel received this award, which is one of the highest judicial honors in the country, for his efforts in using and promoting technology in the Louisiana court system, and is the first Louisiana judge so honored.</p><p>Judge Yvette Alexander, who serves on the Baton Rouge City Court, was sworn in as president of the American Judges Association last year. This association is the largest independent organization of judges from all jurisdictions and levels of courts throughout the United States and Canada. Chosen by a vote of her peers, her selection is a reflection of Judge Alexander&rsquo;s dedication to our system of justice and her leadership. Her presidency was to have an economic benefit to Louisiana because judges planned to come from all over the country for a conference, which had to be scaled back due to the pandemic. Judge Alexander is the fifth Louisiana judge to lead this international organization.</p><p>In addition to core functions such as resolving disputes and administering justice, allow me, in summary fashion, to touch on what our citizens and this body receive in return for their investment in the judiciary. I refer to this as an investment because there is an economic and societal return. Please note that Louisiana is in a distinct minority of states in which the Supreme Court operates all of these programs, many of which are operated by agencies of other states such as departments of corrections or departments of children and family services.</p><p>Drug &amp; Specialty Courts include drug treatment courts, Family Preservation Courts, DWI Courts, mental health courts, Veterans Courts, and Re-entry Courts. All of these courts require additional work and training for which the judges do not receive additional pay, but they receive the immense satisfaction of serving others&ndash;much like each of you. These courts teach personal responsibility and accountability and favor rehabilitation over incarceration, reduce recidivism, and save the state money in corrections, mental health, and healthcare, while also saving souls and families.</p><p>I can tell you about statistics for these programs. For example, based on the most recent information, since the inception of drug courts in Louisiana, 923 drug-free babies have been born to drug court participants for an estimated cost savings to the state of $230,750,000. And, drug court participants work significant hours of community service every year, which equates to free labor for the state.</p><p>I can also tell you how most of those who enter drug courts don&rsquo;t have a job and/or education. Almost all who graduate have a job and/or an education.</p><p>We are grateful for the Legislature&rsquo;s investment in the judicial budget, which supports this type of occurrence. If you wish to see remarkable transformations, attend a drug court graduation, or read the testimonial of graduates, such as the following. Said one Veterans Court participant: &ldquo;the benefits of attending Veterans Court are immeasurable. If I had to pick out the greatest things, they would have to be the reinstallation of the core values I had as a member of the armed forces. Values such as integrity, service, and excellence. Veterans Court mandated that I return to a lifestyle that was honorable.&rdquo;</p><p>The Legislature&rsquo;s investment also allows the judiciary to administer the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).</p><ul><li>These advocates are community volunteers who advocate for the most vulnerable people in our state&ndash;children who have been abused or neglected.</li><li>These extraordinary ordinary citizens are specially trained and vetted and are appointed to the case of one child, or sibling group, unlike caseworkers and attorneys who carry heavy caseloads.</li><li>CASA volunteers have provided critical services for children throughout the COVID crisis.</li><li>There are 17 local CASA programs serving 41 of 42 judicial districts in 61 of 64 parishes. In 2021, 1,610 CASA volunteers, your neighbors, friends, and family members served 3,490 children, and they dedicated 53,447 volunteer hours equaling $1,525,383 in savings for the state. More importantly, 1,968 of these children were able to leave foster care to safe, permanent homes, saving the state approximately $2,400 per month, per child, amounting to millions more in savings.</li></ul><p>The court also manages the Families In Need of Services assistance program, or FINS, that serves to effectively address self-destructive behaviors by a child and conduct by other family members which contribute to the child&rsquo;s harm and which warrant court intervention so that appropriate services to remedy the family&rsquo;s dysfunction can be secured. The most common status offenses where children get into what I call a &ldquo;R.U.T.&rdquo;&ndash;they are running away, ungovernable, and truant.</p><p>Domestic violence is still far too prevalent in Louisiana and throughout the nation. Louisiana has long ranked near the top in annual surveys of states regarding domestic violence. It is critical to address the protection of victims in our state by making resources widely available. The Louisiana Protective Order Registry (LPOR) is a statewide repository of court orders of protection for victims of domestic and dating violence, stalking and sexual assault. As such it offers important access to information needed by law enforcement and courts to continue to provide protection to victims. The registry operates an on-call service available 24 hours a day/365 days per year which responds to over 1,700 annual inquiries from local, state, and federal agencies. LPOR won a national award from the FBI some years ago for its competence in addressing domestic violence.</p><p>These programs are not the judiciary&rsquo;s &ldquo;core functions,&rdquo; and, if we did not manage these programs, our budget would go down drastically and we could fund our core functions. The irony of our budget is that we built these programs at the request and with the support of the Legislature and individual legislators, and we made these programs viable and available throughout the state. However, we are facing deficit spending and using some savings we accumulated over three decades to sustain the programs at the cost of the judiciary&rsquo;s core functions. The judiciary absolutely has to fund its core functions, so when we request additional investments, it is for these programs, which save the state money in other areas of the budget.</p><p>I believe our judiciary should be &ldquo;F.I.T.,&rdquo; an acronym that reflects concepts of frugality, integrity, and transparency. Indeed, among judges, I am known as &ldquo;tight&rdquo; with state dollars, and that&rsquo;s when they are being kind. I prefer the term &ldquo;frugal.&rdquo;</p><p>For example, as previously indicated, in 2020, the Legislature generously allocated to the judiciary $7 million of CARES Act money, which was described then as the quote &ldquo;coin of the realm.&rdquo; After months of court staff meetings with input from the justices and from legislators and legislative staffs, the judiciary found that the restrictions imposed by the CARES Act limited what the judiciary could spend and still be frugal.</p><p>Rather than spending this money just to spend it, which after all is taxpayer money regardless of the source, we contacted our colleagues in the house and senate leadership and worked with the division of administration and the governor&rsquo;s office, and returned $5 million, which was desperately needed by local governments throughout the state in members&rsquo; districts. In a meeting before the Senate Finance Committee, after approval by Appropriations and the House, we completed the transfer of the $5 million, for which we got half of the $5 million and an &ldquo;IOU&rdquo; for the balance, secured by trust and good faith. It was described by Chairman White and those present at the meeting as a rare trifecta&ndash;a win, win, win where one branch returns funds to another branch that then reallocated the funds so the third branch could apply the funds where desperately needed. I am proud of the judiciary for initiating this effort and grateful that last year the IOU was satisfied.</p><p>When we seek opportunities to work together, our citizens benefit. All I ask is that when we request appropriations, you please remember the judiciary once returned funds.</p><p>We save money also. Working with my colleagues and our dedicated staff, the judiciary cancelled a long-time lease and brought the employees from the leased office space into the courthouse at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans&ndash;saving the state a quarter of a million dollars a year.</p><p>Please allow me a moment to share an initiative. The judiciary has developed a program known as &ldquo;Judges in the Classroom and Students in the Courtroom.&rdquo; We have partnerships with the BESE Board; the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education, created by the Legislature and chaired by north Louisiana Judge Wendell Manning; the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education; the Louisiana State Library; the School Superintendents Association; the School Board Association; and others, to help educate our children about how all citizens are equal before the law, the consequences of inappropriate behavior, making good choices, and personal responsibility, while also teaching civics. Despite the pandemic waxing and waning last year and a major hurricane disrupting school schedules, judges positively impacted almost 10,000 students in classrooms and courtrooms throughout our state.</p><p>Drug courts have demonstrated the power of the robe. Judges can have a positive impact on teaching our young people.</p><p>I have reached out to a former teacher, who I suggest is still a teacher at heart and is now the President of the Senate, and he is interested in partnering with us, as is the House Speaker.</p><p>Justice Crichton, as a district judge, proactively developed a program that teaches young people about the consequences of certain behavior in an effort to convince them not to see him in his professional capacity as a judge - 20,000 students benefitted from his teachings, which often included parents. He has re-instituted his programs as a Justice and teaches students and their parents in standing-room-only auditoriums and gyms.</p><p>As previously mentioned, District Judge Wendell Manning of Monroe has been long involved in a program teaching civics to adults. District Judge Randy Bethancourt of Houma has taught over 20,000 students about our court system. He had a group of students scheduled to meet him prior to Hurricane Ida and kept the appointment in a severely damaged courthouse.</p><p>A few judges are present representing all the many judges who have been involved in this outreach:</p><ul><li>Judge Randy Bethancourt *immediate past president of the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education</li><li>Judge Wendell Manning *also attending as chair of the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education</li><li>Judge Karelia Stewart</li><li>Judge Jason Dagate</li><li>Judge Dawn Amacker</li><li>Judge Lee Faulkner</li><li>Judge Shayna Beevers Morvant *currently serving as president of the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education</li></ul><p>If any legislator wishes to partner with a judge in these teaching endeavors, please let us know. We urge you to join us in this outreach program.</p><p>On another topic, I do not have to remind you the Legislature recently addressed reapportionment in a special session. I am positive many of you have a malaise&ndash;what I refer to as reapportionment fatigue, which manifests in eyes being crossed due to staring at maps and body aches from being beat up and beat down. Obviously, the Supreme Court districts as currently configured need some modification because of population shifts. However, in their adjudicative function, justices are not elected to represent people, but rather to apply principles essential to a properly functioning system of justice: impartiality, independence, the rule of law&ndash;all while realizing that all are equal before the law and all who appear must be&nbsp;treated with dignity and respect. As such, perfect population proportionality of judicial districts is not legally required.</p><p>I believe the districts can and should reflect the historical boundaries that have long existed so as to maintain communities of like interests, and the court should reflect the rich geographical diversity of our state. I do not believe it appropriate for the court as a separate branch of government to opine on what is a task constitutionally assigned to the Legislature, but I believe individual justices have an obligation to confer with legislators. Benjamin Franklin said about democracy: &ldquo;It is the wearer of the shoe who knows where it pinches.&rdquo; And, just like each of you knows your district, each of the Justices knows the district they serve. Note, I did not say &ldquo;their districts.&rdquo; Like you, we hold seats in trust for the time elected. Besides respecting the community of interest in the current makeup of the judicial districts and not excessively dividing parishes, the court as a whole should provide opportunities to elect those who reflect the rich diversity of our great state. Because the Supreme Court acts as a single entity, with each justice casting one vote, reflecting our state&rsquo;s diversity will foster respect for the rulings.</p><p>Louisiana&rsquo;s system of court costs and fees is an immensely significant issue that needs attention. Speaker pro tempore Magee heads the Louisiana Commission on Justice System Funding, which is working vigorously to unravel and improve this system that federal courts have ruled, in two cases that are now final, has flaws.</p><p>While I am a firm believer in the &ldquo;user pays&rdquo; principle, some who show up in court often simply cannot pay exceptionally high fees and costs. We cannot afford to fund our judicial system strictly on the backs of the impoverished.</p><p>Additionally, for far too long our state has shifted the costs of our state court system to local government and has done so with fines, fees, and costs to keep the system afloat. I will admit there was historically some heel dragging by the judiciary in the past, but no more. In conjunction with the Commission on Justice System Funding, an analysis was performed last year with the assistance of judges statewide by the Supreme Court staff and is posted on the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website. We cannot continue to rely on local governments to fund the state judiciary because the funding of our justice system should not be contingent on whether a court is in an impoverished area of our state. This system of funding is antiquated and does not ensure justice or equality statewide. Let us work together to rectify this inefficient and antiquated system.</p><p>I have been in discussions with judges, legislators, and other judicial stakeholders regarding how to ensure that the judiciary is efficient, effective, and reflects the rich diversity of our state. Once, years ago, while presenting the judicial budget, I was asked &ldquo;how many judgeships did the judiciary create?&rdquo; My response was that the judiciary did not create any judgeships, that we have precisely and exactly the number of judgeships established by the constitution. The judiciary has never created a judicial position and the judiciary cannot eliminate a judicial position. Adding and eliminating judicial positions are legislative functions. No doubt in recognition of our system of checks and balances, our constitution wisely requires a two-thirds vote of each legislative chamber to change the number of judges in any judicial district. It is important to remember that judges must remain independent to apply the rule of law without fear of reprisal when a judges makes a decision fully supported by the law, but which may prove unpopular.</p><p>In 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, the Legislature asked the Supreme Court to study and provide information and recommendations on the appropriate number of district court judgeships. We responded and submitted what became known as the Lentini Report, because the author of the requesting legislation was Senator Art Lentini of Jefferson Parish. The Lentini Report contained several recommendations, including developing a permanent process for determining the appropriate number of judgeships, including reducing judgeships when necessary, preferably by attrition. In 2007, through another resolution sponsored by Senator Lentini, the Legislature requested that the Court provide yearly information on the&nbsp; appropriate number of judgeships. The Supreme Court responded by submitting reports to the Legislature from 2008 through 2011, which contained the requested analysis of judicial workload in courts throughout the state and caseload data. These reports remain accessible to the public on the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website. In 2011, the Legislature again requested a comprehensive study of judges, which was done and submitted to the Legislature, along with the conclusion that the workpoint formula was outdated and invalid, and needed to be revised. That report is known as the Act 143 Report.</p><p>At this time, based on population shifts and the latest filings data, I suggest the Legislature and judiciary establish a Joint Task Force. This Task Force would not re-invent the wheel, but would instead revisit previous recommendations, obtain a viable workpoint analysis, and take action to make the judiciary more efficient and effective, while ensuring diversity. The only way this can be done is with all stakeholders in the justice system having a seat at the table.</p><p>Relatedly, any attempts to reapportion the judiciary, except the Supreme Court, should await an analysis after a study, funded by the Legislature separate from the judicial budget, regarding a work-points analysis, which should be utilized along with data on population and a filing analysis. There are two entities that have provided proposals for the study&ndash;the National Center for State Courts and the Justice Management Institute. This work must be done hand-in-glove with the fines, fees, and costs analysis to ensure the judiciary is effective and efficient. Any attempt to alter judicial districts, other than the Supreme Court, should await this analysis.</p><p>Please know that the justices and judges are disappointed in the current state of some lawyer advertising, believing it unprofessional. That disappointment is not new and was reflected in changes to the rules governing lawyer advertisements some years ago. These changes were made based on recommendations by constitutional law scholars. Unfortunately, the federal courts determined that changes violated their views on the first amendment after a suit was filed before the ink was dry on the rule changes. The first amendment and our state constitution both protect freedom of speech and, in 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court held that lawyer advertising, like other advertising, was protected by the First Amendment. The federal courts are reluctant to enforce limitations on free speech for fear that our precious right to freedom of speech will be suppressed.</p><p>We must use extreme caution in regulating speech, even if we find it unprofessional or disappointing. Please note, the court&rsquo;s rules have long prohibited &ldquo;false and misleading&rdquo; advertisements, but that becomes exceptionally hard to prove and prevent given the broad view of the First Amendment and that federal courts are reluctant to limit speech. The justices pledge to continue to work with the Legislature on this challenging issue and the Court has enacted some rules to address these issues. Please keep a judicial seat available at the table.</p><p>Although we continue to address this challenging issue, but please note carefully&ndash;if a rule or statute is struck down by a federal judge on the basis of unconstitutionality, the entity that enacted the rule or statute or attempts to enforce the rule pays the legal fees and costs of whomever filed the suit. The judiciary&rsquo;s budget simply cannot afford to risk paying those attorney fees.</p><p>On another topic related to the functioning of the justice system, it is prudent, wise, and necessary to properly fund public defenders to ensure that those who are presumed innocent until proven guilty will be properly represented. We have come to understand that, occasionally, innocent people are convicted and incarcerated, while the real criminals continue to prey on society. The Legislature has authorized compensation for those who were wrongfully incarcerated, but prove their innocence.</p><p>Astute prosecutors know that public defenders are an essential component to our system of justice. Too many have spent too much time incarcerated for crimes they did not commit, at&nbsp;too great a cost to the state without providing safety to society. I commend the Legislature for its efforts to increase funding for indigent defense.</p><p>We thank you for your dedicated service to your district and to our state in these difficult and trying times. The judiciary and the Legislature have enjoyed a close working relationship that ultimately benefits our citizens. History teaches that the citizens of Louisiana have always responded to these challenges with perseverance, resolve, and tenacity. Let us work collaboratively, my friends, to serve our citizens well.</p><p>On a personal note, thank you for inviting me to address the Legislature, 45 years after thinking one day I may do so.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 14, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE JUSTICES OF THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT WILL APPEAR AT&nbsp;THE LOUISIANA STATE LEGISLATURE, <br />WHERE CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN L. WEIMER WILL DELIVER THE STATE OF THE JUDICIARY ADDRESS</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>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.</p><p>The first State of the Judiciary address by a Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice to the Legislature was in 1997, and this will be Chief Justice Weimer&rsquo;s first State of the Judiciary address since becoming Chief Justice in 2021. The speech will be live-streamed from the Legislature&rsquo;s website at <a href="http://www.legis.la.gov" target="_blank">www.legis.la.gov</a> and the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s website at <a href="/">www.lasc.org/</a>.</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>February 14, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT OBSERVES&nbsp;</strong><br /><strong>BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>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.</p><p>&ldquo;During Black History Month, the Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and the Court&rsquo;s staff, which includes the Law Library of Louisiana, will focus on the historic and significant contributions of several African Americans which have greatly impacted the history of the state and the nation,&rdquo; stated Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;In alignment with our ongoing civic educational initiatives, we will concentrate on educating students and the general public on how African American achievements are ingrained into the state&rsquo;s legal history. As was done in 2021, the Louisiana Supreme Court will host students from Homer A. Plessy Community School for a book reading by the Justices, which will be digitally recorded and shared with elementary schools statewide by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Louisiana Department of Education. The reading will be followed by a Q&amp;A session. My colleagues and I look forward to taking part in these upcoming observances and remembrances of those who sought to make the promise of the Declaration of Independence - that all are created equal - a reality.&rdquo;</p><p>Miriam Childs, Director, Law Library of Louisiana, announced several additional educational outreach initiatives scheduled for February. They include four weekly special issues of the Law Library&rsquo;s newsletter, <em>De Novo</em>, featuring <a href="https://lasc.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=65366494" target="_blank">Mr. Oscar J. Dunn</a> (2/4/22), <a href="https://lasc.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=65505606" target="_blank">Homer A. Plessy</a> (2/11/22), Reverend Avery C. Alexander (2/18/22), and Mr. Charles J. Hatfield (2/23/22). Other initiatives include a new library exhibit examining a court case on Louisiana Civil Rights legal representation by out-of-state counsel, and a recorded vignette commemorating Homer Plessy&rsquo;s life arc and posthumous pardon. Educational outreach initiatives can be accessed on the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s Press Room page under the <a href="/BlackHistoryMonth">Black History Month</a> link.</p>For many years, the Supreme Court has hosted student and general public tours of the Court which often include meeting with one of the Justices. Additionally, Judges statewide continue to make visits to various schools throughout the state, both in person and virtually, as part of the &ldquo;Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom&rdquo; program. The upcoming visit by the students from Homer A. Plessy Community School to the Louisiana Supreme Court will mark the first visit by a group of students to the court in 2022. COVID-19 guidelines will be followed.<p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 12, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF BUILDING CLOSURE TO PUBLIC TRAFFIC; <br />JANUARY ORAL ARGUMENTS WILL BE LIVE WITH COUNSEL ONLY</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court announced today that until further notice, the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse will remain closed to the public.&nbsp; 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.</p><p>The Courthouse closure to public traffic in no way affects the work of the Court and is in response to the recent rise in cases of the Omicron variant in the nation and specifically in Louisiana.&nbsp; It is a proactive safety measure to protect Louisiana citizens and Court staff who frequent the Court building.&nbsp; Court filings will be accepted in person at the 400 Royal Street entrance to the Courthouse, however e-filing is encouraged.</p><p>The Supreme Court additionally announces that the January 24-26, 2022 oral arguments will be live with the justices and counsel only in attendance. All others interested in watching oral arguments are invited to view via the Supreme Court&rsquo;s livestream, <a href="https://livestream.lasc.org" target="_blank">https://livestream.lasc.org</a>.&nbsp; The Court&rsquo;s livestream service was first launched in January 2007 and carries the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s oral arguments in real-time.&nbsp; The January 24-26, 2022 docket is available at <a href="/dockets/Jan2022.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.lasc.org/dockets/Jan2022.pdf</a>.</p><p>&ldquo;The Justices and their staffs and the staff of the Supreme Court, using technology, have continued to meet in weekly conferences addressing administrative and adjudication responsibilities and the court&rsquo;s docket remains current,&rdquo; expressed Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer.&nbsp; &ldquo;The work of the court in addressing legal and administrative matters has continued unabated because of the foresight of harnessing technology.&nbsp; The Justices are committed to continuing to do whatever it takes to insure the work of the courts continue as we learn to live and work while protecting the health of our employees and the public we serve.&nbsp; We look forward to the day when the public, whose visits we miss, can enter their courthouse.&rdquo;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:<br /></span></strong>In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from the Louisiana&rsquo;s courts on its website, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>.&nbsp; We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 5, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>JUDGE TERRI FLEMING LOVE TO SERVE AS CHIEF JUDGE&nbsp;OF FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL</strong></p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; 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.</p><p>Chief Judge Love was elected to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal in 2000, and is the senior member of that court. She joined the Fourth Circuit after serving on the Orleans Parish Civil District Court bench since 1995.</p><p>Chief Judge Love earned her Bachelor of Arts from Jackson State University in 1983 and her Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School in 1986. She additionally earned a Master of Laws in the Judicial Process from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004. She participated in the Institute of Judicial Administration at New York University School of Law in 2001; George Mason School of Law Collegium in 2002; and the International Judicial Academy, The Hague, Netherlands in 2007.</p><p>She is Past Judicial Committee Chair of the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, and a member of the National Bar Association, American Judges Association, National Association of Women Judges, the American Bar Association Appellate Judges&rsquo; Conference, New Orleans Bar Association, and the Louisiana State Bar Association.</p><p>Chief Judge Love is engaged in community service through various volunteer activities. She has chaired the City of New Orleans&rsquo; annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Planning Commission. She is a Certified instructor and active member of the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education. Since 2008, she has volunteered as a mentor for the College Track program to help high school students prepare for college and expose them to different professional pathways. Chief Judge Love has served as the Activity Director for the Senior Citizens Ministry of her church, the Greater Saint Stephens Full Gospel Baptist Church. She is also an active member of the Omicron Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and is a board member of the Amistad Research Center. </p><p>Chief Judge Love is married to Ellria Love and they are the proud parents of two children.</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-03_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-03_Terri_F_Love.jpg" alt="Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Terri F. Love" /><br /><span class="caption">Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Terri F. Love</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 5, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL CHIEF JUDGE JAMES F. McKAY III ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT</strong></p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; 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. </p><p>Chief Judge McKay is a native of New Orleans. He earned his bachelor&rsquo;s degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (currently the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1969. He earned his juris doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law in 1974. While enrolled in law school, he also worked as an adult probation and parole officer.</p><p>From 1974-1978, Chief Judge McKay worked at the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office where he served as a Senior Trial Attorney. From 1978-1982, he served as the Chief Prosecutor of the Criminal Division for the Metropolitan office of the State Attorney General's Office. On December 12, 1982, he was elected to the Orleans Criminal District Court bench where he served until 1998. Chief Judge McKay was elected to the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal on March 7, 1998, and since January 1, 2013, he has served as Chief Judge.</p><p>Chief Judge McKay is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Judges Association, serving as President in 2009. He previously served as Vice President and National Secretary, and was twice elected to the Board of Governors. In 2007 he received the Judge William H. Burnett Award from the American Judges Association. Chief Judge McKay is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Fourth and Fifth Circuit Judges Association, Francophone Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the American Judicature Society.</p><p>Chief Judge McKay is also active in a number of civic and fraternal organizations. In 2010, Chief Judge McKay was appointed as the Honorary Consul General of Ireland for the State of Louisiana. He served as National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians from 2016-2020, National Vice President from 2012-2016, and National Treasurer from 2008-2012. He remains Past National President for life. Chief Judge McKay is the current Chair of the National Oversite Committee for the National Ancient Order of Hibernians and National Hibernian Charity. He is married to Marie Soniat McKay and they are the parents of four children: James F., IV, Michael B., Katherine L. and Colleen S. McKay.</p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court has <a href="/Press_Room/press_releases/2022/2022-02-Order-Luker.pdf" target="_blank">appointed</a> attorney Lynn Luker as judge pro tempore to the Fourth Circuit to fill the vacancy created by the retirement. That appointment is effective January 4, 2022 through May 31, 2022. </p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-02_picgrid.css" /></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-02_James_F_McKay_III.jpg" alt="Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge James F. McKay, III" /><br /><span class="caption">Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge James F. McKay, III</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 1, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT BIDS FAREWELL TO LONG-TIME CLERK OF COURT JOHN TARLTON OLIVIER </strong></p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; <strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court John Tarlton Olivier</strong>, 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. </p><p>Olivier received his bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Loyola University New Orleans in 1976 and his juris doctor degree in 1979 from Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law. He entered the private practice of law with the firm of Olivier &amp; Brinkhaus in 1979, and served as Secretary-Treasurer of the St. Landry Parish Bar Association and of the Sertoma International-Sunset Area Sertoma. In 1982 he worked for the Board of Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans, and served as Dredging Committee Chairman of the Marine Safety Society. He served on the Vocational Tech Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, New Orleans and the River Region; was appointed by the Mayor to the Anti-Truancy Committee for the City of New Orleans and the Orleans Parish School Board, and served as a member of the Metropolitan Area Committee and on the Forum Selection Committee. </p><p>In 1985, Olivier was appointed Louisiana Supreme Court Deputy Clerk of Court. Eleven years later, he was sworn in as Clerk of Court on March 1, 1996. Known as &ldquo;John T.&rdquo; to friends and family, Olivier and his office oversaw all filings submitted to the Louisiana Supreme Court, coordinated the scheduling of dockets, maintained the Court&rsquo;s calendar, and managed the Supreme Court&rsquo;s non-judicial operations.&nbsp; Olivier was an integral part of the Court&rsquo;s e-filing initiative, which allows attorneys to submit filings to the Supreme Court electronically and access briefs. In 1986, Olivier was tasked to coordinate the painstaking effort of obtaining funding for and renovating the severely deteriorated former home of the Louisiana Supreme Court on Royal Street, to which the Court returned in 2004. </p><p>Olivier graduated from the National Center for State Courts' Institute for Court Management and was recognized as a Fellow of the Institute during ceremonies at the United States Supreme Court in 1991, presided over by Chief Justice Warren Burger, Retired. Since 1991, Olivier has been a member of the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA)/National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Court Statistics Project Advisory Committee, he is currently a member of the Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society, National Association for Court Management, American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, and served as president of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks. Olivier is married to Terry L. Seemann and they are the parents of Jeffrey Tarlton Olivier and Emily Marie Kesler, and grandparents of two. </p><p>In December 2021, the Justices of the Court presented Olivier with a plaque that read:&nbsp; &ldquo;In recognition of his 36 years of service to the Louisiana Supreme Court, including 11 years as Deputy Clerk of Court and 25 years and 9 months as Clerk of Court: His unparalleled contributions to the work of the Louisiana Supreme Court in ensuring the fair administration of justice for the citizens of Louisiana; His unsurpassed intellect and knowledge of court operations and pioneering contributions in the area of State court caseload statistics;&nbsp; His invaluable and dedicated efforts as &ldquo;clerk of the works&rdquo; in the historic restoration of 400 Royal Street; His tenure as the longest serving Clerk of Court in the history of the Louisiana Supreme Court; And for his incomparable diligence and unselfish dedication, making him one of the Supreme Court&rsquo;s true &ldquo;unsung heroes&rdquo;, We, the Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court, express our deep appreciation.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I offer my congratulations to John T. upon his retirement,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer.&nbsp; &ldquo;His presence will be missed as a member of the Supreme Court family and certainly his support of the Supreme Court bench.&nbsp; John T. has shown great dedication to the citizens of Louisiana through his humble yet professional demeanor and exceptional competence.&nbsp; The years he dedicated in service to the Court have resulted in a well-run Clerk&rsquo;s office, a magnificent courthouse, and an excellent example of professionalism for colleagues and court staff as well.&rdquo;</p><p>John T. Olivier expressed, &ldquo;I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the Louisiana Supreme Court and the citizens of Louisiana in a capacity that was rewarding both personally and professionally.&nbsp; I have worked with some of the most talented legal minds in the history of the Louisiana judiciary and I treasure the opportunity I had to learn from them as well as pass on to others the knowledge I have acquired. I feel privileged to have served as Clerk, am satisfied with the direction my career took, and feel confident this position is left in very capable hands as I retire.&rdquo;</p><p>When asked what he plans to do once retired, Olivier responded, &ldquo;I plan to pursue my passion for sailing and spending time with my friends, family, and especially my grandchildren. However, I&rsquo;ll always be near as a resource, just call, I will always pick up to answer.&rdquo;</p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court announced earlier in 2021 that <strong><a href="/Clerk&#39;s_Office?p=VERONICA_O_KOCLANES">Veronica O. Koclanes, Esq.</a></strong> will succeed Olivier as Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court. Koclanes said of Olivier, &ldquo;I am honored to follow the exemplary service of John T. Olivier, who set a high standard for over 25 years as Clerk of Court."</p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-01_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2022/images/2022-01_John_T_Olivier.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court John T. Olivier" /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court<br />John T. Olivier</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 27, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES BUILDING CLOSURE TO PUBLIC TRAFFIC DUE TO RISING NUMBER OF OMICRON VARIANT CASES</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court announced today 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.</p><p>The Court&rsquo;s closing of the building at 400 Royal Street to public traffic will in no way affect the work of the Court and is in response to the recent rise in cases of the Omicron variant in the nation and specifically in Louisiana.&nbsp; It is a proactive safety measure to protect Louisiana citizens and Court staff who frequent the Court building.&nbsp; Court filings will be accepted in person at the 400 Royal Street entrance to the Courthouse, however e-filing is encouraged.</p><p>&ldquo;Despite the short-term closure of the Courthouse to public traffic, the work of the Court can and will continue, just as it has throughout the pandemic,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is the responsibility of the Louisiana Supreme Court to provide access to justice and to offer it in a safe environment.&nbsp; The modification to reduce the number of individuals in one space by reducing traffic to the court will help combat the spread of the Omicron variant. The prudent implementation of modern technology has enabled Court staff and Justices to continue to work effectively and efficiently despite the pandemic.&rdquo;</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:<br /></span></strong>In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from the Louisiana&rsquo;s courts on its website, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>.&nbsp; We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.</p><p>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 17, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT APPOINTS RETIRED OPELOUSAS CITY COURT <br />JUDGE VANESSA HARRIS AS JUDGE <em>PRO TEMPORE</em> OF LAFAYETTE CITY COURT DIVISION A</strong></p><p><strong>NEW ORLEANS, LA</strong> &ndash; The <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/2021-36-Harris_Vanessa_12-17-21_through_2-28-22_Lafayette_City_Court.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court today appointed</strong></a> 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.&nbsp;</p><p>Retired Judge Harris earned her bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Computer Science from Southern University in 1985 and her juris doctorate from Southern University Law Center in 1988.&nbsp; She began her career practicing with the Harris &amp; Harris Law Firm in 1988 and served as an assistant district attorney in St. Landry Parish from 1988-2008. She made history in 2009 when she was elected Opelousas City Court Judge, becoming the first female and first African American to serve on that bench.&nbsp; She served as judge of Opelousas City Court until her retirement in December 2020. Judge Harris is married to Mr. Senic Batiste and is the mother of three daughters. </p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-36_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-36_Judge_Vanessa_Harris_ret.jpg" alt="Judge Vanessa Harris, Ret" /><br /><span class="caption">Judge Vanessa Harris, Ret</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 13, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>24<sup>th</sup> JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL RECEIVES</strong><br /><strong>THE WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST AWARD FOR JUDICIAL EXCELLENCE</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong> <a href="https://www.onlinejudge.us/bio" target="_blank"><strong>Louisiana 24<sup>TH</sup> Judicial District Court Judge Scott U. Schlegel</strong></a> was presented the <a href="https://www.ncsc.org/about-us/awards/william-h-rehnquist-award" target="_blank"><strong>National Center for State Courts (NCSC) 26th Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence</strong></a> 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. </p><p>The Rehnquist Award is presented annually and honors a state court judge who demonstrates the outstanding qualities of judicial excellence, including integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, professional ethics, creativity, sound judgment, intellectual courage, and decisiveness. Court leaders who nominated Judge Schlegel for the award touted his cost-saving measures and efforts to create uniform websites for district courts statewide that will include online calendaring systems, web pages with remote court access, and online forms and resources. To date, Judge Schlegel has overseen the construction of more than a dozen new websites.</p><p>&ldquo;The initiatives Judge Schlegel has brought to the Supreme Court for consideration have not only changed court systems but are changing lives,&rdquo; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John Weimer wrote in his nomination to the NCSC &ldquo;By allowing court users greater and more convenient access to the courts, in providing resources to lawyers and litigants, in offering alternative, more efficient ways to navigate the court process, Judge Schlegel is leading positive and technologically supported changes within the Louisiana system of justice, which save time for court users and result in cost savings,&rdquo; continued Chief Justice Weimer. </p><p>&ldquo;Judge Schlegel has certainly exhibited all of these traits and has gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues and others who serve in state judiciaries across the nation,&rdquo; said NCSC President Mary C. McQueen.</p><p>Judge Schlegel expressed, &ldquo;I am honored to receive this prestigious award for my work in support of the judiciary, which I consider a calling.  It has been my goal to apply the technological knowledge and resources that I have acquired to advance access to justice and better serve the Louisiana judiciary and the citizens it serves.&rdquo;  </p><p>The evening ceremony, hosted by the NCSC, began with a welcome from Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Weimer followed by remarks from NCSC President Mary C. McQueen.  The program included an introduction of the honoree by Chief Justice Paul Suttell, Supreme Court of Rhode Island, with recorded messages from John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States, and Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and New Orleans area native.</p><p>Also present at the ceremony was Judge Schlegel&rsquo;s family including his son Luke and wife Laurie Schlegel, a State Representative in the Louisiana Legislature, who commented: &ldquo;I am so proud of Scott for receiving such a prestigious award, not only for the amazing judge he is but for the kind of man he is. He is an incredible husband, loving father, and example to our son and is a true public servant.&rdquo; </p><p><em>The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation&rsquo;s state courts.</em></p><p><strong>For more information contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p><strong>Visit <a href="https://www.ncsc.org" target="_blank">ncsc.org</a> or contact NCSC Director of Communications and Online Media Molly Justice at <a href="mailto:mjustice@ncsc.org">mjustice@ncsc.org</a> or (757) 259-1564. </strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-35_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-35_RehnquistAward01.jpg" alt="24th JDC Judge Scott U. Schlegel (l) receives the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell (r), who serves as chair of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Board of Directors.  The William H. Rehnquist Award, presented annually by NCSC, is one of the nation's highest judicial honors." /><br /><span class="caption">24th JDC Judge Scott U. Schlegel (l) receives the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell (r), who serves as chair of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Board of Directors.  The William H. Rehnquist Award, presented annually by NCSC, is one of the nation's highest judicial honors.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-35_RehnquistAward02.jpg" alt="24th JDC Judge Scott U. Schlegel was the recipient of the 26th Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, presented annually by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).  Joining Judge Schlegel are (l to r) Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell, who also serves as chair of the NCSC Board of Directors; Mary C. McQueen, president of NCSC; Judge Schlegel; state Representative Laurie Schlegel; and Luke Schlegel." /><br /><span class="caption">24th JDC Judge Scott U. Schlegel was the recipient of the 26th Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, presented annually by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).  Joining Judge Schlegel are (l to r) Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell, who also serves as chair of the NCSC Board of Directors; Mary C. McQueen, president of NCSC; Judge Schlegel; state Representative Laurie Schlegel; and Luke Schlegel.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>November 22, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES</strong><br /><strong>AMENDMENTS TO JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE RULES</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>Today, 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&rsquo;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. <a href="/rules/orders/2021/Rule_XXIII.pdf" target="_blank">See Order here.</a></p><p>The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a nine-member constitutionally created body empowered to review allegations of judicial misconduct and to recommend to the Supreme Court that a judge be sanctioned when misconduct is proven by clear and convincing evidence.</p><p>After extensive study, review, and deliberation, the Louisiana Supreme Court voted unanimously to make several substantive changes to Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XXIII:</p><ul><li>First, judges who have been charged and convicted of a felony or lesser crime that reflects adversely on the judge&rsquo;s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as judge may now be required to repay the costs of appointing a judge to cover their dockets while they are suspended from performing judicial functions during the pendency of criminal and judicial discipline proceedings.<br /><br /></li><li>Second, judges who retire or resign prior to the conclusion of public judicial discipline proceedings may now be required to repay the costs incurred in the Commission&rsquo;s investigation and litigation of the matter.<br /><br /></li><li>Third, in cases the Commission has determined should be expedited, including cases involving possible criminal conduct, the Commission is now required to issue an order to the hearing officer providing instructions regarding the expediting of the matter.</li></ul><p>&ldquo;The Justices of the Supreme Court and I agree that our system of justice requires accountability for wrongdoing and the fair and efficient resolution of court proceedings, and judges and judicial discipline proceedings are no exception,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;These changes ensure that judges who are convicted of crimes or who resign or retire in the late stages of judicial discipline proceedings, sometimes to avoid the imposition of public discipline by this Court, may be held accountable for the costs incurred as a result of their actions and that such costs are not ultimately borne by the taxpayers of this State. Additionally, these changes will help ensure the efficient and expeditious resolution of the most important matters pending before the Commission.&rdquo;</p><p></p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="/">LASC.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>November 10, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN L. WEIMER</strong><br /><strong>COMMENDS LOUISIANA ATTORNEYS FOR THEIR PRO BONO EFFORTS</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus; </strong>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.&nbsp; </p><p>The cause of justice in Louisiana is aided by the work of countless attorneys who donate their time, skills, and talent in what the legal system refers to as &ldquo;pro bono publico&rdquo; or &ldquo;pro bono&rdquo; work.&nbsp; The Rules of Professional Conduct that enumerate the ethical standards for attorneys provide in part: &ldquo;Every lawyer should aspire to provide legal services to those unable to pay.&rdquo;&nbsp; In 2009 the National Celebration of Pro Bono was launched by a Committee of the American Bar Association to draw attention to the increasing need for pro bono services during harsh economic times and the unprecedented response of attorneys to meet this demand.&nbsp; During National Celebrate Pro Bono Week, legal organizations across America participate by highlighting the need for providing this service and giving thanks to the many attorneys who donated their legal skills throughout the year. </p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer remarked, &ldquo;I want to commend our Louisiana attorneys who donate to those who are less fortunate; the amount of time they put into meeting this need is remarkable. In 2020, attorneys across our state reported that over 47,700 hours of their time was donated to providing pro bono legal services to those in need.&rdquo;&nbsp; </p><p>The Louisiana State Bar Association is an excellent resource for attorneys seeking to provide pro bono legal services as well as for citizens in need.&nbsp; Through the Access to Justice Commission and its Access to Justice Program, the LSBA encourages its members to provide much-needed pro bono work.&nbsp; The LSBA provides attorneys and citizens with invaluable resources and information on pro bono opportunities and other affordable legal assistance options.</p><p>Relatedly, the goals of lawyers&rsquo; pro bono work are also aided by the largest single facilitator of legal services in the state to those in financial need, which is the Louisiana Bar Foundation.&nbsp; The Bar Foundation uses an innovative funding source to sustain programs and services to some of the most vulnerable in our society, such as children in need of care and victims of domestic violence.&nbsp; That funding source is interest on amounts held on deposit in the trust accounts lawyers maintain for their clients.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer continued: &ldquo;The legal system exists to resolve disputes within society, as an alternative to the way our ancestors long ago might have resolved their grievances through retribution.&nbsp; The attorneys of our state who perform pro bono service truly render a service to all of society, by championing the rule of law and by providing access to justice.&nbsp; I applaud them for their efforts and thank them profusely for volunteering to serve those who cannot afford an attorney but cannot afford to be without an attorney.&rdquo;</p><p></p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="/">LASC.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 15, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>APPOINTMENT OF A NEW ATTORNEY MEMBER</strong><br /><strong>TO THE JUDICIARY COMMISSION OF LOUISIANA</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;</strong>&nbsp;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.</p><p>Mr. Fitzmorris received his bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Loyola University New Orleans in 1965 and his juris doctor degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 1968. He also attended the Judge Advocate General&rsquo;s School at the University of Virginia in 1968 and received a master&rsquo;s degree from Loyola University New Orleans in 1999.</p><p>From 1968 to 1971, Mr. Fitzmorris served in the Legislative Branch of the Military Affairs Division, Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Army, Department of the Army, followed by Chief of the Legal Assistance Office at Fort Polk, Louisiana. From 1972 to 1973, he worked in private practice before serving as Section Assistant at the Office of the District Attorney in Orleans Parish from 1973 to 1978. He was a senior attorney at Texaco Inc. in the New Orleans Division from 1978 to 1998 before returning to private practice from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, he joined the Office of the District Attorney in Jefferson Parish where he served in the Juvenile/Nonsupport Division until 2015. He served as Chairman of the New Orleans Panel of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board from 1990 to 1996 and was an adjunct instructor of Religious Studies at Tulane University&rsquo;s University College, currently the School of Professional Advancement, from 2006 to 2018. Mr. Fitzmorris is married to Katherine McKay and they are the parents of five children.</p><p>The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a nine-member constitutionally created body empowered to review allegations of judicial misconduct and to recommend to the Supreme Court that a judge be sanctioned when misconduct is proven by clear and convincing evidence.</p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="/">LASC.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><div class="picgrid"><div><p><span class="photo-by">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 14, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong><strong>BATON ROUGE CITY COURT JUDGE YVETTE M. ALEXANDER IS SWORN IN AS<br />PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN JUDGES ASSOCIATION</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;</strong>&nbsp;Baton Rouge City Court Judge Yvette Mansfield Alexander was sworn in as president of the American Judges Association (AJA) on Monday, October 4, 2021. Originally founded as the National Association of Municipal Judges (NAMJ) in 1959, AJA is the largest independent organization of judges from all jurisdictions and levels of courts throughout the United States and Canada. Judge Alexander was sworn in by retired Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.</p><p>&ldquo;I am grateful to God for the honor to serve as president of this outstanding association,&rdquo; said Judge Alexander. &ldquo;It is my passion to affect the administration of justice with excellence and exemplify an unwavering commitment to justice and fundamental fairness; I will serve as president with the same goals in mind. I look forward to the opportunity to work with judges from throughout the nation to fine-tune ever-advancing skills in the perfection of the judiciary.&rdquo;</p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer stated, &ldquo;This is a significant honor that rewards Judge Alexander&rsquo;s dedication to our system of justice and her leadership, which was recognized by votes from judges from around the nation. We are proud of her accomplishment, which reflects positively on the judiciary of our state. Judge Alexander is the sixth judge from Louisiana who has served this national judges' association, a reflection of how much Louisiana judges are respected for their leadership capabilities. I&nbsp;commend and congratulate Judge Alexander for this wonderful honor that she has earned.&rdquo;</p><p>Judge Alexander's efforts resulted in judges from around the country planning to visit Louisiana to attend AJA's conference which included continuing legal education courses offered by the Louisiana Judicial College (LJC), the educational arm of the Supreme Court. Like AJA at the national level, the LJC coordinates educational opportunities for Louisiana judges, by Louisiana judges. Unfortunately, because of challenges encountered due to the pandemic coupled with a hurricane and tropical storm, this year&rsquo;s conference was held virtually, with assurances that Louisiana will be considered for hosting a future in-person conference.</p><p>Judge Yvette M. Alexander earned her bachelor's degree from Grambling State University and her juris doctor from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1979. She worked as counsel for the Louisiana State Legislature, Louisiana State Senate, East Baton Rouge Parish Public Defender&rsquo;s Office, and was an assistant attorney general for the Louisiana Attorney General&rsquo;s Office. From 1988-1995, she served as chief legal counsel for the Secretary of State, and served as an Ex-Officio Member of both the Louisiana State Bond Commission and the Louisiana School Employees Retirement System. Judge Alexander serves as a member of the Louis A. Martinet Society, Louisiana Judicial Council of the National Bar Association, National Association of Women Judges, and the Baton Rouge Association of Women Attorneys. She is the mother of two daughters.</p><p>Other Louisiana judges who served as president of AJA include former Shreveport City Court Judge G. Randell Whitmeyer and former Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court Judge Oliver S. Delery, both deceased, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge James F. McKay, III, retired First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Toni M. Higginbotham, and Third Circuit Court of Appeal Judge John E. Conery.</p><p>The American Judges Association is an organization of judges. AJA is an independent, non-profit organization housed at the National Center for State Courts, and addresses concerns of interest to all judges. According to its website, AJA works to promote and&nbsp;improve the effective administration of justice and maintains the status and independence of the judiciary by acting to assure that courts: always have due process, are fair, are just, and accessible to all. AJA has strong ties with major judicial organizations, a commitment to enhancing diversity, and provides the highest quality of continuing professional development for judges. It provides multiple models for peer mentoring for judicial colleagues and a variety of platforms and strategies for the exchange of new ideas among all judges while encouraging the role of judges as teachers.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">LASC.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-31_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-31_Judge_Yvette_M_Alexander_AJA_President.jpg" alt="Baton Rouge City Court Judge Yvette M. Alexander American Judges Association President" /><br /><span class="caption">Baton Rouge City Court Judge Yvette M. Alexander<br />American Judges Association President</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-31_AJA_Presidential_Swearing_In_2021_02.jpg" alt="American Judges Association Presidential Swearing-In - L-R Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer; AJA President, Baton Rouge City Court Judge Yvette M. Alexander; Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson; Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin; Orleans Civil District Court Judge Rachael Johnson" /><br /><span class="photoHeading">American Judges Association Presidential Swearing-In</span><br /><span class="caption">L-R Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer; AJA President, Baton Rouge City Court Judge Yvette M. Alexander; Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson; Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin; Orleans Civil District Court Judge Rachael Johnson </span><br /><span class="photo-by">Photo Courtesy of Video/Photography by J.R.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-31_AJA_Presidential_Swearing_In_2021_01.jpg" alt="American Judges Association Presidential Swearing-In - Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson swears in AJA President, Baton Route City Court Judge Yvette M. Alexander as Miss Raegan Parker Vernon (holding the bible); Dr. Diedra Atkins Ball, Mrs. NaKesha Alexander Vernon look on." /><br /><span class="photoHeading">American Judges Association Presidential Swearing-In</span><br /><span class="caption">Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson swears in AJA President, Baton Route City Court Judge Yvette M. Alexander as Miss Raegan Parker Vernon (holding the bible); Dr. Diedra Atkins Ball, Mrs. NaKesha Alexander Vernon look on.<br /></span><span class="photo-by">Photo Courtesy of Video/Photography by J.R.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590<br /><br />Molly Justice<br />(757) 259-1564<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 12, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA JUDGE TO RECEIVE</strong><br /><strong>WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST AWARD FOR JUDICIAL EXCELLENC</strong><strong>E</strong> </p><p><strong>Williamsburg, Va. &ndash;</strong> 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&rsquo; 26th Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, one of the highest judicial honors in the country.</p><p>Presented annually by NCSC, the Rehnquist Award honors a state court judge who demonstrates the outstanding qualities of judicial excellence, including integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, professional ethics, creativity, sound judgment, intellectual courage and decisiveness. Judge Schlegel, who sits in the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna, is the first Louisiana judge to receive the award.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Judge Schlegel has certainly exhibited all of these traits and has gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues and others who serve in state judiciaries across the nation,&rdquo; said NCSC President Mary C. McQueen.&nbsp;</p><p>His early and extensive use of technology to improve accessibility and efficiency in the courtroom led to his appointment as chair of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission in 2020.</p><p>&ldquo;The initiatives Judge Schlegel has brought to the Supreme Court for consideration have not only changed court systems, but are changing lives,&rdquo; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John Weimer wrote in his nomination. &ldquo;By allowing court users greater and more convenient access to the courts; in providing resources to lawyers and litigants; in offering alternative, more efficient ways to navigate the court process, Judge Schlegel is leading positive and technologically supported changes within the Louisiana system of justice.&rdquo;</p><p>These changes save time for court users and result in cost savings, noted Chief Justice Weimer and other court leaders who nominated Judge Schlegel for the award. One change involves creating uniform websites for district courts statewide that will include online calendaring systems, web pages with remote court access and online forms and resources. To date, Judge Schlegel has overseen the construction of more than a dozen new websites.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;His creativity in weaving various technologies throughout the justice system is bringing Louisiana courts into the digital age with positive collateral consequences for all court users,&rdquo; wrote nominator Jennifer Eagan, liaison counsel to the state&rsquo;s district judges. Ms. Eagan also noted Judge Schlegel&rsquo;s critical work in reimagining the criminal justice system by starting the Smart on Crime Initiative, which included the creation of two new Specialty Court programs in Jefferson Parish to better protect the community and reduce the disturbing cycle of recidivism: Reentry Court and Swift &amp; Certain Probation. Former American Bar Association President and Louisiana native Judy Perry Martinez echoed these sentiments in her recommendation letter:&nbsp; &ldquo;&hellip; Judge Schlegel approaches innovation with scalability and sustainability as his end goals.&nbsp; He is making justice a reality for populations that struggle to not only access justice but to comply with the law once in the Reentry system.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>Upon receiving the news that her husband was this year&rsquo;s Rehnquist Award recipient, Laurie Schlegel, a State Representative in the Louisiana Legislature, commented: &ldquo;I am so proud of Scott for receiving such a prestigious award, not only for the amazing judge he is but for the kind of man he is. He is an incredible husband, loving father and example to our son and is a true public servant.&rdquo;</p><p>Judge Schlegel earned a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in finance at Louisiana State University and started a career in financial services before he decided to pursue a law degree at the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. After law school, he practiced civil law with a focus in products liability law before becoming a prosecutor in Jefferson Parish; first in the domestic violence prosecution unit and then in the felony division. He became a general jurisdiction district court judge in May 2013.&nbsp;</p><p>Since then, he has been at the forefront of modernizing the justice system. His keen knowledge of civil and criminal processes, coupled with a creative look at procedure has allowed Judge Schlegel to coax outmoded methods into the digital age. He currently serves as the President of the Louisiana District Judges Association (LDJA); Chair of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission; Chair of the Specialty Treatment Court Committee for the 24th JDC; and sub-committee Chair of the legislatively created Task Force on Statewide Standards for Clerks of Court Electronic Filing and Records Retention. Judge Schlegel is also a current member of the Louisiana Drug Policy Board; Council of Specialty Court Judges of the Louisiana Supreme Court; and Louisiana State Law Institute&rsquo;s Criminal Code &amp; Code of Criminal Procedure Committee. He previously served as the Chair of the LDJA Technology Committee and LDJA/Department of Corrections Liaison Committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>LDJA Immediate Past President Judge Brady O&rsquo;Callaghan commented: &ldquo;Judge Schlegel&rsquo;s innovation and work ethic have earned him the respect and gratitude of judges around Louisiana for the improvements he has brought to their administration of justice.&nbsp; He has always solicited input from his colleagues and other stakeholders without clamoring for credit, and it is gratifying to see his selfless efforts recognized.&rdquo;</p><p><em>The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation&rsquo;s state courts.</em></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="https://www.ncsc.org/" target="_blank">ncsc.org</a> or contact NCSC Director of Communications and Online Media Molly Justice at <a href="mailto:mjustice@ncsc.org">mjustice@ncsc.org</a> or (757) 259-1564, or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-29_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-29_24thJDC_Judge_Scott_Schlegel_Rehnquist_Award_Recipient.jpg" alt="William H. Rehnquist Award Recipient 24th Judicial District Court Judge Scott U. Schlegel" /><br /><span class="caption">William H. Rehnquist Award Recipient <br />24th Judicial District Court Judge Scott U. Schlegel</span> </p></div><div></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 12, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES IN-PERSON ORAL ARGUMENTS</strong><br /><strong>FOR OCTOBER SITTING WEEK</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA &minus; </strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court announced today that oral arguments will be held October 18-20, 2021.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court look forward to welcoming attorneys and parties scheduled for the October docket to the courthouse for in-person oral arguments,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer.&nbsp; &ldquo;Although the Supreme Court remained operational in the wake of Hurricane Ida, the September oral arguments had to be rescheduled for October. And after holding previous oral arguments via video conference out of an abundance of caution due to the worsening of the pandemic in the summer, we are glad to return to having attorneys and litigants personally appear in our court.&rdquo;</p><p>Due to the observation of COVID-19 safety protocols, including social distancing, limited seating, a temperature screen, and required masking, only attorneys on the docket and litigants will be allowed to attend.&nbsp; &nbsp;All others interested in watching oral arguments are invited to view via the Supreme Court&rsquo;s livestream, <a href="https://livestream.lasc.org/">https://livestream.lasc.org</a>.&nbsp; The Court&rsquo;s livestream service was first launched in January 2007 and carries the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s oral arguments in real-time.&nbsp;</p><p>Due to the courthouse&rsquo;s closure for Hurricane Ida, matters on the Supreme Court&rsquo;s September Docket were moved to this session in October.&nbsp; The October docket can be viewed <a href="/dockets/Oct2021.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong style="text-align:center;">-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 8, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA DISTRICT JUDGES ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW OFFICERS</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;</strong> 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. The officers are as follows:</p><p>President &ndash; Judge Scott U. Schlegel, 24th Judicial District Court<br />First Vice President&ndash; Judge Daniel Ellender, 4th Judicial District Court<br />Second Vice President - Judge Patricia Koch, 9th Judicial District Court<br />Secretary &ndash; Judge Timothy Marcel, 29th Judicial District Court<br />Treasurer &ndash; Judge Lala Sylvester, 10th Judicial District Court<br />Immediate Past President &ndash; Judge Brady O&rsquo;Callaghan, 1st Judicial District Court</p><p>The Louisiana District Judges Association is a professional nonprofit corporation established in 1981. All Louisiana District Judges with general jurisdiction and Judges of Juvenile and Family Courts are eligible for membership. The mission of the LDJA includes the administration of justice, representation of the interests of judges, and the professional development of its membership to provide the greatest access to fair, just, and responsive trial courts. The newly elected officers will serve from October 5, 2021 through October 4, 2022.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="https://www.ldja.net" target="_blank">LDJA.net</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/">LASC.org</a>, or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-28_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-28_Judge_Scott_Schlegel_LDJA.jpg" alt="24th Judicial District Court Judge Scott U. Schlegel, Louisiana District Judges Association President" /><br /><span class="caption">24th Judicial District Court Judge Scott U. Schlegel,<br />Louisiana District Judges Association President</span></p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-28_Judge_Daniel_Ellender_LDJA.jpg" alt="4th Judicial District Court Judge Daniel Ellender, Louisiana District Judges Association First Vice President" /><br /><span class="caption">4th Judicial District Court Judge Daniel Ellender,<br />Louisiana District Judges Association First Vice President</span></p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-28_Judge_Patricia_Koch_LDJA.jpg" alt="9th Judicial District Court Judge Patricia Koch, Louisiana District Judges Association Second Vice President" /><br /><span class="caption">9th Judicial District Court Judge Patricia Koch,<br />Louisiana District Judges Association Second Vice President</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-28_Judge_Timothy_Marcel_LDJA.jpg" alt="29th Judicial District Court Judge Timothy Marcel, Louisiana District Judges Association Secretary" /><br /><span class="caption">29th Judicial District Court Judge Timothy Marcel,<br />Louisiana District Judges Association Secretary</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-28_Judge_Lala_Sylvester_LDJA.jpg" alt="10th Judicial District Court Judge Lala Sylvester, Louisiana District Judges Association Treasurer" /><br /><span class="caption">10th Judicial District Court Judge Lala Sylvester,<br />Louisiana District Judges Association Treasurer</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-28_Judge_Brady_O&#39;Callaghan_LDJA.jpg" alt="1st Judicial District Court Judge Brady O’Callaghan, Louisiana District Judges Association Immediate Past President" /><br /><span class="caption">1st Judicial District Court Judge Brady O&rsquo;Callaghan,<br />Louisiana District Judges Association Immediate Past President</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 4, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE 69<sup>TH</sup> ANNUAL RED MASS IS OBSERVED</strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>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.&nbsp; Judges, lawyers, officials of all faiths, and the public were invited to attend the Mass, which was preceded by a walking procession of judges from the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse to St. Louis Cathedral.&nbsp;</p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer remarked, &ldquo;At the annual Red Mass, we traditionally gather for blessings for members of Louisiana&rsquo;s legal profession at the opening of the judicial year. Numerous challenges have been unfortunately visited upon many communities across our state, with so many lives having been affected by storms and by the pandemic. In this upcoming judicial year, citizens from all walks of life will enter courtrooms, seeking judicial guidance in their efforts to recover from the events that have befallen our state. This year, in consultation with religious leaders and the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association, we broadened the request for divine blessings beyond the legal profession to include all who have been adversely affected by the storms and by the pandemic and now face difficulties on the road to recovery. Our citizens who were in the path of Hurricanes Laura and Ida are especially deserving of our prayers.&rdquo;</p><p>The Red Mass is sponsored by the Catholic Bishops of the State of Louisiana and the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association. The celebration of Red Mass goes back many centuries in Rome, Paris, and London. In Louisiana, Red Mass was first offered in St. Louis Cathedral on October 5, 1953.&nbsp; The Red Mass has also been celebrated annually in communities throughout Louisiana and in various states such as California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia, and the District of Columbia.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-27_RedMass01.jpg" width="350" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and Judges from across Louisiana were joined by local and state public officials at the annual Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and Judges from across Louisiana were joined by local and state public officials at the annual Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral.</span></p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-27_RedMass02.jpg" width="350" alt="The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans pauses to greet Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer and Orleans Civil District Court Chief Judge Bernadette D'Souzza, President, St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association." /><br /><span class="caption">The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans pauses to greet Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer and Orleans Civil District Court Chief Judge Bernadette D'Souzza, President, St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association.</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 24, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SCOTT J. CRICHTON</strong><br /><strong>OBSERVES CONSTITUTION DAY 2021 AT C.E. BYRD HIGH SCHOOL</strong><strong></strong></p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>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 <a href="https://lascorg.sharepoint.com/:p:/s/communityrelationsDC/EfPN3EDl0jNMsAtNnTS1osUBwqwCqPhP5Zgry77mwfRu6w?rtime=Nk0ssmB82Ug" target="_blank">Crime Consequences and the Power of Choice program</a>. 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.</p><p>Justice Crichton and C.E. Byrd High School Vice Principal Marilyn Prothro coordinated the visit to highlight the importance of civics education. The presentation, which is in conjunction with the <a href="/Education?p=Judges_in_the_Classroom">Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom</a> initiative, was held in observance of COVID guidelines, which limited attendance due to social distancing requirements.</p><p>&ldquo;As a result of my experience with young offenders while serving as a 1st Judicial District Court judge, I arrived at the decision to create a tool to communicate to students about the law,&rdquo; said Justice Crichton. &ldquo;My goal is to educate young people about criminal law and the real-life consequences of violating the law in a manner that they can understand. I think if they knew the possible ramifications of bad choices, they would make positive decisions accordingly.&rdquo;</p><p>The presentation, which has been viewed by over 25,000 students, parents, and teachers throughout the state, helps viewers by defining the justice system in an easily comprehensible manner. It covers topics pertinent to high school students and the average citizen, and includes an explanation of the branches of government and how laws are made and implemented. It also aims to define legal terms while discussing real-life situations. The &ldquo;Crime, Consequences and the Power of Choice&rdquo; presentation is available on the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s website at <a href="/">lasc.org</a> and has been shared with other judges to present to various audiences.</p><p>Constitution Day is a federal observance of September 17, 1787, when 39 Founding Fathers signed and adopted the U.S. Constitution, which recognizes the rights of all citizens whether by birth or naturalization. This year marks the 234th anniversary of this commemoration.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-26_Justice SJCrichton on stage at Byrd HS.jpg" width="350" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton presents his Crime, Consequences, and the Power of Choice Program to C.E. Byrd High School students. Photo Courtesy of Caddo Parish Public Schools." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton presents his Crime, Consequences, and the Power of Choice Program to C.E. Byrd High School students. Photo Courtesy of Caddo Parish Public Schools.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-26_Justice SJCrichton_DA J_Stewart_CE Byrd HS.jpg" width="350" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton and Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart following a Constitution Day presentation to C.E. Byrd High School students. Photo Courtesy of Caddo Parish Public Schools." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton and Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart following a Constitution Day presentation to C.E. Byrd High School students. Photo Courtesy of Caddo Parish Public Schools.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-26_DA J_Stewart at CE Byrd HS.jpg" width="350" alt="Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart presents to C.E. Byrd High School students in honor of Constitution Day. Photo Courtesy of Caddo Parish Public Schools." /><br /><span class="caption">Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart presents to C.E. Byrd High School students in honor of Constitution Day. Photo Courtesy of Caddo Parish Public Schools.</span> </p><p>&nbsp;</p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-26_SJCrichton presents at Byrd HS.jpg" width="350" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton presenting his Crime, Consequences, and the Power of Choice Program to C.E. Byrd High School students. Photo Courtesy of Caddo Parish Public Schools." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton presenting his Crime, Consequences, and the Power of Choice Program to C.E. Byrd High School students. Photo Courtesy of Caddo Parish Public Schools.</span> </p><p>&nbsp;</p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 23, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES</strong><br /><strong>ORDER SUSPENDING TIME LIMITATIONS IN SIX PARISHES</strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>Today, 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.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;"><strong>IT IS HEREBY <a href="/court_closure_orders/2021/2021-09-23_LASC_DEADLINES.pdf" target="_blank">ORDERED</a> THAT:</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">1. Emergency suspension of time limitations. All time periods, limitations, and delays pertaining to the initiation, continuation, prosecution, defense, appeal, and post-conviction relief of any prosecution of any state or municipal criminal, juvenile, wildlife, or traffic matter within the parishes of Lafourche, Orleans, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, Terrebonne, are hereby suspended for a period of 30 days commencing from September 26, 2021.</p><p>&ldquo;The Justices of the Supreme Court are aware of the challenges in the most severely impacted areas and commend the judges and public officials who have accepted the challenges to insure that citizens continue to be served by our system of justice,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Weimer. In executing this Order on behalf of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice added that it is intended to provide relief where needed, but otherwise, &ldquo;this Order does not prevent courts from moving forward if all parties are willing and able to do so.&rdquo;</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 17, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES</strong><br /><strong>ORDER EXTENDING FILING DEADLINES</strong><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>Today, 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&rsquo; declaration of emergency in Proclamation Numbers 173 JBE 2021 and 165 JBE 2021, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; 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:</p><p>IT IS HEREBY <a href="/court_closure_orders/2021/2021-09-17_LASC_DEADLINES.pdf" target="_blank">ORDERED</a> THAT:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">All filings which were or are due to this Court between Wednesday, September 1, 2021 through Friday, September 24, 2021 shall be considered timely if filed no later than Monday, September 27, 2021. Parties who are unable to meet this deadline due to Hurricane Ida or Tropical Storm Nicholas may submit motions for extensions of time, supported by appropriate documentation and argument.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td style="text-align:left;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 17, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN L. WEIMER</strong><br /><strong>OBSERVES CONSTITUTION DAY AT MORGAN CITY HIGH SCHOOL</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>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&rsquo;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.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer coordinated the visit with St. Mary Parish Superintendent of Schools Dr. Teresa Bagwell and Morgan City High School Principal Tim Hymel to highlight the importance of civics education. Dr. Bagwell, who has previously brought students to visit the state&rsquo;s high court, was similarly enthusiastic about the visit by the Chief Justice.</p><p>St. Mary Parish, and especially Morgan City High School, has strong ties for Chief Justice Weimer. His Supreme Court district and the appellate district he served while a judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeal both include St. Mary Parish. Morgan City High School Principal Tim Hymel was first hired as a teacher by Chief Justice Weimer&rsquo;s cousin, also named John Weimer (but pronounced Why-mer). Principal Hymel also attended the Chief Justice&rsquo;s beloved alma mater, Nicholls State University, where he was a pitcher on the Colonel&rsquo;s baseball team alongside the Chief&rsquo;s brother-in-law, Louis Hymel. Further, retired Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Harry T. Lemmon, whose seat Chief Justice Weimer was elected to fill, was a member of the Morgan City High School&rsquo;s class of 1945. Justice Lemmon was a star athlete and a member of that school&rsquo;s hall of fame. </p><p>&ldquo;These coincidences join each of us with past ties and a present role in education, especially during a time when the importance of education must be made a priority for our students,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Weimer. &rdquo;There is no better time for the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom program to support our state&rsquo;s educators in presenting civics education programs to students.&rdquo;</p><p>St. Mary Parish Superintendent of Schools Dr. Teresa Bagwell said, &ldquo;As educators we recognize the value of real-life experience in promoting learning that extends beyond the classroom. Programs that promote student understanding through those who are part of the process are so beneficial to their academic growth and possibly even their eventual career choice. We thoroughly enjoyed Justice Weimer&rsquo;s visit to Morgan City High School and are thankful for his role in advocating the Judges in the Classroom program.&rdquo;</p><p>Morgan City High School Principal Tim Hymel said, &ldquo;It was an honor to host a very special and highly knowledgeable &lsquo;teacher&rsquo; at Morgan City High School this morning as Justice Weimer met with our honors Civics and dual enrollment U.S. History students. His talent for explaining the role of the court and its challenges while answering questions posed by students is uniquely personable and offered them an insight into the application of Constitutional law that they will remember for years to come. As principal, I am grateful for the opportunity to welcome such a prestigious member of the court to our school and deeply appreciate his genuine support of education.&rdquo;</p><p>Constitution Day is a federal observance of September 17, 1787, when 39 Founding Fathers signed and adopted the U.S. Constitution, which recognizes the rights of all citizens whether by birth or naturalization. This year marks the 234th anniversary of this commemoration.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-23_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-23_CJ_Weimer_Constitution_Day_01.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer leads the Constitution Day 2021 program for students at Morgan City High School." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer leads the Constitution Day 2021 program for students at Morgan City High School.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-23_CJ_Weimer_Constitution_Day_02.jpg" alt="Joining Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer at the Morgan City High School Constitution Day 2021 program were (l to r): Mr. Tim Hymel: Principal, Morgan City High School; Mr. Kenneth E. Alfred: President, St. Mary Parish School Board; Dr. Theresa T. Bagwell: Superintendent, St. Mary Parish Schools; Chief Justice Weimer; Ms. Sandy L. Holloway, District 3 Representative, BESE President; Representative Beryl A. Amedée, Louisiana House District 51; and Representative Vincent L. St. Blanc III, Louisiana House District 50." /><br /><span class="caption">Joining Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer at the Morgan City High School Constitution Day 2021 program were (l to r): Mr. Tim Hymel: Principal, Morgan City High School; Mr. Kenneth E. Alfred: President, St. Mary Parish School Board; Dr. Theresa T. Bagwell: Superintendent, St. Mary Parish Schools; Chief Justice Weimer; Ms. Sandy L. Holloway, District 3 Representative, BESE President; Representative Beryl A. Amed&eacute;e, Louisiana House District 51; and Representative Vincent L. St. Blanc III, Louisiana House District 50.</span> </p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>SEPTEMBER 9, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES ORDER EXTENDING ATTORNEY REGISTRATION COMPLIANCE DEADLINE</strong><strong></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA -&nbsp;</strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court has today <a href="https://www.lasc.org/court_closure_orders/2021/2021-09-09_LASC_Hurricane_Ida_Ineligibility_Extension.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>issued an Order</strong></a> extending the deadline for attorneys to comply with notices of delinquency for failure to complete annual registration by 30 days.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br />This extension allows attorneys to now comply with the registration requirements set forth in Supreme Court Rule XIX, Section 8D by September 30, 2021.&nbsp; Attorneys who are unable to meet this extended deadline due to hardships caused by Hurricane Ida may be granted additional relief on a case-by-case basis.<br /><br />&ldquo;The Louisiana Supreme Court is mindful of the impact of Hurricane Ida on our state&rsquo;s communities and people, including members of the bar and our state&rsquo;s judges,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer.&nbsp; &ldquo;We realize our communities impacted by the hurricane face a long road ahead, and know that the resilience and resolute nature of our people will guide them on the road to recovery.&rdquo;<br /><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="width:100%;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 8, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CONTINUES ITS WORK DURING </strong><br /><strong>AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE IDA</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA -&nbsp;</strong>Today, 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. The Court will also continue to accept and process pleadings submitted by e-filing, and has waived the e-filing convenience fee. While maintaining the Court&rsquo;s August 31, 2021 Order that noted the Supreme Court&rsquo;s closure until September 19, 2021, and that all filings due during this period of closure shall be deemed timely filed if filed on or before Monday, September 20, 2021, judicial operations have in fact been ongoing.</p><p>&ldquo;The work of the Court has continued during the aftermath of Hurricane Ida,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;The seven Justices have continued to meet in regular conferences to handle emergency and administrative matters and to consider writ applications and other court business. Many court employees have continued to do their jobs remotely, even while evacuated.&rdquo;</p><p>Oral arguments originally scheduled for September will be postponed until the week of October 18, 2021, and affected attorneys will be contacted with further information.</p><p>&ldquo;Our thoughts and prayers go out to the many people of Louisiana, including my home parish of Lafourche, who were ravaged by Hurricane Ida,&rdquo; commented Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;The devastation is widespread and shocking. In recent days I have traveled to most of the severely impacted areas. I have visited with judges and local officials and found them to be resilient and resolute to bring their communities back. We believe that one important way the Justices can contribute to this recovery is to continue our work, and we have done so without hesitation. We also thank the many judges throughout the area who have demonstrated their dedication and commitment to keeping the court system operational during this challenging time. In particular, thank you to the members of the Louisiana District Judges Association who have done a commendable job of assisting their colleagues in need.&rdquo;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 31, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES THREE ORDERS&nbsp;</strong><br /><strong>FOLLOWING THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE IDA</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA-&nbsp;</strong>Today, 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 <strong>closure of the Louisiana Supreme Court; emergency suspension of prescription and peremption and emergency suspension of abandonment;</strong> and <strong>emergency suspension of time limitations</strong>.&nbsp; The orders read in pertinent part as follows:</p><p><strong>IT IS <a href="/court_closure_orders/2021/2021-08-31_LASC.pdf" target="_blank">ORDERED</a> THAT:</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">The Louisiana Supreme Court Offices and the Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s office will be closed Wednesday, September 1, 2021 thru Sunday, September 19, 2021.&nbsp; &nbsp;All filings due during this period of closure, shall be deemed timely filed if filed on or before Monday, September 20, 2021.&nbsp; However, during this closure, the Court will continue to handle emergency matters as necessary.</p><p><strong>IT IS FURTHER <a href="/court_closure_orders/2021/2021-08-31_LASC.pdf" target="_blank">ORDERED</a> THAT:</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Cases scheduled to be heard on the September docket (September 7-9) are hereby postponed to the October docket, the week of October 18, 2021.</p><p>Additionally, Chief Justice Weimer, acting under the authority of Louisiana Civil Code Article 3472.1 and Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 562, and considering the state of emergency declared statewide by Governor John Bel Edwards as a result of then-Tropical Storm Ida in Proclamation 165 JBE 2021 on August 26, 2021 and the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Ida has caused in the state released the following Order:</p><p><strong>IT IS FURTHER <a href="/court_closure_orders/2021/2021-08-31_LASC_Ida_Civil.pdf" target="_blank">ORDERED</a> THAT:</strong></p><ol style="margin-left:30px;"><li>Emergency suspension of prescription and peremption: All prescriptive and peremptive periods are hereby suspended statewide for a period of thirty days commencing from the Governor&rsquo;s August 26, 2021 declaration of state of emergency.<br /><br /></li><li>Emergency suspension of abandonment:&nbsp; All periods of abandonment are hereby suspended statewide for thirty days commencing from the Governor&rsquo;s August 26, 2021 declaration of state of emergency.<br /><br /></li></ol><p>Further, Chief Justice Weimer, acting under the authority of Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 955 and 958, and considering the state of emergency declared statewide 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 catastrophic damage that Hurricane Ida has caused in the state, released the following Order:&nbsp;</p><p><strong>IT IS HEREBY <a href="/court_closure_orders/2021/2021-08-31_LASC_Ida_Criminal.pdf" target="_blank">ORDERED</a> THAT:</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Emergency suspension of time limitations.&nbsp; All time periods, limitations, and delays limitations pertaining to the initiation, continuation, prosecution, defense, appeal, and post-conviction relief of any prosecution of any state or municipal criminal, juvenile, wildlife, or traffic matter within the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Point Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana are hereby suspended for a period of 30 days commencing from August 26, 2021.</p><p>Court Closure Orders and information from courts across Louisiana are posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>, as they are received.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>*Muốn c&oacute; c&aacute;c văn bản đ&atilde; chuyển ngữ hoặc nếu cần được trợ gi&uacute;p về ng&ocirc;n ngữ li&ecirc;n quan đến việc to&agrave; &aacute;n đ&oacute;ng cửa ở Louisiana, xin vui l&ograve;ng li&ecirc;n lạc với Brian Wiggins ở <a href="mailto:ola@lasc.org">ola@lasc.org</a>*</p><p>*Para obtener informaci&oacute;n traducida o asistencia ling&uuml;&iacute;stica relacionada con cierres de tribunales en Luisiana, comun&iacute;quese con Brian Wiggins en <a href="mailto:ola@lasc.org">ola@lasc.org</a>*</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 27, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES</strong><br /><strong>CLOSURE DUE TO HURRICANE IDA</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA-</strong> Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer announced today that, considering the emergency created by the expected hazardous weather conditions resulting from Hurricane Ida, potentially causing road closures, the threat of high winds and flooding, and other safety risks for the public and court staff, the Louisiana Supreme Court Offices and the Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s Office will close at 1:00pm, today, August 27, 2021 and will remain closed until Wednesday, September 1, 2021. </p><p>Court Closure Orders and information from courts across Louisiana will be posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court, <a href="/"><strong>www.lasc.org</strong></a>, as they are received.</p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>JUNE 17, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES OBSERVANCE OF JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>In recognition of Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; 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.&nbsp; The Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s office, however, will remain open with reduced staff until 5:00 pm to receive filings, and Court Security will maintain a presence in the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse to address the possibility of inclement weather.<br /><br />&ldquo;This holiday provides a time to reflect on that day in our nation&rsquo;s history when the promise of the Declaration of Independence that all are &lsquo;created equal&rsquo; became a much more inclusive promise,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer.&nbsp; &ldquo;However, as a society, we still have work to do to ensure that the aspirational goal reflected in the Declaration becomes a reality.&rdquo;<br /><br />In recognition of Juneteenth, the Chief Justice encourages courts throughout Louisiana to review the Governor&rsquo;s press release and, guided by their workloads and discretion, observe Juneteenth in the spirit reflected in the Governor&rsquo;s proclamation.<br /><br />As stated in that proclamation, &ldquo;Juneteenth is a day of learning, sharing and honoring the history, culture, and achievements of African Americans across the state and nation in areas including education, medicine, art, culture, public service, economic development, politics, sports, civil and human rights; &hellip; to date, 47 states in the nation, including Louisiana, have designated Juneteenth a holiday or a special day of recognition &hellip; in honor of the rich history and contributions of African Americans to our state and country; &hellip; Juneteenth honors the significant contributions and advances made by African Americans in our state, across our nation, and throughout the world, and commemorates the strength and resolve of African Americans throughout their history &hellip;.&rdquo;<br /><br />On June 10, 2021, Governor Edwards signed House Bill 554 (ACT 128) enacting the Juneteenth celebration into law, making it a permanent state holiday.&nbsp; The law, co-authored by the entire Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, commemorates the official date of June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers to Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved people that the Civil War had ended and that the Emancipation Proclamation had freed them over two-and-a-half years prior.<br /><br />ACT 128 designates the third Saturday in June as Juneteenth Day throughout the State of Louisiana, in honor of the day African Americans celebrate Emancipation Day.&nbsp; Beginning in 2022, all state offices will be closed the Friday before that Saturday.<br /><br />On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution establishing June 19, 2021 as Juneteenth National Independence Day.&nbsp; On Wednesday, June 16, 2021, the United States House of Representatives, in a 415-14 vote, passed similar legislation.&nbsp; President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on Thursday, June 17, 2021.<br /><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>June 8, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>TRANSLATING THE LOUISIANA CIVIL CODE INTO SPANISH<br />A JURILINGUISTIC EXERCISE</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p>The Law Library of Louisiana and the Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society recently co-sponsored a free CLE titled, <em>Translating the Louisiana Civil Code into Spanish: A Jurilinguistic Exercise</em>. 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s 1825 Civil Code.</p><p>&ldquo;I think the turnout, especially including such a large international audience, further underscores the quality programming offered by the Law Library of Louisiana and Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;The level of interest in these programs both locally and internationally affirms the Library&rsquo;s commitment to offering interesting and informative content for its audiences.&rdquo;</p><p>The CLE was presented by Mariano Vitetta, research associate at CCLS, where he is responsible for the translation of the Louisiana Civil Code from English into Spanish under the leadership of Professor Olivier Mor&eacute;teau. Translating a civil code is a complex endeavor calling for expertise in both the law and legal translation, thus a &ldquo;jurilinguistic&rdquo; exercise. The Louisiana Civil Code, a unique piece of legislation that sets Louisiana apart, requires an approach combining legal translation, comparative law, and legal history. Participants in the CLE learned about the project&rsquo;s history and the intricacies of the translation process. With a Spanish translation, CCLS at LSU plans to make Louisiana&rsquo;s flagship legal instrument available to the legal Spanish-speaking community at large, while also paying homage to the years in which the territory was part of Spain. Civil Code Books I and IV in Spanish are now available on the Louisiana Civil Code Online trilingual database alongside the English and the French translation, which can be accessed here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.law.lsu.edu/clo/louisiana-civil-code-online/">https://www.law.lsu.edu/clo/louisiana-civil-code-online/</a></p><p>Mariano Vitetta obtained a degree as a certified legal translator (English-Spanish) and a law&nbsp;degree from the University of Buenos Aires. He also obtained an LL.M. in Comparative Law from&nbsp;LSU, with a dissertation on the connection between European-style codification and plain&nbsp;language. He has taught English-Spanish legal translation (CAECE University), legal writing and&nbsp;drafting in Spanish (Argentine Catholic University), and introduction to the common law tradition&nbsp;for law students (Austral University). Mr. Vitetta has been working for more than 15 years as a&nbsp;legal translator for law firms, companies, and academic institutions. His most recent published&nbsp;translations include Por qu&eacute; el derecho importa (Alon Harel, Marcial Pons 2018) and <em>Fostering&nbsp;Innovation for Agriculture 4.0: A Comprehensive Plant Germplasm System</em> (Miguel &Aacute;ngel Rapela,&nbsp;Springer 2019).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 27, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT APPOINTS VERONICA O. KOCLANES</strong><br /><strong>CLERK OF COURT; FIRST FEMALE CLERK IN COURT&rsquo;S 208-YEAR HISTORY</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong style="text-align:center;">New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>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&rsquo;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.</p><p>&ldquo;Veronica is a well-respected attorney who has spent the past 23 years on staff at the Supreme Court,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;Her experience and knowledge of the Court and its processes will serve her well as she takes on the responsibilities of Clerk of Court.&rdquo;</p><p>Ms. Koclanes brings a wealth of experience to the position, having served as a Law Clerk/Research Attorney for five Louisiana Supreme Court justices as well as a Research Attorney for the Civil Staff division of the Supreme Court. Additionally, she served as a Law Clerk for three judges on the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal and a Legislative Clerk in the Office of Senate President for the Louisiana Legislature. Ms. Koclanes earned her bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Louisiana State University in 1985. She earned her juris doctorate from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1991 where she was a member of the Moot Court and was Student Government Secretary. She joined the law firm of Milling, Benson, Woodward, and Hillyer and worked as an associate attorney from 1992-1995. She is admitted to the Louisiana State Bar and to practice in the Eastern District of the United States District Court.</p><p>&ldquo;I appreciate the trust and confidence placed in me by the justices of this Court,&rdquo; said Ms. Koclanes. &ldquo;I am honored to follow the exemplary service of John T. Olivier, who set a high standard over his 25 years as Clerk of Court. As was done by those who came before me, I look forward to serving the Court and the public with dignity and respect and ensuring the Clerk&rsquo;s office meets the expectations of the Court as well as all those parties whose matters come through this office.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6 text-center"><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-16_Veronica_Odinet_Koclanes_full.jpg" width="350" alt="Clerk of Court Veronica Odinet Koclanes" /><br /></div><div class="col-md-6 text-center"><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-16_Veronica_Odinet_Koclanes.jpg" width="350" alt="Clerk of Court Veronica Odinet Koclanes" /></p><p><span style="font-size:.8em;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="font-size:.8em;">&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 25, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN L. WEIMER</strong><br /><strong>PRESENTS JUDGES&rsquo; EDUCATION INITIATIVE TO COMMISSION </strong><br /><strong>ON CIVIC EDUCATION AND TO AREA JUDGES</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong><br /></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer presented the Court&rsquo;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&rsquo;s strategy for encouraging Louisiana&rsquo;s judges to visit elementary, middle, and high schools to present civics education instruction.</p><p>During his presentation, Chief Justice Weimer mentioned retired 4th Judicial District Judge Benjamin Jones, who, in 2001, developed the Judges in the Classroom initiative to bring Louisiana judges to classrooms to engage in civics education. As a former teacher of law and ethics at Nicholls State University, Chief Justice Weimer spoke about how interactions in his community made a difference in his life. For that reason, he encouraged judges to engage with current students. Chief Justice Weimer said, &ldquo;The more time judges spend in classrooms instructing young people about the consequences of inappropriate behavior, the importance of personal responsibility, the value of education, and how all are equal in a court of justice, the less time judges will have to spend in the courtroom, which is beneficial to society.&rdquo; Fourth Judicial District Court Judge C. Wendell Manning, who also has long advocated for judges serving as teachers, said, &ldquo;I commend Chief Justice Weimer&rsquo;s efforts to engage scholastic organizations in collaboration with district courts in outreach that will improve civics education in Louisiana schools.&rdquo;</p><p>On Saturday, May 22, 2021, Chief Justice Weimer also met with attendees of the 23rd Annual Meeting and Continuing Legal Education of the Louisiana Judicial Council, a local branch of the National Bar Association. The National Bar Association, founded in 1925, is the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges. During his meeting with participating judges, Chief Justice Weimer spoke on the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom initiative, which was met with great interest by those in attendance.</p><p>So passionate is the Court about developing the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom initiative, it has included programming during judicial education classes, which consists of an informative video and ideas for bringing the program to the community. The judicial education program is led by 24th JDC Judge Shayna Beevers Morvant, president, Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education; 32nd JDC Judge Randall L. Bethancourt; retired 4th JDC Judge Benjamin Jones; and 4th JDC Judge C. Wendell Manning. The informational video promotes judicial engagement in the classroom and includes footage of judges instructing students and the impact of that engagement on students. Additionally, judges will learn about &ldquo;Crime, Consequences and the Power of Choice&rdquo; in a presentation by Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton and 1st JDC Judge Karelia Stewart.</p><p>Courts often schedule student visits surrounding Law Day activities each year in May and on Constitution Day in September; however, Chief Justice Weimer is encouraging judges to further engage in their local school systems. He is building on the initial program by asking judges to not only invite students to the courtrooms for Law Day, but also to visit schools in their districts and invite students to state courthouses year-round.</p><p>The Supreme Court has also partnered with Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) in expanding the program and engaging Louisiana students with facts and information about our state&rsquo;s judicial system and to improve civic education throughout the state of Louisiana. The presentation to the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education highlighted possibilities for more collaborative efforts with the Court. As the Court maintains its responsibility to the rule of law, it also observes its allegiance to improving its community by reaching out to future generations and positively affecting the future of many.</p><p>&ldquo;I truly believe that judges can make a significant contribution to educating young people about the role of the courts in our system of government,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Weimer.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 6, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES</strong><br /><strong>AMENDMENTS TO LAWYER ADVERTISING RULES</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA&minus;&nbsp;</strong>Chief Justice John L. Weimer announced today the Court&rsquo;s adoption of <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/2021-14-Order_Amending_LA_Professional_Rules_of_Conduct_Attorney_Advertising_Rules.pdf" target="_blank">amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct</a> pertaining to lawyer advertising. The Rules of Professional Conduct set forth the standards of ethical conduct required of lawyers.</p><p>The amendments are the result of a study and recommendations to the Court by the Louisiana State Bar Association&rsquo;s Rules of Professional Conduct Committee in response to Senate Concurrent Resolution 57 of the 2020 Regular Legislative Session, which requested the implementation of a lawyer advertisement review recognition program.</p><p>Among the significant changes to the rules are the following:</p><ul><li>A database of all advertisements and unsolicited written communications that have been filed with the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) shall be made readily available to and searchable by the public.<br /><br /></li><li>All &ldquo;non-exempt&rdquo; advertisements and unsolicited written communications (as defined in the Rules) shall contain a &ldquo;filing number&rdquo; visible on the communication. The number will be provided by the LSBA at the time of the filing required by Rule of Professional Conduct 7.7.<br /><br /></li><li>Advertisements and unsolicited written communications that contain a reference or testimonial to past successes or results obtained must contain a disclaimer such as &ldquo;Results May Vary&rdquo; or &ldquo;Past Results are not a Guarantee of Future Success.&rdquo;</li></ul><p>&ldquo;This newly-implemented searchable public database, along with the additionally-enacted rule changes, will offer the ability to review compliance with rules governing attorney advertising in Louisiana, and will provide a safeguard against false or misleading advertising for the public,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;I would like to commend the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Rules of Professional Conduct Committee for their hard work and thoughtful deliberation on this important matter.&rdquo;</p><p>The amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct become effective on January 1, 2022, in order to provide (i) the LSBA with sufficient time to create the public database and (ii) lawyers&nbsp; with ample opportunity to evaluate the rule changes and review their advertising practices.</p><p>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S.&nbsp;Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>APRIL 30, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>APPOINTMENTS TO THE&nbsp;</strong><br /><strong>JUDICIARY COMMISSION OF LOUISIANA</strong></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA&minus;</strong>&nbsp;Several new appointments have been made to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, including Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Robin D. Pittman and citizen Suzanne H. Stinson. In addition, Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, Judge John J. Molaison, Jr. was elected Commission Chair, and First Judicial District Court Judge Brady O&rsquo;Callaghan was elected Vice Chair. Further, attorney David Becker was appointed Judiciary Commission Counsel, succeeding attorney Kelly McNeil Legier.</p><p>Orleans Criminal District Court Deputy Chief Judge Robin D. Pittman was appointed judge- member of the Commission for a four-year term by the Louisiana Supreme Court, commencing January 1, 2021. Judge Pittman received her bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Loyola University New Orleans in 1991 and her juris doctor from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 1996. Judge Pittman served as an assistant district attorney for the Orleans Parish District Attorney&rsquo;s Office, as deputy disciplinary counsel with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and as an associate in the litigation section of Baldwin Haspel Burke &amp; Mayer Law Firm where she worked until her election to the Orleans Criminal District Court bench in 2009. She previously served on the Louisiana Judicial College Board of Governors and the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics. Judge Pittman is a member of the American Judges Association, National Bar Association, Louisiana Judicial Council, Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans Bar Association, Louisiana District Judges Association, National Association of Women Judges, Fourth &amp; Fifth Circuit Judges Associations, Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, and Association of Women Attorneys. She succeeds Judge Sharon Darville Wilson as a judge-member on the Judiciary Commission.</p><p>Suzanne H. Stinson was appointed as a citizen-member of the Judiciary Commission by the Louisiana District Judges Association for a four-year term commencing March 22, 2021. This is Ms. Stinson&rsquo;s second term on the Commission. She began working at the 26th Judicial Court District as a&nbsp;court reporter in 1982. Ms. Stinson received her bachelor&rsquo;s degree in 1988, a master&rsquo;s degree in 1992,&nbsp;and a second master&rsquo;s degree in 1994, all from Louisiana Tech University. She served in the Louisiana&nbsp;National Guard from 1979 to 1982. Ms. Stinson is a Fellow of the Institute for Court Management and&nbsp;received her Certificate of Judicial Administration from Michigan State University. In 1996, she was&nbsp;appointed court administrator for the 26th Judicial District Court where she worked until her retirement&nbsp;in 2014. She is a past president of the National Association for Court Management, served on the board&nbsp;of directors for the International Association of Court Management, and also served as president of the&nbsp;Louisiana Court Administrators Association. She previously served on the Judicial Compensation&nbsp;Commission, the State Court Rules Committee, the Advisory Committee to the Performance Audit on&nbsp;Jury Practices, the Disaster Recovery Planning Committee, and the Louisiana Integrated Juvenile&nbsp;Justice Information System Committee. Ms. Stinson succeeds Sibal S. Holt as a citizen-member on the&nbsp;Commission.</p><p>Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, Judge John J. Molaison, Jr. was elected to serve as&nbsp;Chair of the Commission for a term of one year commencing December 11, 2020. Judge Molaison&nbsp;received his bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Loyola University New Orleans in 1983 and his juris doctor from&nbsp;Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 1986. He was elected to the Louisiana Court of&nbsp;Appeal, Fifth Circuit, in 2018. From 2007 to 2018, he served on the 24th Judicial District Court, where&nbsp;he was reelected without opposition and served as Chief Judge. In addition to serving as a Drug&nbsp;Treatment Court judge, he helped create the D.W.I. Treatment Court, the Veterans Treatment Court,&nbsp;the Re-entry Court, the Swift and Certain Intensive Probation Court, and the 24th Judicial District Court&rsquo;s&nbsp;supervised misdemeanor probation program. He has served as president of the Louisiana District&nbsp;Judges Association. From 1986-2007, Judge Molaison worked with the Jefferson Parish District&nbsp;Attorney&rsquo;s Office where he held several positions including: Executive Assistant District Attorney,&nbsp;Supervisor of Parish Courts, Felony Trial Assistant District Attorney, Felony Screening Assistant District&nbsp;Attorney, and Research and Appeals District Attorney. During this time he also was a partner in the law&nbsp;firms of John Molaison, Jr. &amp; Associates 2005 - 2007 and Molaison &amp; LeBlanc 1988 - 2005. He served&nbsp;as the Prosecutor and City Attorney for the City of Westwego and the Prosecutor and Town Attorney&nbsp;for the Town of Grand Isle. Judge Molaison is the appellate judge member of the Judiciary Commission,&nbsp;succeeding Chief Judge Felicia Toney Williams. He succeeds Baton Rouge attorney Edward J. Walters,&nbsp;Jr. as Commission Chair.</p><p>First Judicial District Court Judge Brady O&rsquo;Callaghan was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the&nbsp;Commission for a one-year term commencing December 11, 2020. Judge O'Callaghan received his&nbsp;bachelor&rsquo;s degree with honors in philosophy from Yale University in 1995 and his juris doctor from&nbsp;Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1999. After two years of general civil practice&nbsp;in Baton Rouge, he served as a prosecutor in the Orleans Parish District Attorney&rsquo;s Office, and then&nbsp;returned to Shreveport to serve as an assistant district attorney for Caddo Parish. Judge O&rsquo;Callaghan&nbsp;was elected in 2013 as a district judge for the First Judicial District Court, Section 3. He is president of&nbsp;the Louisiana District Judges Association and serves as a board member of the Supreme Court of&nbsp;Louisiana Historical Society. He formerly served as a hearing officer for the Commission and succeeds&nbsp;Judge John J. Molaison, Jr. as Vice Chair.</p><p>Attorney David Becker was recently appointed Judiciary Commission Counsel by the Louisiana&nbsp;Supreme Court. He received his bachelor&rsquo;s degree from The Wharton School at the University of&nbsp;Pennsylvania in 2000 and his juris doctor from The George Washington University Law School in 2007.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prior to his position as Judiciary Commission Counsel, he served as Assistant Commission Counsel for&nbsp;approximately six years. After law school, he clerked for Judge Fortunato P. Benavides on the United&nbsp;States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Judge William Wayne Justice on the United States&nbsp;District Court for the Western District of Texas. Mr. Becker also spent several years practicing appellate&nbsp;law at Vinson &amp; Elkins, LLP.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For more information visit <a href="http://www.lasc.org" target="_blank">lasc.org</a> or <a href="www.judiciarycommissionla.org" target="_blank">www.judiciarycommissionla.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme&nbsp;Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at tvincent@lasc.org or (504) 310-2590. </p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>APRIL 8, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES</strong><br /><strong>METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION OF JULY 2021 BAR EXAMINATION</strong></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA&minus;</strong>&nbsp;Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Bar Admissions (COBA), the Louisiana Supreme Court <a href="https://www.lasc.org/COVID19/Orders/2021-04-07_LASC_BarExam.pdf" target="_blank">issued an Order</a> announcing the method of administering the July 2021 Louisiana Bar Examination due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>The July 2021 remote bar examination will be in open-book format, with no live monitoring or proctoring. The exam will be administered utilizing the services of a third-party software vendor. Applicants will download the software onto their personal computer to facilitate viewing and responding to examination questions. The Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions will publish information regarding the third-party software vendor no later than May 1, 2021.</p><p>Chief Justice John L. Weimer stated, &ldquo;Faced with ongoing developments of the pandemic, it is important that we keep safety at the forefront while remaining vigilant in fairly administering the bar exam. Louisiana is not alone in its approach. According to the National Conference of Bar Examiners, to date, 22 states have announced the need to administer the bar exam remotely. I&rsquo;d like to thank COBA volunteers and staff who work so diligently in preparation and administration of the bar examination. I also wish the applicants success.&rdquo;<br /></p><p>Applicants must complete all other requirements for admission as set forth in Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XVII, including satisfying character and fitness requirements and passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>MARCH 30, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE PIPER GRIFFIN INSTALLS</strong><br /><strong>NEW ORLEANS PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION 2021 BOARD MEMBERS</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong><br /></strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>New Orleans, LA&minus;</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/About/Biography?p=Piper_D._Griffin" target="_blank">Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin</a> swore in <a href="http://noparalegals.org" target="_blank">New Orleans Paralegal Association</a> (NOPA) 2021 Board Members today. The organization is a local National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) affiliate. NOPA Board Members include, Tawanda Coleman, president; April Farmer, vice president; Samantha Corcoran, secretary(temp) and Tulane University Paralegal Association Chapter director; Kellom Williams, treasurer; Lynne Hamilton, NFPA Primary Representative; Emily Price, NFPA Secondary Representative; Deidra Davis, Metairie Chapter director; and Zelda Gillan, Westbank Chapter director. Due to COVID-19 restrictions which rendered the high court&rsquo;s courtroom unavailable, the location for the swearing in was the scenic and appropriate backdrop of the front steps of the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse, where the Louisiana Supreme Court is located.</p><p>&ldquo;I enjoy supporting organizations that enrich the legal system. The New Orleans Paralegal Association gives paralegals a professional network that promotes heightened standards of legal education and enhances what they do in the judiciary and other legal entities daily,&rdquo; stated Justice Griffin. &ldquo;I am especially honored to install President Tawanda Coleman who served as my Court Crier/Minute Clerk at Orleans Civil District Court.&rdquo;</p><p>Organized in 1979, the New Orleans Paralegal Association (NOPA) membership is composed of paralegals, students, and vendors whose mission is to support professional<br />development and promote the professional advancement of paralegals in the Greater New&nbsp;Orleans area. NOPA, a voluntary non-profit organization, has called upon Justice Griffin&nbsp;on several occasions in the past to teach a Continuous Legal Education session or speak&nbsp;at its events.</p><p style="text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong style="text-align:center;">For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2021%2Fimages%2F2021-11_Justice_Griffin_NOPA_Board.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper Griffin Installs New Orleans Paralegal Association 2021 Board Members" /></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>MARCH 25, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"></span></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT WELCOMES</strong><br /><strong>TULANE LAW STUDENTS TO VIEW ORAL ARGUMENTS</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA&minus;</strong> As part of its ongoing &ldquo;Judges in the Classroom&rdquo; initiative, the Louisiana Supreme Court Justices today welcomed students from Tulane University School of Law to the Supreme Court to witness oral arguments presented to the Court. The students, who were joined by Tulane Law School Dean David Meyer, are from Justice Scott J. Crichton&rsquo;s Contemporary Issues in Legal Ethics class.</p><p>Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, law students as well as students throughout the state frequently visited the Royal Street courthouse in the French Quarter to watch oral arguments in person. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols exercised by the court, this viewing took place via the Louisiana Supreme Court livestream. The students were privy to view four lawyer disciplinary cases &ndash; three on docket for the morning session and one scheduled on the afternoon session.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer stated, &ldquo;The Supreme Court&rsquo;s priority is always adherence to justice; having students view oral arguments and seeing the law interpreted is an example of how our statewide judges in the classroom/students in the courtroom efforts can influence future generations of lawyers, judges and public servants. I applaud Justice Crichton and encourage judges statewide to teach students of all ages be they law students, college, or high school, so they have a sound understanding of the judiciary.&rdquo;</p><p>A four year instructor of the ethics class, which he teaches one evening a week, Justice Crichton stated, &ldquo;I share Chief Justice Weimer&rsquo;s passion for teaching and education, and enjoy providing learning opportunities to all grade levels of students,&rdquo; Justice Crichton continued. &ldquo;As part of the law school ethics class, I believe watching these arguments provides invaluable real-life&nbsp;examples of the lawyer disciplinary process in action. The Contemporary Issues in Legal Ethics class, is an advanced course primarily designed for 3L law students who have taken the basic lawyer ethics course.&rdquo;</p><p>The Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom initiative is a passion for Chief Justice Weimer, a former teacher himself. The Supreme Court has also partnered with Board of Elementary Secondary Education (BESE) in expanding the program and engaging Louisiana students with facts and information about our state&rsquo;s judicial system and to improve civic education throughout the state of Louisiana. Justice Crichton and Chief Justice Weimer are deeply involved in the Judges Imparting Knowledge, Education, and Skills Task Force. The Judges Imparting Knowledge, Education, and Skills Task Force was launched in 2021 with the objective of creating partnerships by encouraging judges to connect with their local elementary, middle, and high schools to promote a better understanding of the law and the judiciary through the "Judges in the Classroom" program. The statewide program involves regular participation by district judges in classroom discussions and opens courthouse doors for class visits, mock trials, and courtroom presentations. The program enhances the efforts of the 2001 &ldquo;Judges in the Classroom&rdquo; program spearheaded by then-4th JDC Judge Benjamin Jones.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lasc.org/">lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>&nbsp;or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 12, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">JURY MORATORIUM TO EXPIRE MARCH 31, 2021</span></strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>New Orleans</strong> - 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.</p><p style="text-align:left;">&ldquo;It is imperative that members of the public feel safe in returning to our courthouses for jury duty. Serving as a juror is one of the most important civic responsibilities to be undertaken by our citizens, and it is the courts&rsquo; responsibility to ensure their safety,&rdquo; stated Chief Justice John Weimer. &ldquo;In a jury trial, jurors are the most important people in the courthouse because without them, our system of justice simply cannot work. Thank you to everyone who steps up to serve as a juror as we schedule trials to work through the backlog of cases resulting from the pandemic.&rdquo;</p><p style="text-align:left;">Chief Justice Weimer continued, &ldquo;Mindful of our responsibility to provide a safe environment for our jurors, we assembled a diverse team of experts from the legal field to develop best practices in resuming jury trials. We consulted with medical experts, including Dr. Joseph Kanter of the Louisiana Department of Health (who, coincidently, responded to a summons for jury service), and Theresa Sokol, Louisiana State Epidemiologist, for advice on safety protocols. We have shared this advice with our judges, which I am confident will enhance the safety of our courthouses.&rdquo;</p><p style="text-align:left;">As state courts prepare for the resumption of jury trials, they will need to contemplate public traffic to courts and court facilities and staffing, while ensuring priority is given to public safety and the integrity of the judicial process. The goal is to build on current safety methods already used in state courts&mdash;such as wearing a mask, social distancing, hand sanitizing, and observance of building capacity rules.</p><p style="text-align:left;">Courts will need to be adaptive and reflective of ongoing changes as they adopt a &lsquo;new normal&rsquo; regarding in-person proceedings and jury trials. The public can be assured that while in-person attendance is required, the latest safety information has been utilized and is paramount in creating and maintaining an environment in which they can feel secure and free to conduct business while in courthouse facilities across the state of Louisiana.</p><p style="text-align:left;">Throughout the pandemic, judges have remained at work and adopted innovative technology to continue to serve those seeking justice. Mindful of a backlog of cases that may have resulted by the temporary halting of jury trials to ensure public safety, the Court also gathered a team of judges and stakeholders in the legal system to consider how to resolve any resulting backlog.</p><p style="text-align:left;">&ldquo;In the past year, courts have used video technology to conduct certain legal proceedings virtually; in the current phase, with the introduction of vaccine options, it is prudent to the judicial process that we adopt practices that allow us to serve the public in person,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer.</p><p style="text-align:left;">Chief Justice Weimer and the Justices of the Supreme Court wish to thank the following for their input and participation: Chief Judge Susan Chehardy, 5th Circuit Court of Appeal and President of the Louisiana Judicial College; Judge Brady O&rsquo;Callaghan, 1st JDC and President of the Louisiana District Judges&rsquo; Association; Judge Scott Schlegel, 24th JDC and Board Member of the Louisiana District Judges&rsquo; Association; Judge Danny Ellender, 4th JDC and Board Member of the Louisiana District Judges&rsquo; Association; Judge Patricia Koch, 9th JDC and Board Member of the Louisiana District Judges&rsquo; Association; Judge Timothy Marcel, 29th JDC and Board Member of the Louisiana District Judges&rsquo; Association; Chief Judge Wilson Fields, 19th JDC; Chief Judge Karen Herman, Orleans Criminal District Court; Judge Nakisha Ervin-Knott, Orleans Civil District Court; Judge Katherine Dorroh, 1st JDC; Judge Lala Sylvester, 10th JDC; Judge William Morvant, 19th JDC; Judge Scott Gardner, 22nd JDC; and judicial partners: Loren Lampert and Bobby Freeman, Louisiana District Attorneys Association; Remy Starns, State Public Defender; Debbie Hudnall, Executive Director, Clerks&rsquo; of Court Association; Alainna R. Mire, President of the Louisiana State Bar Association; Professor William Corbett, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel; Connie Koury, Louisiana Association of Justice; and Shannon Dirmann, Louisiana Sheriffs&rsquo; Association.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong style="text-align:center;">For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 4, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>NEW LOUISIANA CHILD IN NEED OF CARE BENCHBOOK</strong></span><br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>PUBLISHED AS A RESOURCE FOR JUVENILE COURT JUDGES</strong></span></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>New Orleans</strong> - 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 <a href="/children_families/LouisianaBenchBook2021.pdf" target="_blank">the Louisiana Child in Need of Care (CINC) Benchbook for Juvenile Judges.</a> 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 &amp; 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.</p><p>In addition to the judicial Benchbook, the collaborative also created <a href="/children_families/BenchCards.pdf" target="_blank">bench cards</a> and order templates that will be available to Louisiana&rsquo;s state judges and legal practitioners. This project, a deliverable goal of the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s Court Improvement Program, was undertaken in partnership with the Pelican Center for Children and Families to develop strategies to improve outcomes for Louisiana children and families in the state&rsquo;s child welfare system based upon review findings of the federal Children&rsquo;s Bureau.</p><p>&ldquo;I would like to thank those involved in this project for their hard work, dedication, and devotion on this initiative,&rdquo; said Chief Justice John L. Weimer. &ldquo;There were many who collaborated in making this important resource available and they are to be commended.&rdquo;<br /></p><p>A number of Louisiana state court judges were instrumental in providing input, guidance, and feedback on the content of the judicial Benchbook. Those judges include Jefferson Parish<br />Juvenile Court Judge Barron Burmaster, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Judge Desiree Cook-Calvin, 9th JDC Judge John Davidson, 15th JDC Judge Thomas Duplantier, 21st JDC Judge Blair Edwards, 22nd JDC Judge Scott Gardner, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court Judges Gail Grover and Adam Haney, 29th JDC Judge Timothy Marcel, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court Judge David Matlock, retired Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Judge Ernestine Gray and retired East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court Judge Kathleen Stewart Richey.</p><p>The Introduction to the Benchbook provides an orientation to this resource and its overarching practice principles. In addition, the Table of Contents outlines all information contained in the Benchbook. Additionally, editable versions of the Order templates are on the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s website, located on the Division of Children and Families, Court Improvement Program page at: <a href="/Children_Families?p=CIP">https://www.lasc.org/Children_Families?p=CIP</a>.<br /></p><p>The Benchbook may be directly accessed at:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.lasc.org/Children_Families?p=CIP">https://www.lasc.org/Children_Families?p=CIP</a></li><li><a href="https://clarola.org/">https://clarola.org/</a></li></ul><p>For questions about the Benchbook or the work of the collaborative, please contact <a href="mailto:Cnelson@lasc.org">Otha Curtis Nelson, Jr.</a>, Deputy Judicial Administrator, Division of Children and Families, Louisiana Supreme Court.</p><p><strong style="text-align:center;">For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>February 16, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES</strong></span><br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>CLOSURE FEBRUARY 17, 2021</strong></span></p><p><strong>New Orleans</strong> - Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer announced that the Louisiana Supreme Court has <a href="/court_closure_orders/2021/2021-02-17_LASC_Winter_Storm.pdf" target="_blank">issued an Order</a> closing the offices of the Louisiana Supreme Court and Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;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 Order reads as follows:</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>IT IS ORDERED THAT:</strong></p><p style="margin-left:30px;">The Louisiana Supreme Court offices and the Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s office will be closed Wednesday, February 17, 2021. All filings due on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 shall be deemed timely filed if filed on or before Thursday, February 18, 2021.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">&nbsp;</p><p>Court Closure Orders and information from courts across Louisiana will be posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>, as they are received.<br /></p><p>The Order issued by the Louisiana Supreme Court can be found <a href="/court_closure_orders/2021/2021-02-17_LASC_Winter_Storm.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>February 11, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT EXTENDS JURY TRIAL MORATORIUM</strong></span><br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>THROUGH MARCH 31, 2021</strong></span></p><p><strong>New Orleans</strong> - The Louisiana Supreme Court <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2021-02-11_LASC_Order.pdf" target="_blank">issued an Order</a> dated February 11, 2021 to extend the existing moratorium on jury trials through March 31, 2021. (Jury trials that are in progress may continue, in the discretion of the local court, and grand jury proceedings are explicitly not suspended by the Order.) The Court reached this decision after considering the ongoing public health emergency created by increasing numbers and the spread of the coronavirus, but also considering the ongoing distribution of the vaccine across the state. Accordingly, the Court decided that commencing April 1, 2021, local courts will be responsible for determining whether jury trials will commence, and safety protocols, including strict social distancing and mask mandates, must be enforced to ensure the safety of all participants. Acting under the authority of Article V, Section 1 of Constitution of 1974, and the inherent power of this Court, while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts, the Court Order provides the following:</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:</strong></p><ol><li style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Jury Trials:</strong></span>&nbsp;No civil or criminal jury trial shall commence in any Louisiana state court before April 1, 2021. Civil and criminal jury trials that are in progress as of the date of this Order may continue to conclusion, in the discretion of the local court.<br /><br />Grand jury proceedings may continue and are not suspended by this Order. New grand juries may be empaneled as necessary.<br /><br /></li><li style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Speedy Trial Computations</strong></span><strong>:</strong>&nbsp;Given the public health concerns and the necessity of taking action to slow the spread of the disease, the continuances occasioned by Section 1 of this Order serve the ends of justice and outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial. Therefore, the time periods of such continuance shall be excluded from speedy trial computations pursuant to law, including but not limited to those set forth in the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure and the Louisiana Children&rsquo;s Code, and presumptively constitute just cause.<br /><br /></li><li style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>In-Person </strong></span><strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;">and Remote Proceedings</span>:</strong> The provisions set forth in this Court&rsquo;s January 11, 2021 Order regarding in-person and remote proceedings remain in full force and effect.<br /><br /></li><li style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Expiration of Order</strong></span><strong>:</strong> Commencing on April 1, 2021, local courts will be responsible for evaluating and determining whether jury trials may be conducted safely within their jurisdictions, subject to any restrictions that might be in place at that time. Safety protocols, including strict social distancing and mask mandates, must be enforced to ensure the safety of all participants. In-custody criminal trials should take priority over all other matters when the moratorium is lifted, and potential jurors citing pandemic-related health concerns should be excused.<span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></li></ol><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:</strong><br />In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme&nbsp;Court may issue Orders and information as necessary to address the circumstances arising from this&nbsp;pandemic and will post such Orders on its website, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>. We ask and&nbsp;encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the&nbsp;Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p>- <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/2021-06_Esp.pdf" target="_blank">En Espa&ntilde;ol</a><br />- <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/2021-06_Veit.pdf" target="_blank">bằng tiếng việt</a></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>February 5, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT</strong><br /><strong>ANNOUNCES BLACK HISTORY MONTH EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>New Orleans &ndash;</strong> The Louisiana Supreme Court today 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.</p><p style="text-align:left;">On Friday, February 5, 2021, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice Jay B. McCallum, Justice Piper D. Griffin, and Louisiana State Bar Association President Alainna R. Mire will host 20 second-grade students from Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans for a book-reading on Thurgood Marshall, who was the first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court. The reading of the selected book, &ldquo;The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall&rsquo;s Life, Leadership, and Legacy,&rdquo; will be digitally recorded and shared with elementary schools statewide by BESE and the Louisiana Department of Education. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed.<br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">Additional educational outreach initiatives scheduled for February will include four issues of the Supreme Court Library newsletter <em>De Novo</em>, featuring several African American legal pioneers, with one article being issued each week. Those highlighted will include noted civil rights attorney A.P. Tureaud, whose litigation helped end Jim Crow laws in New Orleans; Homer Plessy, whose challenge to the Separate Car Act in Louisiana moved to strike down barriers to equality, and later inspired many in the Civil Rights movement to challenge society and improve its laws; Ernest N. &ldquo;Dutch&rdquo; Morial, the first African American Mayor of New Orleans, the first African American to graduate from LSU Law School, and the first African American to serve on Louisiana&rsquo;s Fourth&nbsp;Circuit Court of Appeal; and Bernette Joshua Johnson, the first African American Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana and one of the first two African American females to graduate from LSU Law School.</p><p style="text-align:left;">Additional Black History Month educational materials will include a presentation by the Law Library of Louisiana entitled <em>Pioneers in Diversity</em>, highlighting those trailblazing men and women of color who have served on state courts in Louisiana.</p><p style="text-align:left;">&ldquo;I believe that judges can make a significant contribution to educating young people about the role of the courts in our system of government,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Weimer. &ldquo;During Black History Month, it is beneficial to share the experience of those who sought to make the promise of the Declaration of Independence, that all are created equally, a reality.&rdquo;</p><p style="text-align:left;">Chief Justice Weimer, in his commitment to promoting civic education, formed a partnership with BESE to increase judicial engagement with Louisiana schools and has encouraged the Louisiana judiciary to have frequent visits to schools statewide. As a result, the Louisiana Center for Law and Civics Education&rsquo;s &ldquo;Judges in the Classroom&rdquo; and Adult Civics Education (ACE) programs, as well as &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t Let This Be You,&rdquo; a program spearheaded by Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott Crichton, will continue to be proactive in finding new ways to engage judges in sharing civics education throughout Louisiana schools and in Louisiana communities.</p><p style="text-align:left;">The Supreme Court of Louisiana has long hosted student and general public tours of the Court which often include meeting one of the Justices. In March 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions barring public traffic to the court, the visits were suspended. This will mark the first visit by a group of students since March 2020. It also marks the first visit since the Court's collaboration with BESE to increase judicial educational opportunities with Louisiana students.</p><p style="text-align:left;">Materials for these three educational initiatives can be found on the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website throughout the month of February, <a href="http://www.lasc.org">www.lasc.org</a>.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 28, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE SCOTT SCHLEGEL RECOGNIZED</strong><br /><strong>BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AS A 2021 LEGAL REBEL</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><div><div style="text-align:center;float:right;"><h4 style="text-align:center;"><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-04_Schlegel.jpg" alt="24th JDC Judge Scott Schlegel" style="max-width:300px;margin-left:1em;" /><br />Judge Scott Schlegel<br /><span style="font-size:.8em;"></span></h4></div><p>24th Judicial District Court Judge Scott Schlegel, who serves as <a href="/Press_Release?p=2020-31"><strong>Chair of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission</strong></a>, 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, <em>2021 Legal Rebels: Meet 10 legal professionals who are courting change</em>, in the February issue of the <strong><a href="https://www.abajournal.com/legalrebels/article/judge-scott-schlegel-deployed-tools-to-help-keep-his-docket-moving-at-the-height-of-the-pandemic" target="_blank">American Bar Journal</a></strong>, a publication of the American Bar Association.</p><p>Chief Justice John L. Weimer said, &ldquo;I commend Judge Schlegel for his enthusiasm, dedication, hard work, and innovation in helping provide access to justice during these difficult times brought on by the pandemic. He has been at the forefront of bringing technology into the court system and has appropriately been nationally recognized.&rdquo;<br /></p><p>The ABA Journal and the ABA Center of Innovation began in 2009 identifying judges, lawyers, and legal professionals who find innovative, &ldquo;outside the box ways of improving the practice of law, often through technology.&rdquo; This year with the challenge the COVID-19 pandemic has presented for the courts&rsquo; ability to have in-person proceedings, these innovations could not have been more timely. Courts have long been implemented ways to use technology to serve their citizens but the pandemic has accelerated the development and processing of these technological advances.</p><p>&ldquo;It is an honor that the work we are doing here in Louisiana to modernize our court system has been recognized nationally,&rdquo; said Judge Schlegel.&rdquo; This truly has been a team effort and I want to personally thank my colleagues on the 24th Judicial District Court and our justice partners for supporting our efforts to make the courts more efficient, effective and accessible. I&rsquo;d also like to thank the Louisiana Supreme Court for its unwavering support of the lower courts during these challenging times. Together, we can continue to move the courts forward and utilize technology to<br />better serve the citizens of Louisiana.&rdquo;<br /></p><p>Judge Schlegel is being honored for being a catalyst of technological developments on the bench. Among his efforts is the development of an integrated video conferencing calendaring system that allows attorneys to conduct pretrial hearings via video, collaboration with legal technology companies to utilize platforms like Slack and Zoom, and developing online forms to assist with specialty court matters, allow virtual breakout rooms for attorney, client consultation, and hold virtual proceedings. Judge Schlegel launched a <strong><a href="https://www.courtonline.us/" target="_blank">courtonline.us</a></strong> website shortly after the COVID-19 crisis prohibited courts from public traffic. The website provides virtual access to 24th Judicial District Court proceedings via video conferences and <a href="https://www.onlinejudge.us/" target="_blank"><strong>onlinejudge.us</strong></a> provides resources to those with civil matters in Judge Schlegel&rsquo;s courtroom. These technological advances allow courts to prioritize the commitment to serve citizens while balancing the need to observe public health safety protocols for citizens and court staff.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong></strong><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><style>.picgrid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 3fr 2fr; grid-gap: .8rem; align-content: center; } </style></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent, LASC<br />504-310-2590<br /><br />Kevin Calbert, BESE<br />(225) 342-5847<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>JANUARY 18, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;<strong></strong></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><h4 style="text-align:center;"><strong>BESE Leadership to be Sworn-in by Louisiana Chief Justice</strong></h4><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><em>State&rsquo;s Highest Court and Top School Board to Partner on Education Initiatives</em></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>New Orleans</strong> - On <strong>Tuesday, January 19</strong>, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer will swear in the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) President Sandy Holloway, Vice President Kira Orange Jones, and Secretary-Treasurer Ashley Ellis as Board officers for 2021. The Chief Justice&rsquo;s participation in the virtual installation ceremony underscores the growing partnership between BESE and Louisiana&rsquo;s highest court to promote awareness and understanding of the legal justice system in K-12 classrooms.</p><p>The installation is scheduled for <strong>8:30 a.m.</strong>, prior to the start of BESE&rsquo;s regular January meetings in Baton Rouge and will be streamed live through the websites of BESE (<a href="https://bese.louisiana.gov" target="_blank">https://bese.louisiana.gov</a>) and the Louisiana Supreme Court (<a href="https://livestream.lasc.org">https://livestream.lasc.org</a>).</p><p>&ldquo;It is a true honor for our leadership team to be sworn-in by our new Chief Justice,&rdquo; said Holloway. &ldquo;I am excited about the work BESE will undertake in 2021 to expand literacy, improve accountability, and conduct a comprehensive review of academic standards in social studies. As we work to build standards that equip students to be informed, responsible citizens, we also embrace the opportunity to collaborate with the court system to enrich civics learning experiences and help ensure positive outcomes for our children.&rdquo;</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer, himself a former teacher of law and ethics at Nicholls State University, commented, &ldquo;It has always been important to me as a judge to get out into the community, to encourage personal responsibility and respect for the law, describe how our judicial system functions, and extol the benefits of treating all people with dignity and respect. Through this partnership between the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, we look forward to having our state&rsquo;s judges continue their involvement in the Louisiana Center for Law and Civics Education&rsquo;s &ldquo;Judges in the Classroom&rdquo; program to share lessons on the law and civic education in our schools, and the Adult Civics Education (ACE) program to reach out to adults in local communities. These initiatives, combined with others such as the &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t Let This Be You&rdquo; program spearheaded by my colleague, Justice Scott Crichton, can be achieved either in-person or through a web meeting, given any limitations which might be in place due to the pandemic. Judges and teachers share the commonality of being public servants, touching lives in a positive manner and, in most cases, using two-way communications for achieving successful outcomes; combining resources is monumental in affecting those we serve. It is my hope that through this collaboration we will be effective in influencing young minds by equipping them with additional tools for a brighter future.&rdquo;</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer is dedicated to creating partnerships by encouraging judges to connect with their local elementary, middle, and high schools to promote a better understanding of the law and the judiciary through the "Judges in the Classroom" program. The statewide program involves regular participation by district judges in classroom discussions and opens courthouse doors for class visits, mock trials, and courtroom presentations. Collaborating with BESE is an important step in expanding the program and engaging Louisiana students with facts and information about our state&rsquo;s judicial system.</p><p>In 2001, then-Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Benjamin Jones, in his role as president of the Louisiana District Judges Association (LDJA), gained overwhelming support for the &ldquo;Judges in the Classroom&rdquo; program. Judges developed materials to assist judge/teacher partners in designing their lesson plans to fit class levels, topics of interest, and learning objectives. Chief Justice Weimer plans to further implement and enhance the program by encouraging judges to visit public schools in their districts while welcoming student visits to their courtrooms. In his first act as Chief Justice on January 1, 2021, he communicated by letter to all judges, encouraging them to become active teachers.</p><p>In addition to establishing statewide, academic standards for social studies in K-12 education, BESE is active on the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education, established by the state legislature to educate students of the importance of citizen involvement in a representative democracy, and to promote collaboration among organizations in the state that conduct civic education programs.</p><p><em>BESE is the administrative policymaking body for elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana. The Board sets key education initiatives and works to outline an education agenda to achieve continuous improvement of public education as measured by student and school achievement. </em></p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590 or Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Communications Manager Kevin Calbert at <a href="mailto:Kevin.Calbert@la.gov">Kevin.Calbert@la.gov</a> or (225) 342-5847</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112px;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:1112px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>JANUARY 11, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES A NEW ORDER IMPOSING MORATORIUM ON JURY TRIALS UNTIL MARCH 1, 2021</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>New Orleans</strong> - The Louisiana Supreme Court <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2021-01-11_LASC_ORDER.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>issued an Order</strong></a> dated January 11 acting under the authority of Article V, Section 1 of Constitution of 1974, and the inherent power of this Court, and considering the continuing spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; declaration of public health emergencies in Proclamation Number 25 JBE 2020, and most recently renewed by Proclamation Number 209 JBE 2020, and in consideration of ongoing public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued the following order.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:</strong></p><ol><li style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Jury Trials:</span> No civil or criminal jury trial shall commence in any Louisiana state court before March 1, 2021. Civil and criminal jury trials that are in progress as of the date of this Order may continue to conclusion, in the discretion of the local court.<br /><br /></li><li style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Speedy Trial Computations</span>: Given the public health concerns and the necessity of taking action to slow the spread of the disease, the continuances occasioned by Section 1 of this Order serve the ends of justice and outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial. Therefore, the time periods of such continuance shall be excluded from speedy trial computations pursuant to law, including but not limited to those set forth in the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure and the Louisiana Children&rsquo;s Code, and presumptively constitute just cause.<br /><br /></li><li style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">In-Person Proceedings</span>: Courts are expressly authorized to continue to conduct in-person&nbsp;proceedings on all matters other than trial by jury. Therefore, for cases involving&nbsp;trial by jury, courts may conduct in-person proceedings in a pre-trial and post-trial&nbsp;posture.<br /><br />Grand jury proceedings may continue and are not suspended by this Order. New&nbsp;grand juries may be empaneled as necessary.<br /><br />In all matters, Courts should take measures to limit access to courtrooms and&nbsp;other spaces, with minimum physical contact, to practice social distancing and limit in-person&nbsp;court capacity to 50% of the total capacity, as determined by the State Fire&nbsp;Marshall, counting both the number of employees and members of the public present&nbsp;in the building at one time. <br /><br />As this situation is constantly changing, courts are further instructed to follow all&nbsp;guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control, the President and the Governor,&nbsp;and to further limit access to courtroom and other spaces to the maximum number of&nbsp;people set forth in any future guideline or official proclamation that may be issued.<br /><br /></li><li style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Remote Proceedings</span>: Courts are encouraged to conduct remote proceedings by&nbsp;telephone, video, teleconferencing, or any other means that do not involve in-person&nbsp;contact with consent of all parties and the judge. Any consent required for remote&nbsp;proceedings in civil matters shall not be unreasonably withheld by any party, which shall&nbsp;be enforced by the trial judge pursuant to the authority granted by Louisiana Code of&nbsp;Civil Procedure Article 191, or as expressly provided by law.</li></ol><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:</strong><br />In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme&nbsp;Court may issue Orders and information as necessary to address the circumstances arising from this&nbsp;pandemic and will post such Orders on its website, www.lasc.org and www.lasc.org/COVID19. We ask and&nbsp;encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the&nbsp;Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p>- <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/2021-01_Esp.pdf" target="_blank">En Espa&ntilde;ol</a><br />- <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2021/2021-01_Veit.pdf" target="_blank">bằng tiếng việt</a><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2021 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 7, 2021</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE 26TH LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT</strong><br /><strong>CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN L. WEIMER TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p>New Orleans, LA &ndash; Louisiana Supreme Court Justice <strong><a href="/About/Biography?p=John_L._Weimer">John L. Weimer</a></strong> took his oath today as the <strong>26th Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court</strong>.</p><p>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.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer began his judicial career with a 7&frac12; month appointment by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as Judge <em>pro tempore</em>, Division D, of the 17th Judicial District Court in 1993. Two years later, in 1995, he was elected to serve as Judge of the 17th Judicial District Court, Division A, and was re-elected in 1996 without opposition. In 1998, he was elected to serve on the Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1st Circuit.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer is a proud native of Lafourche Parish. He graduated from Thibodaux High School in 1972 and, in 1976, he graduated from Nicholls State University with academic honors. He was honored as a Hall of Fame graduate, and he twice served as student body President. He earned his Juris Doctorate from LSU in 1980.</p><p>John Weimer was born in Thibodaux, the eldest of five children. His father was called on to raise his children as a single parent following the death of his wife. John grew up in a modest home, while working in his father&rsquo;s service station where he learned the value of hard work, the virtue of honesty, and how important it is to treat everyone equally. He worked his way through college and law school as a manual laborer on oil rigs located offshore and on boats plying the rivers, bayous, and Gulf.</p><p>John Weimer practiced law in his hometown, served as a mediator, and taught law and ethics classes at Nicholls State University. He also served as director of the Free Enterprise Week Program, where he positively influenced many students who continue today to hold him in high regard. He received the <em>Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence</em> and was featured three times in <em>Who&rsquo;s Who Among America&rsquo;s Teachers</em>. He has been a long-time member of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education. With a passion for civic education, he frequently taught at schools throughout his supreme court district and established and coordinated the Lafourche Parish Student Government Day Program.</p><p>During his judicial career, Chief Justice Weimer was honored with the <em>Outstanding Judicial Award</em> from Victims and Citizens Against Crime, the <em>Outstanding Jurist Award</em> from Crimefighters, Inc., and the Common Sense Against Crime <em>Award of Merit</em>. In 2006, <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Law Dragon</span>, a national&nbsp;publication, named him one of the leading judges in America. He was also recognized for his&nbsp;significant assistance in establishing the Lafourche Parish Drug Treatment Court.&nbsp;</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer is an award-winning self-taught amateur painter. He was commissioned to&nbsp;design the posters for the 2005 and 2007 International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo. His paintings&nbsp;have also appeared on covers of the <em>Louisiana Bar Journal</em>. He has donated works of art that&nbsp;have raised funds for numerous charities, churches, schools, and volunteer fire departments.</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer is married to Penny Hymel, a former elementary school teacher, who was&nbsp;born and raised in the River Parishes. They are the parents of three daughters: Jacqueline,&nbsp;Katherine, and Emily.</p><p>As a result of COVID-19 protocols and restrictions, the investiture ceremony was livestreamed&nbsp;via the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website, where it will be available for viewing for several months. Family&nbsp;members and a limited number of invited guests attended the ceremony in person, following strict&nbsp;protocols, such as temperature screening, mask-wearing, and social distancing.</p><p>&ldquo;I am honored to serve as Chief Justice&rdquo;, commented the new Chief. &ldquo;I firmly believe that a judge&nbsp;is a public servant who serves by being dedicated to the principles of justice, fairness,&nbsp;independence, and impartiality while applying the law as written by the legislature.&rdquo;</p><p>Chief Justice Weimer&rsquo;s first act as Chief was to send all Louisiana judges a letter on January 1,&nbsp;2021, encouraging them to become active teachers: &ldquo;Judges have a unique opportunity to&nbsp;educate the community about the law and our legal system, and I urge my colleagues on the&nbsp;bench to take advantage of opportunities to teach&ndash;especially to teach our young people about&nbsp;respect for the law, personal responsibility, and consequences of inappropriate behavior.&rdquo;</p><p>The Louisiana Constitution provides that the justice with the longest tenure on the supreme court&nbsp;shall be chief justice. Upon the retirement of Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson on&nbsp;December 31, 2020, Justice Weimer became the senior justice on the court and, thus, the Chief&nbsp;Justice. As provided in the Constitution, the Chief Justice serves as the chief administrative officer&nbsp;of the judicial system of the state, subject to rules adopted by the court.<br /></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong></strong><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><style>.picgrid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 3fr 2fr; grid-gap: .8rem; align-content: center; } </style></p><div class="picgrid" style="text-align:center;"><h4 style="text-align:center;"><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-01_Weimer_Investiture_Ceremony.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John L. Weimer Takes the Oath of Office" /><br />Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer Takes the Oath of Office</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;"><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2021/images/2021-01_Weimer_John_L.jpg" alt="Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Louisiana Supreme Court" /><br />Chief Justice John L. Weimer<br /><span style="font-size:.8em;"></span></h4></div><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table style="width:1112.73px;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112.73px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:1112.73px;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="width:1112.73px;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>DECEMBER 30, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE BERNETTE JOSHUA JOHNSON RETIRES</span></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>New Orleans, LA &minus; The Louisiana Supreme Court congratulates Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson as she retires on December 31, 2020, marking the culmination of over three decades as a distinguished jurist and a 26-year career on the state&rsquo;s highest court. Chief Justice Johnson served as the 25th Chief Justice in the Court&rsquo;s history, the first African American Chief Justice, and the second female Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.</p><p>A graduate of Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans, where she was valedictorian, and Spelman College in Atlanta, Chief Justice Johnson developed a passion for assisting others through law while working summers with attorneys of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, working for the integration of public schools in the south. Chief Justice Johnson joined the annals of history at various stages of her 50 plus years in the legal profession. Even prior to her ascent to the Louisiana Supreme Court bench, she made history as one of the first two African American females to attend and graduate from Louisiana State University Law School in 1969. After working as managing attorney at New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation (NOLAC) (now Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, SLLS) in 1984, she was elected the first female Orleans Civil District Court Judge, serving for ten years before becoming Chief Judge in 1994. With a longing to make a greater difference, in 1994 following the retiring of Justice Revius Ortique, Jr., she ran for and was elected to serve on the Louisiana Supreme Court, making history as the first African American female to sit on that bench. On February 1, 2013, Chief Justice Johnson was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.</p><p>Chief Justice Johnson is the recipient of numerous highly coveted awards such as the 1998 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award by the American Bar Association; the 2000 Medal of Honor presented by the Mayor of the City of New Orleans; the 2000 Women&nbsp;of Wonder Award by the National Council of Negro Women; and the first-ever Ernest N. Morial&nbsp;Award presented by the New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation; the 2009 Distinguished Jurist&nbsp;Award presented by the Louisiana Bar Foundation; the 2010 Spirit of Excellence Award from the&nbsp;American Bar Association&rsquo;s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession; the&nbsp;National Bar Association inducted her into the NBA Hall of Fame and she was awarded the&nbsp;Distinguished Civil Rights Advocate Award by Attorney Barbara Arnwine on behalf of the Lawyers&rsquo;&nbsp;Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law also in 2010; in 2012, the National Urban League&nbsp;President&rsquo;s Award; the 2012 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People&nbsp;Award; the 2012 Exceptional Leadership Award presented by the Louisiana State Bar&nbsp;Association Diversity Committee; in 2013, the Martin Luther King Unsung Hero Award presented&nbsp;by LSU and the Joan Dempsey Klein Award by the National Association of Women Judges&nbsp;(NAWJ). In 2016 the Louisiana State Bar Association Board of Governors unanimously voted to&nbsp;combine the Trailblazer and Human Rights Awards into the aptly named, &ldquo;Louisiana State Bar&nbsp;Association Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Trailblazer Award.&rdquo; She was celebrated as&nbsp;the 2018 Good Apple Honoree by Louisiana Appleseed for increasing access to justice throughout&nbsp;her esteemed career, and received the Whitney M. Young Award by the Southeast Louisiana&nbsp;Council of the Boy Scouts of America at its Diversity in Scouting Gala. In 2019, she received the&nbsp;Gertrude E. Rush Award from the National Bar Association for her leadership in the community&nbsp;and in the legal profession and her concern for human and civil rights and later that year, the&nbsp;William H. Hastie Award by the National Bar Association (NBA) Judicial Council for excellence in&nbsp;legal and judicial scholarship and demonstrated commitment to justice under law.</p><p>She was honored in early 2020 when she received the National Association of Women&nbsp;Judges (NAWJ) Lady Justice Award, which honors those who use their person and position with&nbsp;equanimity, respect, transparency, and impartiality to advance the values of the NAWJ mission&nbsp;to promote the judicial role of protecting the rights of individuals under the rule of law. She was&nbsp;recently celebrated by the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association as a past chair.<br /></p><p>Earlier this month, Chief Justice Johnson was honored by her fellow justices and the&nbsp;Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society with the naming of the Chief Justice Bernette&nbsp;Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum, which is located on the first floor of the Supreme Court&nbsp;courthouse, to carry her legacy forward.</p><p>When asked to describe her legacy, Chief Justice Johnson commented that she hoped to&nbsp;be remembered for applying the law with fairness, turning a nonbiased eye to each case that&nbsp;came before her, treating all with dignity and respect, and shining a light on the problems of mass&nbsp;incarceration in Louisiana. When asked how she will spend her retirement, Chief Justice Johnson&nbsp;responded, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been a lawyer for over 50 years, a judge for 36 years including 26 at the Supreme&nbsp;Court, and a Chief Justice for almost 8 years; it has been a privilege to serve the citizens of the&nbsp;great state of Louisiana; I intend to see what retirement is like before going on to new challenges.&rdquo;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/biography%2FJohnson_Bernette.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson" width="300" /></p><p><span style="font-size:9.6px;text-align:justify;">Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 8, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT MUSEUM IS NAMED</strong><br /><strong>FOR RETIRING CHIEF JUSTICE BERNETTE JOSHUA JOHNSON</strong><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">New Orleans, LA &minus; The Louisiana Supreme Court announced today that the Louisiana Supreme Court Museum will be officially named the <strong>Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum</strong>, in tribute to Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, who will retire on December 31, 2020, after over three decades as a Louisiana judge and then justice. Chief Justice Johnson served as the Supreme Court&rsquo;s 25th Chief Justice and the first African-American and second female Chief Justice. The Museum is currently housed in the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans. The official naming was proposed to the Court by the Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society.</p><p style="text-align:left;">"I have a commitment to the fair application of justice, first in my role as Chief Justice but also to leave a legacy to those who follow in my path as I was inspired by many of the jurists whose accomplishments are memorialized in the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Johnson. &ldquo;I am pleased that the Museum further commemorates that commitment and am honored and thankful to the Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society and my colleagues, the present Justices on the bench, for this honor.&rdquo;</p><p style="text-align:left;">The Museum includes portraits of all 25 Chief Justices who have presided over the Louisiana Supreme Court throughout history. Additional display cases include just a few of the many awards and recognitions received by Chief Justice Johnson. Additionally, the Museum contains a replica of the building, historical papers from the <em>Plessy v. Ferguson</em> case, which originated in New Orleans, and information on New Orleans Colonial Law and Louisiana Civil Code. The Museum is also home to the &ldquo;Women in the Law&rdquo; exhibit, a historical timeline chronicling women&rsquo;s &ldquo;firsts&rdquo;</p><p style="text-align:left;">achievements in law, highlighting their determination, commitment, and often under-recognized contributions to jurisprudence. The Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society debuted the exhibit along with Chief Justice Johnson during her service as co-chair of the Annual National Association of Women Judges Conference in October 2013 when over 300 national and international women judges convened in New Orleans. Additional displays curated by the Law Library of Louisiana rotate throughout the year.</p><p style="text-align:left;">The Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum is located on the first floor of the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse in New Orleans, which is currently closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong></strong><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p><style>.picgrid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 3fr 2fr; grid-gap: .8rem; align-content: center; } </style> <div class="picgrid"><h4 style="text-align:center;"><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2020/images/Johnson_Museum.jpg" alt="The Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum" /><br />The Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum</h4><h4 style="text-align:center;"><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2020/images/Johnson_Museum_Portrait-c.jpg" alt="Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, Louisiana Supreme Cout" /><br />Chief Justice&nbsp;Bernette Joshua Johnson<br /><span style="font-size:.8em;">Portait by Haitian artist Ulrick Jean-Pierre, unveiled at the Court on February 17, 2014. Courtesy of The Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society</span></h4></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>November 20, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED NEED FOR LOVING FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN IN LOUISIANA</strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:left;">New Orleans, LA &minus; In honor of <strong>National Adoption Day, Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 1:00pm</strong> Orleans Parish Juvenile Court will finalize two adoptions and celebrate all adoptions finalized since last year&rsquo;s Adoption Day. Judges, lawyers, adoption professionals, child advocates, and community volunteers will participate in this virtual event, marking the 21st National Adoption Day event by Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, held each year in November which is National Adoption Month. The theme of this event is <strong>Adoption Wins over COVID-19</strong>.</p><p>&ldquo;It is imperative that we bring exposure to the need to adopt children who are in foster care and who do not have permanent homes by informing the public that the need remains even during the COVID-19 pandemic,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson. &ldquo;For those children waiting on a forever home and loving family, even in these times and perhaps especially in these times, there is still a need.&rdquo;</p><p>The purpose of video conferencing the event is to call attention to the continued need for children to be fostered and adopted by nurturing parents in positive environments. &ldquo;The adoption process has changed only in the fact that we are now holding adoption hearings remotely because of COVID-19; courts have generally restricted in-person hearings. However, there was a desire to make sure that adoptions were held and that the children could become a permanent member of a loving family as soon as possible,&rdquo; said Orleans Parish Juvenile Judge Ernestine Gray who spearheads the event in Orleans Parish. There are 3,527 children and youth in foster care in the State of Louisiana, with 254 of them in the Greater New Orleans area. Of the 3,527, 315 are freed for adoption with 110 of them needing an identified adoptive resource.</p><p>In Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, adoptions have continued since COVID-19 guidelines were first implemented, with the setting changing to &ldquo;virtual&rdquo; adoptions initially, back to in-person adoptions, albeit with limited family members present.</p><p>&ldquo;Foster care is already a stressful time in the lives of children, the uncertainty of where they will live permanently, if they will ever be reunified or have an adoptive family is already stressful, now that there is COVID, there is even more stress for all kids in general,&rdquo; said Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court Judicial Administrator Dawn Palermo. &ldquo;Children&rsquo;s routines have changed, their socialization, all of their daily lives are now different. For children in foster care, this stress is heightened. People should consider adoption for the simple fact that there are many children still waiting for a forever family home. Their need for a safe and permanent home does not stop because of COVID-19. Now more than ever our children in foster care need stability, need comfort, need love.&rdquo;</p><p>Historically, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving each year (National Adoption Day), courts throughout the United States open their doors to finalize adoptions of hundreds of children in foster care and celebrate all families that adopt.</p><p><strong>Click on the Zoom link below to join the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Event</strong><br /><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83603909372?pwd=cERUTnpYNXk0aG0yMDZSQ2QycmdwQT09">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83603909372?pwd=cERUTnpYNXk0aG0yMDZSQ2QycmdwQT09</a><br />Meeting ID: 836 0390 9372<br />Passcode: 160555<strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 29, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT WILL REMAIN CLOSED DUE TO HURRICANE ZETA</strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA-</strong> Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that the Louisiana Supreme Court offices and the Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s Office will be closed Thursday, October 29, 2020.</p><p>Court Closure Orders and information from courts across Louisiana will be posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>, as they are received.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong></strong><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 27, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES</strong><br /><strong>CLOSURE DUE TO HURRICANE ZETA</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA-</strong> Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that, considering the emergency created by the expected hazardous weather conditions resulting from Hurricane Zeta, potentially causing road closures, the threat of high winds and flooding, and other safety risks for the public and court staff, the Louisiana Supreme Court Offices and the Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s Office will close at 12:00pm, Wednesday, October 28, 2020.</p><p>Court Closure Orders and information from courts across Louisiana will be posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>, as they are received.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong></strong><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 23, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong></strong><strong></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>CHIEF JUSTICE BERNETTE JOSHUA JOHNSON ANNOUNCES</strong><br /><strong>THE FIRST LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN FOR LOUISIANA COURTS</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA-&nbsp;</strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today the creation of <a href="/Court_Interpreters/LAPwithAppend.pdf" target="_blank">the first-ever statewide Language Access Plan</a> (LAP) for Louisiana&rsquo;s courts. By a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in partnership with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), the Louisiana Supreme Court has committed to work with lower courts in the Louisiana judiciary to phase-in a language access program that will provide free language assistance services including but not limited to providing court interpreters to some 120,000 limited English proficient (LEP) individuals in all state court proceedings and operations.</p><p>&ldquo;The LAP is the result of several years of discussions with the U.S. Department of Justice. It was drafted in consultation with members of the LAP Stakeholder Committee, which included judges, court administrators, interpreters, and other judicial stakeholders,&rdquo; Chief Justice Johnson said. &ldquo;We appreciate the hard work of the Stakeholder Committee who I believe produced an excellent plan to move Louisiana forward in this critical area.&rdquo;</p><p>The purpose of the LAP is to provide effective language assistance services to limited English proficient individuals in order that they may effectively gain knowledge of and participate in judicial proceedings, programs, and services that they otherwise would not be able to utilize or understand. Additionally the plan includes a template to be used by each state court to develop its customized court language access plan.</p><p>The LAP, the realization of the Court&rsquo;s commitment to addressing language barriers, employs a &ldquo;phased-in approach&rdquo; with extensive input from the Supreme Court&rsquo;s Language Access Stakeholder Committee (&ldquo;Stakeholder Committee&rdquo;), the Supreme Court&rsquo;s Language Access Coordinator, and Judicial Administrator, as well as the DOJ. It includes stipulations on providing LEP individuals with translated paper and electronic notice about how to access interpreter services, how to provide translated paper and electronic court forms and&nbsp; information, explains the process for each court to collect and report interpreter use information to the Supreme Court, and how to create a process for language access complaints. Further, the Language Access Plan shall be a dynamic document which is periodically reviewed and updated to reflect new best&nbsp;practices in the judicial system and society.</p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 7, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES</strong><br /><strong>CLOSURE DUE TO HURRICANE DELTA</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA-</strong> Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that, considering the emergency created by the expected hazardous weather conditions resulting from Hurricane Delta, potentially causing road closures, the threat of high winds and flooding, and other safety risks for the public and court staff, the Louisiana Supreme Court Offices and the Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s Office will be closed Friday, October 9, 2020. All filings due on Friday, October 9, 2020, shall be deemed timely filed if filed on or before Monday, October 12, 2020.</p><p>Court Closure Orders and information from courts across Louisiana will be posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court, <strong><a href="/">www.lasc.org</a></strong>, as they are received.</p><p>The Order issued by the Louisiana Supreme Court can be found <a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-10-09_LASC_HurricaneDelta.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>. </p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>For more information visit<a href="/"> lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 7, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT RESCHEDULES THE</strong><br /><strong>2020 BAR EXAM DUE TO HURRICANE DELTA</strong></p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court announced today that considering the emergency declared statewide by Governor John Bel Edwards in Proclamation Number 133 JBE 2020 as a result of Hurricane Delta, which is forecast to result in widespread power outages that will adversely impact the administration of the remote bar examination on October 10, 2020 and present other safety risks for Louisiana citizens, the 2020 Louisiana Bar Exam scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2020 has been rescheduled to Tuesday, October 20, 2020 on recommendation of the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions. The rescheduled date of Tuesday, October 20, 2020 was selected out of concern for the applicants to insure that they had access to adequate power after possible outages relating to Hurricane Delta and to minimize the delay and the disruption with the applicants&rsquo; ongoing preparation for the exam.</p><p>Any applicant that is unable to take the exam on the rescheduled date due to adverse effects of Hurricane Delta will be allowed to postpone without penalty.</p><p>The Order issued by the Louisiana Supreme Court can be found <strong><a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-10-07_LASC_BarExam.pdf" target="_blank">here</a></strong>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>For more information visit<a href="/"> lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 24, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>CHIEF JUDGE FELICIA TONEY WILLIAMS ANNOUNCES HER RETIREMENT;</strong><br /><strong>RETIRED JUSTICE EDWARD JOSEPH BLEICH TO SERVE AS JUDGE PRO TEMPORE</strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong>New Orleans, LA -&nbsp;</strong>Today, the Louisiana Supreme Court announced that <strong><a href="/Press_Room/Press_Releases/2020/2020-33_BleichOrder.pdf" target="_blank">it has appointed</a></strong> retired Justice Edward Joseph Bleich as judge <em>pro tempore</em> of the Court of Appeal, Second Circuit, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Second Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Felicia Toney Williams, effective October 1, 2020. Retired Justice Bleich, who was unanimously approved by the Supreme Court, will serve October 1, 2020 through May 31, 2021 or until the vacancy is filled, whichever occurs sooner.</p><p>Chief Judge Felicia Toney Williams was the first African American to serve as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal, Second Circuit. She earned her bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Southern University of Baton Rouge in 1977 and her juris doctor from Southern University School of Law in Baton Rouge, LA in 1980. Following graduation, she served as an attorney with the United States Department of Justice, after which she worked as an attorney at Central Louisiana Legal Services and a central staff law clerk at the Louisiana Supreme Court. She later worked as Madison Parish Assistant District Attorney, and as a Partner at Williams and Williams, APLC. She was elected as 6th Judicial District Court Judge, Division B in 1991 where she served until her election to the Court of Appeal, Second Circuit bench in 1993. In 1994 she served as Louisiana Supreme Court Associate Justice <em>pro tempore.</em></p><p>&ldquo;Chief Judge Williams exemplifies commitment to justice evidenced by her impeccable 30 year career in the judiciary,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, &ldquo;her service on the bench has provided a beacon for her successors and she will certainly be missed.&rdquo; Associate Justice Scott J. Crichton commented, &ldquo;It has been my experience to witness her dedication to the rule of law. She is to be commended for her years of service. We additionally express our thanks to retired Justice Bleich for his willingness to serve.&rdquo;</p><p>Retired Justice Edward Joseph Bleich was elected to the 3rd Judicial District Court, Division B in 1985 and reelected without opposition in 1991. Pursuant to order of the Louisiana Supreme Court, retired Justice Bleich has previously served on the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in a <em>pro tempore </em>capacity on three previous occasions.&nbsp;<strong></strong></p><p><strong>For more information visit<a href="/"> lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 22, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES AN EMERGENCY</strong><br /><strong>ORDER EXTENDING SUSPENSION OF DEADLINES IN 8 PARISHES</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong></strong><strong>New Orleans, LA -&nbsp;</strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that considering the state of emergency declared statewide by Governor John Bel Edwards as a result of then-Tropical Storm Laura on August 21, 2020 in Executive Proclamation Number 108 JBE 2020 and the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Laura has caused in the state, The Louisiana Supreme Court has issued an emergency <strong><a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-09-22_LASC_LauraCiminalSuspension.pdf" target="_blank">Order</a></strong> suspending deadlines in criminal matters within eight parishes: <strong>Acadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Vermilion </strong>and <strong>Vernon.</strong> A September 9, 2020 Order suspended deadlines in 21 parishes, however today&rsquo;s Order extending the suspension of deadlines is relative to only the eight parishes listed above.</p><p>The <strong><a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-09-22_LASC_LauraCiminalSuspension.pdf" target="_blank">Order</a></strong> reads as follows:</p><ol><li><strong>Emergency suspension of time limitations.</strong> All time periods, limitations, and delays pertaining to the initiation, continuation, prosecution, defense, appeal, and post-conviction relief of any prosecution of any state or municipal criminal, juvenile, wildlife, or traffic matter within the parishes of Acadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Vermilion and Vernon are hereby suspended for a period of 30 days commencing from September 21, 2020.</li></ol><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit<a href="/"> lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><ul><li><a href="/Press_Room/Press_Releases/2020/2020-32_Esp.pdf" target="_blank">En Espa&ntilde;ol</a></li><li><a href="/Press_Room/Press_Releases/2020/2020-32_Viet.pdf" target="_blank">bằng tiếng việt</a></li></ul><br /><br /><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 16, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA&rsquo;S HIGH COURT CREATES</strong><br /><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION</strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong>New Orleans, LA -&nbsp;</strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court today <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2020/2020-31_TechnologyCommissionOrder.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>announced the creation</strong></a> of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission. The Commission, which will be a standing commission of the Court, will consist of judges from throughout the state from various levels of the judiciary who will be charged with identifying technology needs, establishing goals for implementation, devising best practices, and suggesting necessary rule changes and steps towards implementation of articulated technology goals for the judiciary.</p><p>&ldquo;In today&rsquo;s environment of rapidly advancing technology, creating this Commission of legal minds committed to addressing how to best ensure the judiciary&rsquo;s application and utilization of technological innovations will position us to better serve our citizens and to further advance Louisiana&rsquo;s judiciary,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.</p><p><a href="/press_room/press_releases/2020/2020-31_SchlegelBio.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>24th Judicial District Court Judge Scott Schlegel</strong></a> will Chair the Commission, which will make recommendations to the Louisiana Supreme Court related to technology. Judge Schlegel was recently named the recipient of the <a href="https://americanlegaltechnology.com/award-winners/#court" target="_blank"><strong><em>American Legal Technology Award</em></strong></a>, earned by a court or judicial officer for displaying outstanding use of technology that achieves a significant benefit to the public. Judge Schlegel was elected to the 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, Division D, in May 2013, and was later appointed to the Court&rsquo;s Management Committee. He currently serves as the Chairperson of the Specialty Treatment Court Committee for the 24th JDC; has been appointed to serve on the Council of Specialty Court Judges of the Louisiana Supreme Court; the Executive Board of the Louisiana District Judges Association (LDJA); as Chair of the LDJA/Department of Corrections Liaison Committee; as Chair of the LDJA Technology Committee; and as a member of the Louisiana State Law Institute&rsquo;s Criminal Code &amp; Code of Criminal Procedure Committee.</p><p>Initial members who will serve a term of two (2) years from the date of this order are:</p><ul><li><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court:</strong> Justice John Weimer; Justice Will Crain</li><li><strong>Louisiana Appeal Courts:</strong> Judge Susan Chehardy; Judge Jonathan Perry</li><li><strong>Louisiana District Courts:</strong> Judge Brady O&rsquo;Callaghan; Judge Scott Schlegel (Chairman); Judge Laurie Brister; Judge Marcus Hunter; Judge Nakisha Ervin-Knott; Judge John LeBlanc; Judge Clayton Davis</li><li><strong>Louisiana Juvenile Courts:</strong> Judge Blair Edwards</li><li><strong>Louisiana Family Courts:</strong> Judge Hunter Greene</li><li><strong>Louisiana City Courts:</strong> Judge Bryan Haggerty; Judge Kelli Temple</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>For more information visit<a href="/"> lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 13, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES CLOSURE DUE TO TROPICAL STORM SALLY</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA - </strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that, considering the emergency created by the expected hazardous weather conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Sally, the Louisiana Supreme Court Offices and the Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s office will be closed Monday, September 14 and Tuesday, September 15, 2020.</p><p>This closure is considered a legal holiday in accordance with LA R.S. 1:55. Court Closure Orders and information from courts across Louisiana will be posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>, as they are received. See <strong><a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-09-14_LASC.pdf" target="_blank">Order</a></strong>.</p><p><strong>For more information visit<a href="/"> lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><p>&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 11, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><strong>LOUISIANA THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL EMERGENCY MATTERS TEMPORARILY TRANSFERRED TO LOUISIANA FIFTH COURT OF APPEAL</strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong>New Orleans, LA &minus;</strong> Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced an <strong><a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-09-11_LASC_3rdCOATransferOrder.pdf" target="_blank">Order</a></strong> today temporarily transferring emergency matters from the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal to the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. This action is in consideration of the state of emergency declared statewide by Governor John Bel Edwards as a result of then-Tropical Storm Laura on August 21, 2020 in Executive Proclamation Number 108 JBE 2020 and the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Laura has caused in the state, including to the Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, incapacitating its operations. All such writ filings must utilize the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit <a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/5th_Writ_Intake_Form.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Writ Application Intake Form</strong></a> for expedited consideration.</p><p>The <strong><a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-09-11_LASC_3rdCOATransferOrder.pdf" target="_blank">Order</a></strong> reads as follows:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Matters seeking expedited consideration for criminal and civil matters that would have been filed in the Court of Appeal, Third Circuit are to be hereby temporarily transferred to the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit. This period of temporary transfer shall be effective immediately and shall last for thirty (30) days, unless terminated sooner by order of this court. Filings will be accepted at Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, P.O. Box 489, Gretna, LA 70054, or via fax filing (504) 576-0800, or via Efiling at <a href="https://ecourt.fifthcircuit.org" target="_blank">https://ecourt.fifthcircuit.org</a>. All such writ filings must utilize the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit Writ Application Intake Form for expedited consideration.<br /></p><ol style="margin-left:30px;"></ol><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>For more information visit<a href="/"> lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;margin-left:30px;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="text-align:left;" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 9, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES EMERGENCY ORDER SUSPENDING CRIMINAL MATTERS IN 21 PARISHES</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>New Orleans &minus; </strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that considering the state of emergency declared statewide by Governor John Bel Edwards as a result of then-Tropical Storm Laura on August 21, 2020 in Executive Proclamation Number 108 JBE 2020 and the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Laura has caused in the state, the Louisiana Supreme Court has issued an emergency <a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-09-09_LASC_CriminalSuspensionOrder.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Order</strong></a> suspending deadlines in criminal matters in 21 parishes: <strong>Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Bienville, Calcasieu, Cameron, Claiborne, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, Union, Vermilion, Vernon, </strong>and <strong>Winn</strong>.</p><p>The <a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-09-09_LASC_CriminalSuspensionOrder.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Order</strong></a> reads as follows:</p><ol><li><strong>Emergency suspension of time limitations. </strong>All time periods, limitations, and delays&nbsp;pertaining to the initiation, continuation, prosecution, defense, appeal, and post-conviction relief of any prosecution of any state or municipal criminal, juvenile, wildlife, or traffic matter within the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Bienville, Calcasieu, Cameron, Claiborne, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, Union, Vermilion, Vernon and Winn are hereby suspended for a period of 30 days commencing from August 21, 2020.<br /></li><li><strong>Prior Order. </strong>Part 2 of the Order of this Court dated September 2, 2020 suspending time&nbsp;limitations in Calcasieu Parish for ninety (90) days commencing on September 2, 2020 is hereby rescinded in accordance with Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 955D and replaced with the time limitation specified above. All other provisions of the September 2, 2020 Order remain in effect.<br /></li></ol><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>For more information visit<a href="/"> lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><ul><li><a href="/Press_Room/Press_Releases/2020/2020-28_Esp.pdf" target="_blank" style="color:#003e69;box-sizing:border-box;overflow-wrap:break-word;">En Espa&ntilde;ol</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="/Press_Room/Press_Releases/2020/2020-28_Viet.pdf" target="_blank" style="color:#003e69;box-sizing:border-box;overflow-wrap:break-word;">bằng tiếng việt</a></li></ul><p style="text-align:left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 2, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES UPDATED EMERGENCY ORDER DUE TO IMPACT OF HURRICANE LAURA&nbsp;</strong></span></p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced that considering the state of emergency declared statewide by Governor John Bel Edwards as a result of then-Tropical Storm Laura on August 21, 2020 and the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Laura has caused in the state, <a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-09-01_LASC_Hurricane_Laura_Deadlines.pdf">the Louisiana Supreme Court issued an updated emergency order affecting filings with the Louisiana Supreme Court.</a></p><p>This updated order, which replaces the order issued Friday, August 28, 2020, states &ldquo;All filings which were or are due to this Court between Monday, August 24, 2020 through Friday, September 25, 2020 shall be considered timely if filed no later than Monday, September 28, 2020. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Order shall not apply to any matter arising out of the Election Code (La. R.S. 18:1 et seq.). Parties who are unable to meet this deadline due to Hurricane Laura may submit motions for extensions of time, supported by appropriate documentation and argument.&rdquo;</p><p>Court closure orders resulting from Hurricane Laura and information for courts statewide are posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court at www.lasc.org, and updated as new information or orders are received.</p><p><strong>For more information visit<a href="/"> lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 2, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT APPOINTS ATTORNEY DON WEIR, JR. AS JUDGE PRO TEMPORE OF SHREVEPORT CITY COURT</span></strong></p><p></p><p>New Orleans - The Louisiana Supreme Court has appointed Shreveport attorney/mediator, Don Weir, Jr., as Judge <em>Pro Tempore</em> of Shreveport City Court, for the period from September 16, 2020 through December 31, 2020, or until the vacancy which currently exists in that court is filled.</p><p>Weir attended public schools in Shreveport. He then graduated from Washington &amp; Lee University (1972) and LSU Law School (1975), both with honors. He has practiced law in Shreveport since 1975 and has also served as a mediator since 1998. Weir has previously served as an <em>ad hoc</em> Judge in Shreveport City Court.</p><p>In 2017, Weir received the Shreveport Bar Association&rsquo;s Professionalism Award for his voluntary representation of abused minor children in protective order cases at the Caddo Parish Juvenile Court.</p><p>Upon completion of his appointment, Weir will return to his private legal and mediation practice.</p><p></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2020%2Fimages%2FWeir_Don.jpg" alt="Don Weir" width="200" /><br /></p><div class="caption">Don Weir</div>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 28, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES EMERGENCY ORDERS DUE TO IMPACT OF HURRICANE LAURA&nbsp;</span></strong><br /></p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that considering the state of emergency declared statewide by Governor John Bel Edwards as a result of then-Tropical Storm Laura on August 21, 2020 and the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Laura has caused in the state, <a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-08-28_LASC_Hurricane_Laura.pdf" target="_blank">t<strong>he Louisiana Supreme Court has issued an emergency order suspending all prescriptive, peremptive, and abandonment periods statewide</strong></a> for a period of thirty (30) days commencing from the Governor&rsquo;s August 21, 2020 declaration of state of emergency.&nbsp; The periods suspended above shall not include any matter arising out of the Election Code (La. R.S. 18:1 et seq.), which are specifically excluded from this Order.</p><p>&ldquo;The devastation caused by Hurricane Laura is widespread.&nbsp; We are aware of the many hardships those affected by Hurricane Laura will be facing, including members of the legal community, whose top priorities should be personal safety and recovery efforts,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><a href="/court_closure_orders/2020/2020-08-28_LASC_Hurricane_Laura_Deadlines.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court additionally issued a second emergency order affecting filings with the Louisiana Supreme Court.</strong></a>&nbsp; All filings which were or are due to this Court between Monday, August 24, 2020 through Friday, August 28, 2020 shall be considered timely if filed no later than Monday, September 28, 2020. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Order shall not apply to any matter arising out of the Election Code (La. R.S. 18:1 et seq.). Parties who are unable to meet this deadline due to Hurricane Laura may submit motions for extensions of time, supported by appropriate documentation and argument.</p><p>Court closure orders and information for courts statewide are posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court at <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>, and are updated as new information or orders are received.<br /><br /><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><ul><li><a href="/Press_Room/Press_Releases/2020/2020-25_Esp.pdf" target="_blank" style="color:#003e69;box-sizing:border-box;overflow-wrap:break-word;">En Espa&ntilde;ol</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="/Press_Room/Press_Releases/2020/2020-25_Viet.pdf" target="_blank" style="color:#003e69;box-sizing:border-box;overflow-wrap:break-word;">bằng tiếng việt</a></li></ul><p><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 23, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES CLOSURE DUE TO HURRICANE MARCO AND TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE LAURA</span></strong></p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that considering the emergency created by the expected hazardous weather conditions resulting from Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm/Hurricane Laura, potentially causing road closures, the threat of high winds and flooding, and other safety risks for the public and court staff, the Louisiana Supreme Court Offices and the Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s office will be closed Monday, August 24 through Wednesday, August 26, 2020.</p><p>This closure is considered a legal holiday in accordance with LA R.S. 1:55. All filings due during the period of closure shall be deemed timely filed if filed on Thursday, August 27, 2020.</p><p>Court Closure Orders and information from courts across Louisiana will be posted on the website of the Louisiana Supreme Court, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>, as they are received.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>August 12, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO METHOD OF <br />ADMINISTRATION OF AUGUST 24 AND OCTOBER 10, 2020 LOUISIANA BAR EXAM</span></strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><p><br /></p><p>Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Bar Admissions, the Louisiana Supreme Court <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-08-12_LASC_BarExam.pdf" target="_blank">issued an Order today</a> announcing modifications to the method of administering the August 24, 2020 and October 10, 2020 Louisiana Bar Exam due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>The August 24, 2020 and October 10, 2020 remote bar examinations will be in open-book format, with no live monitoring or proctoring. Applicants will receive the exam questions by email and submit responses by email, to an address established by the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions. Applicants may use outside materials to complete the exam but are prohibited from seeking or accepting assistance from any other individual during the exam.</p><p>&ldquo;The Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions has worked diligently throughout this pandemic to find workable solutions which will allow applicants the ability to safely sit for the Bar Exam while being mindful of issues which may present themselves that could affect the applicants&rsquo; ability to test,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson. &ldquo;The Committee on Bar Admissions advised that it is not feasible to administer the remote bar examinations utilizing the current software vendor, therefore today&rsquo;s Order provides Bar Exam applicants with the opportunity to sit for the Bar Exam without further delay due to conditions presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and possible&nbsp; unexpected technical issues which may have interrupted their remote testing.&rdquo;</p><p>Applicants must still complete all other requirements for admission as set forth in Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XVII, including satisfying character and fitness requirements and passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination.</p><p>The Court previously issued Orders dated May 13, 2020 amending Part I of the written examination required by Section 7 of Supreme Court Rule XVII and July 22, 2020 providing for two remote administrations of the previously announced 1-day Bar Examination: August 24, 2020 and October 10, 2020.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 27, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE BERNETTE JOSHUA JOHNSON FEATURED PANELIST ON </strong></span><br /><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>NATIONAL WEBINAR ON ACCESS TO JUSTICE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC</strong></span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson served as a featured panelist on a National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) webinar, &ldquo;Bridging the Justice Gap in a Pandemic,&rdquo; on July 22, 2020. The webinar served as a resource for judges on building strategies that prioritize access to justice with a commitment to safety in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Panel participants who also shared judicial strategies during the pandemic included Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens, Washington State Supreme Court and Justice Lucy A. Billings, New York State Supreme Court. Administrative Judge Lisa Walsh of the Appellate Division, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, served as moderator. NAWJ President and Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Bernadette D&rsquo;Souza offered opening remarks.</p><p>Chief Justice Johnson, whose final year on the state&rsquo;s High Court has been mostly consumed with addressing COVID-19 challenges, presented the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s strategy implemented to deal with the pandemic as its reach and impact carried across the state&rsquo;s judiciary. The presentation was entitled, &ldquo;Louisiana Judiciary&rsquo;s Response to Ensure Access to Justice during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.&rdquo; In the wake of COVID-19 government-imposed mandates in March 2020 through today, the Court continued to serve the public while adhering to public health concerns according to Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for capacity and social distancing. Chief Justice Johnson&rsquo;s presentation included a chronological record of the many <a href="/COVID19">Orders</a> issued by the Supreme Court regarding operations of the state court judicial system, <a href="/COVID19">correspondence</a> to state judges and others offering guidance on issues such as adult jail population, juvenile detention, domestic violence cases, evictions, etc., and <a href="/PressRoom/2020">press releases</a> to keep the public aware of ongoing developments. Additionally, the Court created and maintained a dedicated <a href="/COVID19">COVID-19 page</a> on its website to ensure a centralized location for all information posted and orders received from courts statewide related to the pandemic.</p><p>Chief Justice Johnson explained the goal of the Court&rsquo;s Orders to respond to the challenges presented by the pandemic while protecting and informing citizens of the state and abiding by the court&rsquo;s commitment to provide access to justice. This included limiting in-person proceedings to emergency matters and directing that other court proceedings be held via video conferencing. Judges were quickly trained on how to conduct remote proceedings and the court&rsquo;s Technology staff ensured that judges had the necessary computer equipment. As each Order was released, a corresponding press release was issued for public awareness of Court procedures during this unprecedented season and to inform the public of the continued access to the court system. The presentation also illustrated how the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s departments aligned with Information Technology to not only assist state judges with implementing remote conferencing, but also how IT staff assisted the Justices and staff with training and equipment to support their efforts to work remotely. Judges and attorneys trained on technology and become trainers of other judges and staff. Assistance was also available to judges from the <a href="https://lajudicialcollege.org/about-ljc/">Louisiana Judicial College</a> (LJC) and the <a href="https://ldja.net/">Louisiana District Judges Association</a> (LDJA). Technical support was available to state and city courts to assist any needs in convening via video conferencing whenever possible.</p><p>Additionally, for the first time in the 207-year history of the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Court held oral arguments in June 2020 utilizing video conference technology, which was livestreamed on the Court&rsquo;s website. Although the court has live-streamed oral arguments since January 2007, this was the first time attorneys argued cases before the Justices via video conferencing. </p><p>The NAWJ&rsquo;s mission is to promote the judicial role of protecting the rights of individuals under the rule of law through strong, committed, diverse judicial leadership; fairness and equality in the courts; and equal access to justice.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 24, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><div style="float:right;"><img style="margin-left:3em;margin-bottom:3em;" src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2020%2Fimages%2FDr.-Angela-White-Bazile-web.jpg" alt="Dr. Angela White-Bazile" width="300" /></div><p><strong>New Orleans, LA </strong>&ndash; Dr. Angela White-Bazile, Executive Counsel for Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, received the Hidden Figure Award from the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division during the Virtual Achievement Awards Champagne Reception on July 23, 2020.</p><p>Attorney Sunny Hostin, cohost of television&rsquo;s &ldquo;The View&rdquo; since 2016, was the Keynote Speaker.</p><p>The Hidden Figure Award recognizes a woman lawyer who may be described as a hidden figure because of her significant contributions to the legal profession that are not widely known.</p><p>A nominee had to meet one of the following criteria:</p><ul><li>Dared to be first and broke barriers or new ground;</li><li>Showed resilience to change the projections of her success, or the success of others;</li><li>Removed obstacles to aid in pursuing her career goals or the goals of others; or</li><li>Used her privilege or power to empower another lawyer.</li></ul><p>&ldquo;I am honored and humbled to receive this award,&rdquo; said Dr. White-Bazile. &ldquo;I have worked to champion diversity and inclusion and foster the advancement of women in the legal profession over the last 24 years while continuing to highlight the importance of community service and mentoring.&rdquo; Dr. White-Bazile is the first African American woman to hold the position of Executive Counsel at the Louisiana Supreme Court and has been in this role since March 2014.</p><p>The 95th Annual National Bar Association Convention and Exhibit was originally scheduled to be held in Washington D.C. from July 25 &ndash; 30, 2020 but will take place virtually instead due to COVID-19.</p><p>The National Bar Association, founded in 1925, is the nation&rsquo;s oldest and largest association of predominantly African American lawyers and judges. It represents the interests of approximately 65,000 lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 22, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong></strong></span><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING 2020 BAR EXAMINATION</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Today the Louisiana Supreme Court <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-07-22_LASC_BarExam.all.pdf" target="_blank">issued an Order</a> permitting certain &ldquo;Qualified Candidates&rdquo; for admission to the Louisiana State Bar to be admitted to practice without the requirement of sitting for and passing the bar examination in 2020, provided all other usual requirements for admission are met.&nbsp; In addition, Qualified Candidates must complete 25 hours of continuing legal education and the Louisiana State Bar Association&rsquo;s <a href="http://files.lsba.org/documents/Mentoring/TIPHandbook.pdf" target="_blank">&ldquo;Transition Into Practice&rdquo;</a> mentoring program by December 31, 2021.</p><p>Dissenting from <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-07-22_LASC_BarExam.pdf" target="_blank">the Court&rsquo;s Order</a> were <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-07-22_LASC_BarExam.jdh.dis.pdf" target="_blank">Justice Jefferson D. Hughes III</a>, <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-07-22_LASC_BarExam.jtg.dis.pdf" target="_blank">Justice James T. Genovese</a>, and <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-07-22_LASC_BarExam.wjc.dis.pdf" target="_blank">Justice William J. Crain</a>.</p><p>The additional educational and mentoring requirements enacted in today&rsquo;s Order for those Qualified Candidates who elect the emergency admissions option will serve as guardrails to ensure the competency and integrity of the newly-admitted attorneys during their first year of practice.&nbsp; </p><p>Registered applicants who do not meet the definition of &ldquo;Qualified Candidate&rdquo; will still have two opportunities to take the bar examination in a one-day, remote format in 2020:&nbsp; August 24, 2020 and October 10, 2020.&nbsp; </p><p>Concern and discussions about administration of this summer&rsquo;s bar exam began when the pandemic first hit in March. The Court solicited input from the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions and the deans of the four Louisiana law schools, and explored numerous options of how to administer the bar safely, keeping the health and safety of the bar applicants at the forefront.&nbsp; Following extensive study and collaboration with the Committee and the deans, and considering the infection rate at the time, on May 8, 2020, the Court announced a plan to administer a modified one-day in-person examination in four cities to achieve the proper social distancing protocols required during this public health crisis.&nbsp; The Court continued to study this ever-evolving issue and on June 3, 2020, announced an additional option for applicants to take the bar examination remotely.</p><p>Faced with a rapidly rising coronavirus infection rate, especially among young adults, and an ongoing concern for public health and the safety of the registered bar exam applicants, on July 15, 2020, the Court announced the cancellation of the July 27, 2020 examination.&nbsp; With an in-person administration deemed too uncertain for the near future, the Court considered but rejected issuing a mandate that the bar examination be taken remotely for first-time test takers.&nbsp; While the Court did agree to allow the voluntary selection of a remote examination option by an applicant, the majority of the Justices were not willing to mandate that the examination be taken in settings which might encounter insurmountable challenges wholly-unrelated to the competence to practice law.&nbsp; </p><p>This is not the first time that the Louisiana Supreme Court has waived the requirement of a written bar examination due to emergency circumstances.&nbsp; In June, 1953, the Louisiana Supreme Court waived the requirement for the written examination for certain candidates during the existence of the Korean Conflict.&nbsp; </p><p>Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson commented, &ldquo;This COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented, and it calls for unprecedented and bold action, including implementation of today&rsquo;s Order granting one-time emergency admission to the Bar with additional requirements.&nbsp; This pandemic, not experienced globally since the 1918 Spanish Flu, has caused absolute disruption not only to the legal profession but to every aspect of society, with serious illness prevalent, schools shuttered nationally since March, unemployment at record high rates, and rising infection rates.&nbsp; We are bombarded with new information daily as we attempt to navigate these uncharted waters.</p><p>&ldquo;Despite these uncertain times, as Justices, we continue to have a responsibility to ensure the competency and integrity of the legal profession.&nbsp; In my opinion, today&rsquo;s limited one-time Order, including the additional requirements for bar admission, fulfills this responsibility.&nbsp; While we know that cancellation of the in-person July 2020 bar examination was concerning to the many law school graduates who have spent countless hours in preparation, we believe that our action today is not only warranted, but necessary during this public health crisis.&nbsp; On behalf of the Court, I extend our thanks to the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions, the deans of the four Louisiana law schools and the Louisiana State Bar Association for their respective roles and contributions in bringing this solution to fruition.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 15, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE JULY 27, 2020 BAR EXAMINATION</span></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After consultation, evaluation and advice from the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions and the Deans of the Louisiana Law Schools, it has been determined that administering the Louisiana State Bar Examination on July 27 would be imprudent for health and safety reasons related to the COVID-19 virus.</p><p>When the decision was made to administer this year&rsquo;s version of the bar examination, the infection rate had fallen and restrictions were being lifted. Substantial time, effort and energy were expended to change the examination format and to ensure the safety of both those taking the examination and those administering the examination. Unfortunately the rate of infection has increased substantially, with each of the test sites chosen being in areas which have seen some of the highest rates of infection.</p><p>The Supreme Court will meet soon to determine the next steps regarding the bar examination and will advise everyone as soon as possible. To protect the integrity of the examination, both the remote and in-person administrations of the July 27 examination will not be administered.</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>June 8, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>LOUISIANA</strong><strong> SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE BERNETTE JOSHUA JOHNSON ISSUES CALL FOR JUSTICE FOR ALL IN LOUISIANA</strong></span></p><p>Today Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson issued a <a href="/press_room/press_releases/2020/2020-18_Justice_for_All_in_Louisiana.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a> to her colleagues in the Judicial, Executive and Legislative Branches, calling for Justice for All in Louisiana and asking them to consider ways in which they can improve the justice system in the midst of recent events including the pandemic and the recent killing of Mr. George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and ensuing protests. Chief Justice Johnson&rsquo;s letter reads as follows:</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">Recent tragedies have compelled me to write this letter today.</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">The Coronavirus pandemic has quickly caused disruption in our world, taking over one hundred thousand American lives, causing millions of hardworking people to lose their jobs, and destroying countless small businesses in our communities. In Louisiana, the Coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately killed African Americans. In addition, we have once again witnessed the brazen killing of another African American, George Floyd, by police officers before our very eyes. His life is but one of countless others, including Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, that has been senselessly taken by a system that espouses equal rights under the law.</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">As a result, millions have taken to the streets to protest around our state, our nation, and the world. The protests&mdash;though triggered by recent events&mdash;are not about one or two isolated incidences of police violence. Rather, the protests are the consequence of centuries of institutionalized racism that has plagued our legal system. Statistics show that the Louisiana criminal legal system disproportionately affects African Americans, who comprise 32% of our population in Louisiana, but 70% of our prison population. African American children in Louisiana are imprisoned at almost seven times the rate of White children. Our prison population did not increase fivefold from 7,200 in 1978, to 40,000 in 2012 without decisive action over many years by the legislature and by prosecutors, juries and judges around the state. We are part of the problem they protest.</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">I am writing to urge all of us who administer the law to hear the voices of the protesters. So many feel our criminal legal system is part of the problem. I entreat all of us to resolve to be part of the solution. We all pledge allegiance to the American flag and pledge support of our national creed that we are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Like all of you, I firmly believe in the rule of law. But its legitimacy is in peril when African American citizens see evidence every day of a criminal legal system that appears to value Black lives less than it values White lives.</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">As Chief Justice and chief administrator of our state&rsquo;s courts, I readily admit our justice system falls far short of the equality it espouses. And I see many of its worst injustices meted out in the criminal legal system. Inequities there range from courts being funded with fines levied on poor, disproportionately African American defendants, to our longtime use of Jim Crow laws to silence African American jurors and make it easier to convict African American defendants. We need only look at the glaring disparities between the rate of arrests, severity of prosecutions and lengths of sentences for drug offenses in poor and African American communities in comparison to those in wealthier White communities, to see how we are part of the problem. Is it any wonder why many people have little faith that our legal system is designed to serve them or protect them from harm? Is it any wonder why they have taken to the streets to demand that it does?</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">I have had the great honor of serving this state as a judge for 35 years alongside a diverse array of dedicated men and women who serve as judges. I want to thank each of you for striving every day to dispense justice fairly and to faithfully implement our laws. I am honored to call you my colleagues. But, I also ask all of you to acknowledge with me the part we each play in maintaining a system that leaves many of our fellow citizens, especially our African American citizens, feeling that they cannot breathe. Of course this is not our intention, but our benign and noble motivations do not matter to those who feel our criminal legal system is suffocating them.</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">As judges, lawyers, legislators, and law enforcement officials, we have real power to change the African American community&rsquo;s lived experience of the legal system. But we can only accomplish it by honestly and objectively examining our past in order to understand our present, and then critically examining our present in order to create a better future. Those examinations will reveal an ugly truth: Louisiana was built on principles of racism which have been written into our laws for centuries &ndash; often through &ldquo;race neutral&rdquo; language. Throughout history, we have only seen changes in the form of short-term policy decisions made in response to tense moments of conflict, rather than thoughtfully crafted long-term plans to dismantle systemic discrimination. And so&mdash;as all the data shows&mdash;our laws and courts continue to perpetrate the originally-intended racial inequities and injustices.</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">It is deeply uncomfortable to step back and acknowledge the role we play. As your Chief Justice, and as a Black woman, it is especially difficult for me to acknowledge that the courts I am so proud of are often part of the problem. But I implore my colleagues of all races to examine the role we play. If we continue to deny the problem, we can never expect to reach a solution.</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">The very real grievances of the protestors, including some I have mentioned, may seem like insurmountable problems&mdash;at once too granular, too complex, or too abstract&mdash;for us to solve. But let us not forget how far we have come; how insurmountable it once felt for African Americans to have equal civil rights and the right to vote without being terrorized or jailed. I personally remember when that felt insurmountable, as I spent much of my early career working to ensure that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were enforced in the places they were most needed. We have been propelled forward as a nation because of the sacrifices of so many Civil Rights heroes &ndash; sung and unsung &ndash; who fought when it was unpopular. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to all of them. I have had the privilege of counting many of those heroes as my friends. And I believe we also owe a debt of gratitude to the peaceful protestors today, who are asking us to keep pushing, to boldly imagine how we can do better.</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">In my final year as Chief Justice of this state, I want to remind each of us that laws are not the same as justice. Slavery and segregation were both legal, after all. And I want to invoke the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who wrote: &ldquo;It is hardly a moral act to encourage others patiently to accept injustice which he himself does not endure.&rdquo;</p><p style="text-indent:3em;">I urge all of you to spend some time reflecting on the ways in which we ask others to accept injustices that we would not. I also ask that you engage in discussions about ways we can improve our criminal justice system here in Louisiana and insist on true equality in our courts, our offices, and in our lives every single day. Please join me in recognizing that we have been part of the problem, so that we may all today become part of the solution in achieving equal justice for all.</p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent, at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590</strong><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>June 5, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES TWO NEW COVID-19 ORDERS</span></strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans -</strong> The Louisiana Supreme Court issued two new orders dated June 5. 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 continuing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; declaration of a public health emergency in Proclamation Number 25 JBE 2020, renewal of state of emergency for COVID-19 and extension and modification of emergency provisions in Proclamation Numbers 74 JBE 2020 and 75 JBE 2020, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, the Order of this Court dated May 15, 2020, and in consideration of ongoing public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued the following two orders.</p><p>The <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-06-05_LASC_Order.pdf">first Order</a> addresses statewide court operations and reads as follows:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:</p><ol style="margin-left:30px;"><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Prior Orders:</span> All provisions of the May 15, 2020 Order of this Court shall remain in effect except as expressly modified herein.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;">In-person proceedings:</span> Courts continue to be authorized to conduct in-person proceedings on all matters. This authority does not extend to any matters suspended by executive action by the Governor, including but not limited to evictions. Courts must continue to take measures to limit access to courtrooms and other spaces, with minimum physical contact, to practice social distancing and limit in-person court capacity to 50% of the total capacity, as determined by the State Fire Marshall, counting both the number of employees and members of the public present in the building at one time. As this situation is constantly changing, courts are further instructed to follow all guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control, the President and the Governor, and to further limit access to courtroom and other spaces to the maximum number of people set forth in any future guideline or official proclamation that maybe issued. All matters should continue to be conducted with the use of video and telephone conferencing whenever possible.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;">Speedy Trial Computations:</span> Given the public health concerns and the necessity of taking action to slow the spread of the disease, the continuances occasioned by this Order serve the ends of justice and outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial. Therefore, the time periods of such continuance shall be excluded from speedy trial computations pursuant to law, including but not limited to those set forth in the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure and the Louisiana Children&rsquo;s Code, and presumptively constitute just cause.</li></ol><p>The <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-06-05_LASC_DEADLINES.pdf">second Order</a> extends filing deadlines for the Louisiana Supreme Court and reads as follows:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">All filings which were or are due to this Court between Thursday, March 12, 2020 through Monday, June 15, 2020, shall be considered timely if filed no later than Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Parties who are unable to meet this deadline due to the COVID-19 emergency may submit motions for extensions of time, supported by appropriate documentation and argument.</p><p>&ldquo;As we continue to function during the challenging times of the pandemic, we are motivated by the best interest of the citizens of Louisiana.&rdquo; said Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson. &ldquo;We are ever mindful of their rights to continued safety as well as an accessible and fair judiciary.&rdquo;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:</strong></span></p><p>In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from Louisiana&rsquo;s courts on its website, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>. We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>June 3, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT AND THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS ANNOUNCE ONLINE BAR EXAMINATION OPTION</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court (the &ldquo;Court&rdquo;) and the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions (the &ldquo;LASCBA&rdquo;) jointly announce the addition of an option to take the July, 2020 and October, 2020 bar examination online. All other details regarding the administration of the July, 2020 and October, 2020 examinations remain unchanged.</p><p>In addition to the in-person cities announced on May 8, 2020, the bar examination can now also be taken online from any location within the United States, in an effort to provide an additional option for applicants who, due to health or other concerns, prefer to sit for the examination in a remote location.</p><p>The application deadline for both the July, 2020 and October, 2020 examinations closed on May 30 and will not be reopened to new applicants at this time. Within the next few days, staff of the LASCBA will be contacting existing applicants to inquire as to whether they wish to change their selection from an in-person location to the remote option.</p><p>Because the administration of the remote examination requires the hiring and training of more proctors than the in-person administration, there may be a need to limit the number of remote takers. The previously-announced priority schedule will apply to the selection of the remote option: (1) first-time test-takers, prioritized by the date application and fees were received by LASCBA, and (2) repeat takers, prioritized by the date application and fees were received by LASCBA.</p><p>Applicants are expected to check the <a href="https://www.lascba.org/" target="_blank">LASCBA&rsquo;s website</a> regularly for additional announcements regarding this matter.</p><p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:</strong></span></p><p>In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from Louisiana&rsquo;s courts on its website, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>. We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 15, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span></strong><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES TWO NEW ORDERS&nbsp;</span></strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong>New Orleans -</strong> The Louisiana Supreme Court issued two new orders dated May 15.&nbsp; Acting under the authority of Article V, Section 1 and 5 of Constitution of 1974, and the inherent power of this Court, and considering the continuing spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; renewal of state of emergency for COVID-19 and extension and modification of emergency provisions in Proclamation Numbers&nbsp; &nbsp;58 JBE 2020 and 59 JBE 2020, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, the Orders of this Court dated April 6, April 22 and April 29, 2020, and in consideration of ongoing public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued the following two orders.<br /></p><p>The <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-05-15_LASC_Order.pdf" target="_blank">first Order</a> addresses statewide court operations and reads as follows:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:</p><ol style="margin-left:30px;"><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Prior Orders:</span> This Order shall repeal and replace the Orders of this Court dated April&nbsp;6, April 22 and April 29, 2020.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Jury Trials:</span> No civil or criminal jury trial shall commence in any Louisiana state court before June 30, 2020.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">In-person proceedings:</span> The prohibition on conducting in person proceedings is hereby lifted, and courts are authorized to conduct in-person proceedings on all matters. This authority does not extend to any matters suspended by executive action by the Governor, including but not limited to evictions. Courts must continue to take measures to limit access to courtrooms and other spaces, with minimum physical contact, to practice social distancing and limit in-person court capacity to 25% of the total capacity, as determined by the State Fire Marshall, counting both the number of employees and members of the public present in the building at one time. As this situation is constantly changing, courts are further instructed to follow all guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control, the President and the Governor, and to further limit access to courtroom and other spaces to the maximum number of people set forth in any future guideline or official proclamation that may be issued. All matters should continue to be conducted with the use of video and telephone conferencing whenever possible.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Speedy Trial Computations:</span> Given the public health concerns and the necessity of&nbsp;taking action to slow the spread of the disease, the continuances occasioned by this Order serve the ends of justice and outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial. Therefore, the time periods of such continuance shall be excluded from speedy trial computations pursuant to law, including but not limited to those set forth in the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure and the Louisiana Children&rsquo;s Code, and presumptively constitute just cause.<br /></li></ol><p>The <a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-05-15_LASC_DEADLINES.pdf" target="_blank">second Order</a> extends filing deadlines for the Louisiana Supreme Court and reads as follows:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:<br /><br /><span style="white-space:pre;"></span>All filings which were or are due to this Court between Thursday, March 12, 2020 through Friday, June 5, 2020 shall be considered timely if filed no later than Monday, June 8, 2020. Parties who are unable to meet this deadline due to the COVID-19 emergency may submit motions for extensions of time, supported by appropriate documentation and argument.</p><p>&ldquo;The Louisiana Supreme Court perseveres in committed jurisprudence as it works to keep the safety and wellbeing of Louisiana&rsquo;s citizens a priority.&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.&nbsp;<br /><br /><strong><span style="text-decoration-line:underline;">REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:</span></strong><br /></p><p>In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from Louisiana&rsquo;s courts on its website, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>.&nbsp; We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.<br /></p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /></p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 15, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT WEBSITE&nbsp;GETS A NEW LOOK AND ADDS A NEW RESOURCE</span></strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans - </strong>Today the Louisiana Supreme Court announced the launch of a new and improved website with expanded digital technology for a more user-friendly experience across a range of devices such as laptops, desktops as well as mobile devices.&nbsp; The website, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>, is used by the Court to share information of interest to Louisiana citizens.</p><p>&ldquo;I am pleased to unveil this new and improved website which better leverages today&rsquo;s technology to present to the public a cleaner, more efficient display of information on the work of the Court,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.</p><p>The Court&rsquo;s website provides information on the Supreme Court&rsquo;s work in the form of News Releases containing Opinions and other actions of the Court, links to the Clerk of Court&rsquo;s Office, the Court&rsquo;s docket, access to live-streaming of oral arguments, press releases, court publications, as well as links to the Justices&rsquo; biographies, legal resources via the Law Library of Louisiana, Court Rules, and information on Court programs such as Drug and Specialty Courts, Children and Families Division, Office of Language Access, and the Louisiana Protective Order Registry.&nbsp;</p><p>The new website also now includes a searchable page containing judicial financial disclosure statements.&nbsp; Pursuant to <a href="/rules/orders/2008/Rule_XXXIX_Financial_Disclosure.pdf" target="_blank">Part N, Rule XXXIX</a> of the Rules of the Louisiana Supreme Court, all elected judges, except for Justices of the Peace, are required to annually file a financial disclosure statement (&ldquo;Statement&rdquo;) with the Office of the Judicial Administrator of the Supreme Court of Louisiana. This rule has been in effect since January 1, 2009.&nbsp; Financial disclosure statements are public records and have always been available to the public through the Office of the Judicial Administrator.&nbsp; However, starting with statements for active judges filed in 2019 for the tax year 2018, these forms will now be available as well on the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website and are searchable by name and court.&nbsp; Statements for future years will be added as they are received.&nbsp; The Statements can be found on the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s website at <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> or directly at <a href="/JudicialFinancialDisclosure">www.lasc.org/JudicialFinancialDisclosure</a>.&nbsp; Copies of prior years&rsquo; Judicial Financial Disclosure Statements can be obtained by contacting Staff Attorney Caitlin Morgenstern at <a href="mailto:cmorgenstern@lasc.org">cmorgenstern@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2550.</p><p>The Court&rsquo;s new website was designed by staff of the Supreme Court&rsquo;s Information Technology Department in coordination with the Court&rsquo;s Community Relations Department.</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:</span></strong></p><p>In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from Louisiana&rsquo;s courts on its website, www.lasc.org and www.lasc.org/COVID19.&nbsp; We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.<br /></p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 8, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT AND LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS ANNOUNCE CHANGES TO JULY 2020 BAR EXAMINATION</p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court (the &ldquo;Court&rdquo;) and the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions (the &ldquo;LASCBA&rdquo;) jointly announce that the 3-day bar examination previously scheduled for July 20, 22 and 24, 2020 has been cancelled. </p><p>The LASCBA will now administer a one-day bar examination on two dates: July 27, 2020 and October 10, 2020. </p><p>The one-day examination will be administered in the following four (4) cities in Louisiana on each date:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">New Orleans <br />Baton Rouge <br />Lake Charles <br />Shreveport</p><p>Seating capacity may be limited to ensure compliance with all available public health guidelines in place at the time of the administration of each exam. Applicants will be given a choice as to their preferred date and location on the following priority schedule: (1) first-time test-takers, prioritized by the date application and fees were received by LASCBA, and (2) repeat takers, prioritized by the date application and fees were received by LASCBA.</p><p>The scope of the examination will also be reduced in light of the shortened testing time, and will be announced on the LASCBA&rsquo;s website by Friday, May 15, 2020. This one-day, limited scope examination format will be used only for the July 27, 2020 and October 10, 2020 administrations.</p><p>The application deadline for the one-day examinations to be held on July 27, 2020 and October 10, 2020 is May 30, 2020. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. If seating remains available for the October 10, 2020 administration after the May 30, 2020 deadline, the Court and the LASCBA may announce an additional registration period for the October exam.</p><p>The LASCBA recognizes the enormous challenges in which we are all currently operating. The LASCBA is continually monitoring all public health information, government requirements and recommendations, and will implement all required protocols for the safe administration of the exam for all involved, including applicants, administrators and proctors. Applicants will be provided with information regarding required protocols in advance of each examination.</p><p>The LASCBA&rsquo;s plan to proceed with a one-day examination in July and October is based on currently available public health information. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, that information may change and the Court and the LASCBA may consider other options, including cancelling either exam. Applicants are expected to check <a href="https://www.lascba.org/" target="_blank">the LASCBA&rsquo;s website</a> regularly for additional announcements regarding this matter.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>April 30, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;"><span style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES TWO NEW ORDERS ADDRESSING<br />IN-PERSON PROCEEDINGS AND FILING DEADLINES</span></p><p><strong>New Orleans -</strong> The Louisiana Supreme Court issued two new orders dated April 29 in its continuing response to the evolving government mandates regarding COVID-19.&nbsp; Throughout this pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court has intentionally operated to contribute to slowing the Coronavirus by practicing social distancing, and following stay home mandates whenever possible throughout the state&rsquo;s courts.&nbsp; Recently Governor John Bel Edwards indicated that these actions and those of other levels of government are proving effective in slowing the spread in Louisiana. &nbsp;&ldquo;While we cannot return to complete normalcy at this time, this news is encouraging,&rdquo; Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson said.&nbsp; &ldquo;We will continue to proceed in alignment with the state, with measured, cautionary progression, prioritizing our citizens&rsquo; safety while keeping the fairness of justice at the forefront.&rdquo;</p><p>Acting under the authority of Article V, Section 1 and 5 of the Constitution of 1974, and the inherent power of this Court, and considering the continuing spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; declaration of public health emergencies in Proclamation Numbers 25 JBE 2020, 27 JBE 2020, 30 JBE 2020, 33 JBE 2020, 41 JBE 2020 and Governor Edwards&rsquo; extension of emergency provisions announced on April 27, 2020, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, the Order of this Court dated April 6, 2020, as amended on April 22, 2020, and in consideration of ongoing public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued the following two orders.</p><p>The <a href="/COVID19/orders/2020-04-29_LASC_ORDER.pdf" target="_blank"><strong></strong><strong><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;">first Order</span></em></strong></a><strong> </strong>addresses statewide court operations to extend the prohibition on in-person proceedings until May 18, 2020 and reads as follows:</p><div style="margin-left:30px;"><p>IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:</p><ol><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">Prior Order: All provisions of the April 6, 2020 Order of this Court, as modified on April 22, 2020, shall remain in place, except as expressly modified herein. To the extent that proceedings can be conducted by remote conferencing, judges are encouraged to conduct all court matters.</li><li>In-Person Proceedings: The prohibition on in-person proceedings (except as expressly permitted in the April 6, 2020 Order) is hereby extended until May 18, 2020.</li></ol></div><p>The <a href="/COVID19/orders/2020-04-29_LASC_DEADLINES.pdf" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;">second Order</span></em></strong></a> extends filing deadlines for the Louisiana Supreme Court and reads as follows:</p><div style="margin-left:30px;"><p>IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:</p><p>All filings which were or are due to this Court between Thursday, March 12, 2020 through Friday, May 15, 2020 shall be considered timely if filed no later than Monday, May 18, 2020.&nbsp; Parties who are unable to meet this deadline due to the COVID-19 emergency may submit motions for extensions of time, supported by appropriate documentation and argument.</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div><p style="text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold;">REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:</p><p>In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from Louisiana&rsquo;s courts on its website, <a href="/"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.lasc.org</span></a> and <a href="/COVID19"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.lasc.org/COVID19</span></a>.&nbsp; We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.</p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>April 29, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;"><span style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT TO HEAR<br />ORAL ARGUMENT VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE JUNE 8-9, 2020</span></p><p><strong>New Orleans</strong> &ndash; For the first time in its over 200-year history the Louisiana Supreme Court will hold oral argument utilizing video conferencing technology, when it hears pending matters June 8-9, 2020. The Court&rsquo;s seven justices will conduct oral arguments via video with the attorneys arguing the matters before the state&rsquo;s high court. Since the start of the social and physical distancing mandate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court and courts throughout the state have worked to balance the safety of Louisiana&rsquo;s citizens while maintaining access to the justice system.</p><p>Though the court has live-streamed oral arguments since January 2007, this is the first time attorneys will argue cases before the Justices via video conferencing. This historically unprecedented move is reflected on <a href="/dockets/June2020.pdf" target="_blank">the Supreme Court's June docket</a>, which directs attorneys to join the online conferencing 30 minutes prior to the start of oral argument.</p><p>&ldquo;Holding oral arguments in this virtual setting will allow each of the Justices and the attorneys arguing before the court to abide by social and physical distancing guidelines while continuing the crucial and valuable work of keeping the system of justice in Louisiana moving forward,&rdquo; said Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.</p><p>For several years, due to the fact that the Justices live in their home districts throughout the state, the Justices have alternated their weekly conferences by meeting live one week and by videoconference the next week. These conferences are usually held over two days. However, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, since March the Justices have exclusively utilized videoconferencing to meet two to three times per week to consider administrative matters as well as pending writ applications, opinions, and other court business.</p><p>The Court will hear seven arguments over those two days, including matters which were originally set for the March docket that were postponed due to social and physical distancing recommendations. Arguments set for Monday, June 8 will begin at 2:00 pm, while arguments on Tuesday, June 9 are set for 9:30 am and 2:00 pm.</p><p>During sitting weeks, the Supreme Court live-streams oral arguments via the Court&rsquo;s website, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a>. The oral arguments set for June 8-9 will also be broadcast via the Court&rsquo;s live-stream, <a href="https://livestream.lasc.org/">https://livestream.lasc.org/</a>.</p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>April 22, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT EXTENDS ASPECTS OF APRIL 6 ORDER</p><p><a href="/COVID19/orders/2020-04-22_LASC_ORDER.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court issued a new Order today</strong></a>, acting under the authority of Article V, Section 1 of Constitution of 1974, and the inherent power of this Court, and considering the continuing spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; declaration of public health emergencies in Proclamation Numbers 25 JBE 2020, 27 JBE 2020, 30 JBE 2020, 33 JBE 2020, and 41 JBE 2020, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, the Order of this Court dated April 6, 2020, and in consideration of ongoing public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts.</p><p>The Court&rsquo;s new order sets forth the following:</p><ol><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold;">Prior Order</span>: All provisions of the April 6, 2020 Order of this Court shall remain in place, except as expressly modified herein. To the extent that proceedings can be conducted by remote conferencing, judges are encouraged to conduct all court matters.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold;">Jury Trials</span>: No civil or criminal jury trial shall commence in any Louisiana state court before June 30, 2020.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold;">Remote Proceedings</span>: The consent for remote proceedings in civil matters required in Section 6 of this Court&rsquo;s April 6, 2020 Order shall not be unreasonably withheld by any party, which shall be enforced by the trial judge pursuant to the authority granted by Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 191, or as expressly provided by law.</li></ol><p>&ldquo;The Louisiana Supreme Court and state courts across Louisiana continue efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson. &ldquo;In doing so, we have extended certain provisions towards those efforts to June 30, 2020. As we continue to prioritize the safety of our citizens, including judges and court staff, we remain diligent in our commitment to serving all citizens of Louisiana.&rdquo;</p><p>Copies of the previous Orders and press releases from the Louisiana Supreme Court as well as information and Orders from courts across Louisiana can be found at&nbsp;<a href="/"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.lasc.org</span></a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/COVID19"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.lasc.org/COVID19</span></a>.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>April 13, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCES <br />CHANGES TO JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE RULE </p><p><strong>New Orleans</strong> - Today, the Louisiana Supreme Court announced several substantive changes to its rules that will increase transparency and public access to judicial discipline proceedings while maintaining fairness, due process, and the orderly administration of justice.&nbsp; These rules are a continuation of the Court&rsquo;s ongoing study and revision of judicial discipline rules, such as the adoption last year of rules that relaxed confidentiality of complaints after a notice of hearing is filed or the complaint is closed.&nbsp; These latest rule changes will be effective May 1, 2020. <a href="/rules/orders/2020/RuleXXIII.pdf"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">See Order here</span></a>.</p><p>After extensive study, review, solicitation of comments, and further deliberations, the Louisiana Supreme Court voted unanimously to make three major changes increasing transparency and public access to judicial discipline proceedings</p><ul><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">First, hearings on allegations of judicial misconduct that have been investigated, which had previously been closed to the public, will now be open.&nbsp; The record and result of the formal proceedings (including counseling letters and deferred disciplinary agreements) will also now be available to the public.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">Second, after a judge receives a non-public admonishment (which is a non-disciplinary disposition intended to counsel or warn the judge about his or her conduct), any subsequent admonishments within a judge&rsquo;s term of office (ten years for appellate court judges and six years for district and other judges) shall now be public.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">Third, information will be made available about confidential non-disciplinary dispositions on the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website and in Supreme Court publications.</li></ul><p>Although the previous rules governing confidentiality were consistent with those of many other states, these changes bring Louisiana&rsquo;s rules in line with a majority of states, including states that elect their judges.&nbsp; To be clear, confidentiality still remains during the Commission&rsquo;s initial consideration of a complaint and during any investigation of a complaint, but for good reason. This limited confidentiality protects complainants and witnesses, who may otherwise be reluctant to come forward for fear of public scrutiny, retaliation, or recrimination.&nbsp; Experience also teaches that many complaints are filed by disgruntled litigants, including those who may lose a civil matter or who are convicted of crimes, and who, rather than appeal, file baseless and meritless complaints.&nbsp; Despite a judge appropriately applying the law to achieve a just ruling, many complaints &nbsp;&nbsp;may be filed in an attempt to manipulate the system of justice, or gain an unfair tactical advantage, or to unjustly criticize.&nbsp; Thus, confidentiality during the early investigation protects our system of justice from frivolous complaints and protects the public at large by ensuring the integrity of the investigatory process.&nbsp; These same principles underlie the confidentiality rules in the judicial discipline proceedings of all fifty states, all of which require confidentiality at some stage of the proceedings.&nbsp; Similarly, the Louisiana Board of Ethics, which oversees non-judicial state public officials, conducts confidential investigations and issues confidential counseling letters.&nbsp; Finally, members of the public always have been, and remain, free to discuss the underlying facts or events that are the subject of a complaint; also, members of the public at any time can speak about alleged misconduct by a judge.</p><p>The Supreme Court thanks the Judiciary Commission for its work over the last several years to study and make recommendations to the Supreme Court about the rules governing confidentiality.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p>Our form of democracy requires a constitutional balance of power among the three equal branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.&nbsp; An independent judiciary is critical to preserving this balance.&nbsp; The Constitution of Louisiana appropriately provides the Louisiana Supreme Court with exclusive jurisdiction over the discipline of Louisiana&rsquo;s judiciary; this jurisdiction extends to the development of substantive and procedural rules.&nbsp; The changes announced today fairly balance the public&rsquo;s interest in transparency with the interests of complainants, judges, and witnesses, as well as the interest in preserving the integrity of the judicial discipline process.&nbsp; The Supreme Court&rsquo;s overarching goal has been, and remains, promoting the highest standards of ethical conduct.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 11, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>NAMING CEREMONY HONORS CHIEF JUSTICE PASCAL F. CALOGERO, JR.</strong></p><p><strong>(New Orleans, LA)</strong> The Louisiana Supreme Court convened on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 for the <strong>Naming Ceremony of the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse</strong>. Participating in the occasion were Honorable John Bel Edwards, Governor of Louisiana; Honorable Bernette Joshua Johnson, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice, and the Associate Justices. Kim Sport, Former Executive Counsel to Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr., opened the program, addressing the assembly of state dignitaries, judges, members of the legal profession, Calogero family members and friends. Program speakers were Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson; Brother Ivy LeBlanc, S. C.; Madeleine Landrieu, Loyola Law Dean and Judge Adrian G. Duplantier Distinguished Professor of Law; John T. Olivier, Clerk of Court, Louisiana Supreme Court; Timothy Averill, Former Judicial Administrator, Louisiana Supreme Court, and Mrs. Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. After the live-streamed convening, E. Phelps Gay, Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society, summarized Chief Justice Calogero&rsquo;s career and unveiled an image of the courthouse facade with lettering displaying the &ldquo;Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse.&rdquo;</p><p>Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson welcomed all and acknowledged dignitaries who were present. While reminiscing on years of serving with Chief Justice Calogero she remarked, &ldquo;This is a historic milestone, not only for the judiciary and the legal community but also for the entire state of Louisiana. I had the pleasure of working with Chief Justice Calogero from 1994-2008 when he retired as the longest-serving justice in the history of the court. I developed a deep respect for my colleague&rsquo;s intellect, integrity, and dedication to fairness and justice. His contributions to Louisiana law and judicial administration are immeasurable.&rdquo;</p><p>In 2004, after 20 years of planning, budgetary pitfalls, intermittent support, and countless trips to the Capital to appeal for legislative appropriations, Chief Justice Calogero&rsquo;s vision became reality when the Louisiana Supreme Court moved from its courthouse on Loyola Avenue back to the newly renovated building, where it originally sat from 1910-1958. In 2018, legislation was passed to acknowledge the contributions of this esteemed jurist by naming the Louisiana Supreme Court building in his honor. Earlier this year it was signed into law. In his address, Governor John Bel Edwards observed the portrait of Chief Justice Calogero with the Courthouse building plans in hand and commented, &ldquo;I remember his dedication to serving the least privileged of our citizens with compassion, integrity, and a sense of fairness. His accomplishments included the completion of the restoration of this courthouse and is why I believe this naming ceremony is a fitting tribute to his legacy. I signed the bill into law this year as a result of the 2019 regular session and Act 429. This is a beautiful historic building, the architecture is stunning; it is just a magnificent building.&rdquo;</p><p>While on the bench, Chief Justice Calogero authored over 1,000 learned majority opinions, concurrences, and dissents. He participated in over 6,000 oral arguments and published opinions. His opinions and writings are a reflection of his intellect, integrity, incredible work ethic, respect for the rule of law, and passionate dedication to civil liberties, fairness, and justice. Though he is respected for these accomplishments, he will forever be remembered for his passion and drive to restore and return the Court to its previous location, the historic Beaux-Arts style building located at 400 Royal Street. Chief Justice Calogero, who retired in 2008 and passed away in 2018, served as a Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court for 36 years (1972-2008), the last 18 years as Chief Justice. He is the longest-serving justice in the Court&rsquo;s 206-year history. Upon the court&rsquo;s return to the building Chief Justice Calogero remarked, &ldquo;Returning the state&rsquo;s highest court to this awe-inspiring building demonstrates to citizens and visitors alike that we, the people of Louisiana, value our system of justice, our rich cultural heritage, and our distinctive architecture. However, let me assure you that the justices and judges who toil within these walls are fully aware that justice is not wrought by shaping marble and stone, but rather, by dedication to the rule of law and the painstaking application of mind, time and work.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>For more information contact: Trina S. Vincent, Public Information Specialist, Louisiana Supreme Court at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a>, (504) 310-2590 or visit <a href="www.lasc.org">lasc.org</a></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="picgrid"><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/PFCnaming-1.jpg" alt="From left: Justice James T. Genovese, Justice Jefferson D. Hughes III, Justice John L. Weimer, Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, Justice Marcus R. Clark, Justice Scott J. Crichton, Justice Will Crain" /><br />From left: Justice James T. Genovese, Justice Jefferson D. Hughes III, Justice John L. Weimer, Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, Justice Marcus R. Clark, Justice Scott J. Crichton, Justice Will Crain</div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/PFCnaming-2.jpg" alt="Brother Ivy LeBlanc, S.C.; Madeleine Landrieu, Loyola Law Dean; Timothy Averill former Judicial Administrator, Louisiana Supreme Court; Governor John Bel Edwards" /><br />Brother Ivy LeBlanc, S.C.; Madeleine Landrieu, Loyola Law Dean; Timothy Averill former Judicial Administrator, Louisiana Supreme Court; Governor John Bel Edwards</div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/PFCnaming-3.jpg" alt="Governor John Bel Edwards addresses guests at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony." /><br />Governor John Bel Edwards addresses guests at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony.</div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/PFCnaming-4.jpg" alt="John T. Olivier, Clerk of Court, Louisiana Supreme Court at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony." /><br />John T. Olivier, Clerk of Court, Louisiana Supreme Court at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony.</div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/PFCnaming-5.jpg" alt="Mrs. Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. speaks at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony." /><br />Mrs. Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. speaks at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony.</div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/PFCnaming-6.jpg" alt="Former Mayor Maurice Edwin 'Moon' Landrieu, Mrs. Verna Landrieu, and members of the Calogero family are among those in attendance at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony." /><br />Former Mayor Maurice Edwin &ldquo;Moon&rdquo; Landrieu, Mrs. Verna Landrieu, and members of the Calogero family are among those in attendance at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony.</div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/PFCnaming-7.jpg" alt="Justice Will Crain, Justice John L. Weimer, Justice Scott J. Crichton, Justice Marcus R. Clark, Justice James T. Genovese and Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson with E. Phelps Gay, The Louisiana Historical Society at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony." /><br />Justice Will Crain, Justice John L. Weimer, Justice Scott J. Crichton, Justice Marcus R. Clark, Justice James T. Genovese and Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson with E. Phelps Gay, The Louisiana Historical Society at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Naming Ceremony.</div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<style>.picgrid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr; grid-gap: .8rem; align-content: center; } .picgrid div { text-align:justify; height: 30rem; width: 500px; font-size: 70%; } .picgrid img { object-fit:contain; max-height: 100%; max-width:100%; } </style> <div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 22, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA DISTRICT JUDGES ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW OFFICERS</strong></p><p>At a meeting of its general membership on Monday, October 7, 2019, the Louisiana District Judges Association (LDJA) elected new officers for the 2019-2020 term.&nbsp; The officers are as follows:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">President &ndash;Judge Guy Bradberry, 14th Judicial District Court<br />First Vice President&ndash; Judge Brady O&rsquo;Callaghan, 1st Judicial District Court<br />Second Vice President&ndash; Judge Piper Griffin, Orleans Civil District Court<br />Secretary&ndash; Judge Scott U. Schlegel, 24th Judicial District Court<br />Treasurer &ndash; Judge Danny Ellender, 4th Judicial District Court<br />Immediate Past President &ndash; Judge Lisa Woodruff-White, East Baton Rouge Family Court</p><p>The Louisiana District Judges Association is a professional nonprofit corporation established in 1981. All Louisiana district judges with general jurisdiction and judges of Juvenile and Family Courts are eligible for membership.&nbsp; The mission of the LDJA includes the administration of justice, representation of the interests of judges, and the professional development of its membership to provide the greatest access to fair, just, and responsive trial courts.&nbsp; The newly elected officers will serve from October 7, 2019 through October 5, 2020.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="picgrid"><div><img alt="Pictured above are Judge Piper Griffin, Judge Brady O’Callaghan, Judge Guy Bradberry, and Justice James Genovese, who performed the swearing-in service on October 7, 2019. (Not present in the photo are Judge Scott Schlegel and Judge Danny Ellender.)" src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/LDJA2019_2020.jpg" /><br />Pictured above are Judge Piper Griffin, Judge Brady O&rsquo;Callaghan, Judge Guy Bradberry, and Justice James Genovese, who performed the swearing-in service on October 7, 2019. (Not present in the photo are Judge Scott Schlegel and Judge Danny Ellender.)</div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<style>.picgrid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr; grid-gap: .8rem; align-content: center; } .picgrid div { text-align:justify; height: 30rem; width: auto; font-size: 70%; } .picgrid img { object-fit:contain; max-height: 100%; max-width:100%; } </style> <div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 21, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT HEARD ORAL ARGUMENT AT</strong><br /><strong>LOYOLA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW</strong></p><p><strong>(New Orleans, LA &ndash; Oct. 21 2019)</strong> The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court held oral argument at the Loyola University College of Law today as part of an ongoing effort to provide law students, university students, faculty, and the general public a first-hand experience of how the court operates.&nbsp; The Court heard oral argument on three cases, including one case involving use of a non-unanimous jury in a criminal case in which the crime occurred before Louisiana law was changed to require unanimous juries and the constitutionality of the court&rsquo;s actions. After oral argument the Justices adjourned to converse with the law students.</p><p>&ldquo;For over 20 years, holding court in venues other than at the Louisiana Supreme Court has been a tradition of the Court known as &lsquo;riding the circuit,&rsquo;&rdquo; said Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.&nbsp; &ldquo;Today&rsquo;s goal of riding the circuit was to provide those in attendance an opportunity to witness the variety and complexity of litigation at the state&rsquo;s highest appellate level.&rdquo;</p><p>In the court&rsquo;s early history, before transportation made it possible to travel easily to New Orleans, the Louisiana Supreme Court was constitutionally required to &ldquo;ride the circuit&rdquo; to ensure&nbsp; citizens statewide would have access to justice.&nbsp; Supreme Court Justices traveled to parishes throughout the state to hear oral argument.</p><p>&ldquo;We are honored that the Court chose to host oral arguments at Loyola.&rdquo; said Loyola Law Dean and Judge Adrian G. Duplantier Distinguished Professor of Law Madeleine M. Landrieu. &ldquo;The Court&rsquo;s commitment to allow oral arguments to be shared with the general public allows greater participation in the process.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;Loyola has long stood for justice,&rdquo; said Distinguished Professor of Law Monica Hof Wallace, Executive Director of the Law Advocacy Center at Loyola. &ldquo;Seeing it in action in our own halls inspires our students to reach higher, to be better, and to understand that advocating for others is both a responsibility and a privilege.&rdquo;</p><p>In preparation for oral arguments, Dean Landrieu provided case briefs and hosted a pre-session with students highlighting the major issues of the cases.</p><p><strong>For more information visit </strong><a href="http://www.lasc.org/"><strong>lasc.org</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="http://law.loyno.edu/"><strong>law.loyno.edu/</strong></a><strong>, contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist, Trina S. Vincent at tvincent@lasc.org, or Loyola University College of Law Associate Director of Public Affairs, Patricia Murret at </strong><a href="mailto:pmurret@loyno.edu"><strong>pmurret@loyno.edu</strong></a><strong>, (504) 861-5448 (desk), (504) 352-8775 (cell).</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="picgrid"><div><img alt="The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court held oral argument at the Loyola University College of Law on Monday, October 21, 2019." src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2019%2Fimages%2FLoyola.jpg" /><br />The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court held oral argument at the Loyola University College of Law on Monday, October 21, 2019.</div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<style>.picgrid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; grid-gap: .8rem; align-content: center; } .picgrid div { text-align:justify; height: 40rem; width: auto; font-size: 70%; } .picgrid img { object-fit:contain; max-height: 100%; max-width:100%; } </style> <div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 7, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>Louisiana judges, dressed in their robes, gathered at St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square this morning for the 67th annual Red Mass ceremony, traditionally held the first Monday in October.&nbsp; Judges, lawyers and officials of all faiths were invited to attend the Mass which is offered for guidance in the administration of justice in the year ahead.</p><p>According to Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, &ldquo;Judges from across the state are in New Orleans for the annual Fall Conference October 6 - 8, which is sponsored by the Louisiana Judicial College. &nbsp;In addition to attending the continuing legal education sessions and business meetings of the conference, state judges can also participate in this solemn ceremony that is deeply rooted in tradition.&rdquo;</p><p>The Red Mass is sponsored by the Catholic Bishops of the State of Louisiana and the Saint Thomas More Catholic Lawyers&rsquo; Association. The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans was the Celebrant of today&rsquo;s ceremony and the Homilist was Abbott Justin Brown, OSB, of St. Joseph Abbey in Covington, Louisiana.&nbsp; The celebration of Red Mass goes back many centuries in Rome, Paris, and London. Stateside, the Red Mass has been celebrated annually in California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia, and the District of Columbia. In Louisiana, the first Red Mass was offered in St. Louis Cathedral on October 5, 1953.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="picgrid"><div><img alt="The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans pauses to greet Honorable Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, Associate Justice John L. Weimer and Associate Justice Scott J. Crichton." src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/RedMass2019-02.jpg" />The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans pauses to greet Honorable Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, Associate Justice John L. Weimer and Associate Justice Scott J. Crichton.</div><div><img alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and Judges from throughout the state attend the annual Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral." src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/RedMass2019-03.jpg" />Louisiana Supreme Court Justices and Judges from throughout the state attend the annual Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral. </div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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.picgrid div { text-align:center; height: 20rem; width: auto; } .picgrid img { object-fit:contain; max-height: 100%; max-width:100%; } </style> <div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>October 4, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>Louisiana Judges attend the First Pan American Judges' Summit</strong></p><p>At the personal invitation of His Holiness Pope Francis and Bishop Chancellor Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Joy Cossich Lobrano and Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Bernadette D&rsquo;Souza attended the First Pan American Judges' Summit on Social Justice and the Franciscan Doctrine on June 3rd and 4th at the Academy in the Vatican City.&nbsp; The Academy, which is autonomous, promotes the study and progress of the social sciences, primarily economics, sociology, law, and political science, and maintains a close relationship with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.&nbsp; Through dialogue, the Academy offers the Church the elements that can be used in the development of the Church's social doctrine and reflect on the application of that doctrine in contemporary society.</p><p>Pope Francis, who is actively involved in the Church's service to the poor and marginalized of the world, impaneled the summit to &ldquo;further his message that justices and judges can help to reorganize our social and economic life to uphold the values that create happiness such as contemplation, prayer, equity, fraternity, friendship, trust, environmental sustainability, and peace.&nbsp; Justices and judges can collaborate to achieve these values.&rdquo; The summit brought together justices and judges from all over the Americas who have an active role in the application and development of social, economic, and cultural justice in order to share their experiences, successes, best practices, and projects.&nbsp; </p><p>Judge Lobrano, who is Chair of the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Committee of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) and a member of the Curriculum Committee of the National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges, made a presentation on &ldquo;A Systemic Change in the Application of the Families In Need of Services Laws (Status Offenses) through Evidence and Trust-based Early Intervention: A Community Model of Effective Collaboration amongst Schools, Courts, and Healthcare.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It was quite a humbling and thought-provoking experience,&rdquo; Judge Lobrano noted. &ldquo;Judges from diverse backgrounds shared information and best practices, gaining new insights into initiatives that serve justice, the common good, and, especially, our most vulnerable populations.&rdquo; </p><p>Family Court Judge D&rsquo;Souza, who serves as President-Elect of the NAWJ, made a presentation on &ldquo;Equal Access to Justice: The Importance of Civil Legal Aid and Delivery of Justice to Eradicate Poverty.&rdquo; &ldquo;As a former legal aid lawyer representing the poor of our city, I was truly humbled and privileged to have been bestowed with the honor to participate,&rdquo; Judge D&rsquo;Souza said. &ldquo;I obtained much knowledge on the different issues facing the justice systems in the three Americas and left optimistic that we share the same focus on justice, values, and the importance of the dignity and fair treatment of every human being.&rdquo;</p><p>During the summit, Pope Francis addressed the 75 judges (12 from United States and the remainder from Central and North America) explaining that &ldquo;Esteemed magistrates, you have an essential role. Your noble and onerous mission requires devoting yourselves to the service of justice and the common good with the constant calling to ensure that the rights of the people, especially those of the most vulnerable, be respected and guaranteed. In this way, you help guarantee that states do not relinquish their most sublime and primary function:&nbsp; to assume responsibility for the common good of their people.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p>Various judges from Central and South America informed the conference of the public corruption and special interest coercion that have placed some judges in danger and jeopardized the integrity of the judiciary.&nbsp; Pope Francis encouraged them to remain strong noting that you &ldquo;will clash against not only an unjust system, but also a mighty communications system of powers that will often distort the scope of your decisions, cast doubt on your honesty and also on your rectitude. They can even put you on trial. It is an asymmetrical and erosive battle in which, in order to win, you must maintain strength . . .&nbsp; How often judges &mdash; both men and women &mdash; have to face in isolation walls of defamation and dishonor, if not slander!"</p><p>Pope Francis presented a special document on the importance of the summit's theme asking judges of the Americas &ldquo;to assume the role that the present time demands of us, coordinating efforts, designing strategies and ratifying on a daily basis our commitment to human dignity, global peace, and the realization of human rights in all dimensions.&rdquo;&nbsp; Pope Francis also established the &ldquo;Permanent Pan American Board of Judges in Defense of Social Rights.&rdquo;&nbsp; The board may, in the future, coordinate efforts in the region to optimize judicial policies centered on the full respect of social, economic and cultural justice, promoting training, courses, and committees to defend judges who are under pressure. Pope Francis noted, "Such measures will allow us to establish a culture of encounter because we do not love concepts or ideas.... Commitment, true commitment, is born of the love of men and women, of children and the elderly, of peoples and communities &hellip; of names and faces which fill our hearts.&rdquo;</p><p>The academic papers submitted by Judge D'Souza and Judge Lobrano along with the documents of the other judges who also made presentations will be published by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences as a special edition and distributed globally, serving as a theoretical basis for a future world meeting of Judges on Social Justice and the Franciscan Doctrine. </p><p>At the end of the summit, each judge met privately with Pope Francis for further reflection and special papal blessings.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="picgrid"><div><img alt="Judge D'Souza presenting her judical paper and research to justices and judges from North, South, and Central America at the Academy in the Vatican City." src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/Judge D&#39;Souza presents in Vatican City_w cutline.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="Judge Lobrano mets Pope Francis at the Academy of Sciences in the Vatican City." src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/Judge Lobrano meets Pope Francis_w cutline.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="Judge Lobrano presenting her judical paper and research to justices and judges from North, South, and Central America at the Academy in the Vatican City." src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/Judge Lobrano presents in Vatican City_w cutline.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="Judge D'Souza and Judge Lobrano watch as Pope Francis signs the &qout;Rome Statement&qout; reflectnig the declarations of the judges' summit" src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/Judges DSouza_Lobrano watch Pope Francis_w cutline.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="Judge Lobrano and Judge D'Souza listen to Pope Francis' address to the judges in Spanish." src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/Judges Lobrano_D&#39;Souza listening to The Pope_w cutline.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="Judge D'Souza meets Pope Francis at the Academy of Sciences in the Vatican City." src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/D&#39;Souza meets the Pope_w cutline.jpg" /></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 16, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="center"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CELEBRATES CONSTITUTION DAY</strong></p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA </strong>&minus; The Louisiana Supreme Court will celebrate <strong>Constitution Day, Tuesday, September 17, 2019</strong>, by giving free pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution to visitors of the courthouse located at 400 Royal Street. &nbsp;All are encouraged to pick up a copy and visit the exhibits in the Louisiana Supreme Court Museum and the Louisiana Law Library. </p><p>Constitution Day is a federal observance of September 17, 1787, when 39 Founding Fathers signed and adopted the U.S. Constitution which recognizes the rights of all citizens whether by birth or naturalization. Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson commented, &ldquo;On its 232nd Anniversary, we commemorate the United States Constitution which created our judicial, legislative and executive branches of government that work together to govern our nations&rsquo; citizens.&nbsp; This revered document laid the foundation for access to rights and freedoms for citizens of the day, and established a roadmap that is relevant to today&rsquo;s citizens and those who follow.&rdquo;</p><p>The courthouse is located at <strong>400 Royal Street in the French Quarter</strong> and is open to visitors between <strong>9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday</strong>. No food, drink or cameras are permitted in the building, however cell phones are permitted. </p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 6, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-indent:30px;">Today, the Louisiana Supreme Court announced that, after extensive study, review, solicitation of comments, and further deliberations, it voted unanimously to adopt several proposed <a href="/rules/orders/2019/RULE_XXIII_signed.pdf" target="_blank">revisions to Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XXIII</a> concerning confidentiality of proceedings before the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana and other issues.&nbsp; Commented Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, &ldquo;Our rules should protect the integrity of the judicial discipline process while insuring public trust and confidence, and I believe these rule revisions accomplish that goal.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p style="text-indent:30px;">In an effort to balance the competing interests of confidentiality to preserve the integrity of judicial discipline proceedings and a complainant&rsquo;s right to freedom of speech, the rule revisions provide that complainants, respondent judges, and witnesses in Commission proceedings may disclose and discuss the proceedings either once the Commission closes a file or once a Notice of Hearing is filed.&nbsp; Revised Rule XXIII, Section 23 (a)(1) specifically provides in part:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">Nothing in this rule prohibits the respondent judge or anyone other than a Commission member or a member of the Commission staff before the filing of a Recommendation of Discipline in the Supreme Court from making statements regarding the underlying facts or events that are the subject of a complaint filed with the Commission or a proceeding before the Commission.&nbsp; Moreover, once the Commission closes a file or files a notice of hearing, nothing in this rule shall prevent a complainant, respondent, or testifying witness in a Commission proceeding from disclosing or discussing the proceedings, subject to the right of the hearing officer or the Commission to issue an order in accordance with Section 8(d) of this rule.&nbsp; From the time a complaint is filed throughout the investigatory stage of the proceedings, complainants, respondents, and witnesses may not disclose or discuss the fact that a complaint was filed, the fact that testimony was given pursuant to Commission proceedings, or any information learned as a result of participating in such proceedings.&nbsp; All documents and evidence remain confidential if the Commission does not file a matter with the Supreme Court.</p><p>Additional rule revisions set forth in the Order amend the handling of anonymous complaints and media reports to ensure their further review if they are initially screened out; impose a requirement to handle certain matters on an expedited basis, such as cases involving interim disqualifications; clarify the procedural rules when jurisdiction is shared with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, such as when the respondent judge is a part-time judge who also practices law; allow for removal of Commission members under certain circumstances; and included some stylistic changes.</p><p style="text-indent:30px;">The revisions are effective immediately.&nbsp; A copy of the Court&rsquo;s Order can be found at <a href="http://www.lasc.org">www.lasc.org</a>.</p><p style="text-indent:30px;">Judiciary Commission Chair Philip Sherman welcomed the Court&rsquo;s action, especially concerning the revision to the confidentiality rule.&nbsp; He spoke about the benefits of limited confidentiality of judicial discipline proceedings.&nbsp; &ldquo;All fifty states require confidentiality during the judicial discipline process at some stage, and for good reason.&nbsp; The notion that confidentiality protects only judges is simply not true.&nbsp; Confidentiality primarily protects complainants and witnesses, who may otherwise be reluctant to come forward for fear of public scrutiny, retaliation, or recrimination.&nbsp; Without such confidentiality, instances of judicial misconduct would no doubt go unreported, to the serious detriment of the public.</p><p style="text-indent:30px;">&ldquo;Further, confidentiality is not absolute.&nbsp; The confidentiality rules have never prohibited <em>anyone</em> <em>at any time</em> from discussing the underlying facts or events that are the subject of a complaint.&nbsp; <em>Anyone at any time</em> can speak about misconduct that they observe on the part of a judge.&rdquo;</p><p style="text-indent:30px;">Sherman also spoke about the private resolution of some judicial discipline matters, acknowledging that the Commission does not have the authority to mete out discipline, and can only recommend discipline to be ordered by the Supreme Court. While not constituting discipline, the use of private counseling letters can be advantageous for resolving some complaints expeditiously. &ldquo;Louisiana is in step with the vast majority of states which sometimes issue confidential counseling letters to judges.&nbsp; There is an undeniable benefit in the ability of a disciplinary body to privately warn those who appear before it to change problematic, but not yet serious or egregious, behavior.&nbsp; The use of such private counseling letters results in better- informed and better-educated judges, which clearly benefits the public appearing before such judges.&nbsp; Further, it needs to be remembered that counseling letters and deferred disciplinary agreements do in fact become public when and if a judge commits misconduct that warrants a recommendation of public discipline to the Louisiana Supreme Court, and are considered in determining the appropriate sanction.&nbsp; If, however, a judge never commits misconduct that warrants a recommendation of public discipline, then obviously the Commission&rsquo;s efforts to rectify that judge&rsquo;s previous behavior were successful, and the judge is serving the public in a competent and professional manner.&rdquo;</p><p>For more information on the judicial discipline process in Louisiana, please visit <a href="/JudiciaryCommission">http://www.lasc.org/JudiciaryCommission</a>.</p><p>For more information on how other states handle private resolutions of judicial complaints, please visit <a href="https://ncscjudicialethicsblog.org/category/sanctions/" target="_blank">https://ncscjudicialethicsblog.org/category/sanctions/</a>.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>April 13, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">MAKING BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN CHALLENGING TIMES</p><p><strong>New Orleans - </strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court and courts statewide are utilizing technology during this challenging time to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state while maintaining access to Louisiana courts.&nbsp; This has been a joint effort of the Supreme Court&rsquo;s Information Technology (IT) department and the Louisiana District Judges Association, requiring strong, committed and compassionate leadership, and a dedicated staff of qualified professionals who are astute in their respective fields.</p><p>To comply with safety concerns and observe social distancing, many Louisiana state courts are serving citizens by conducting daily operations remotely as much as possible. In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic with resulting mandates from the President and Governor to limit crowd sizes and stay home orders, the Louisiana Supreme Court directed the courts to immediately limit in-person proceedings. The Supreme Court&rsquo;s Order of March 26 stated: &ldquo;All essential court functions should be conducted with the use of video and telephone conferencing whenever possible. Any court lacking the technological capabilities to implement this mandate shall notify the Judicial Administrator of the Louisiana Supreme Court so that accommodations can be made.&rdquo; Since that order was issued, the IT Department of the Supreme Court has been in constant contact with lower courts and has been working non-stop to assist in this area. The Louisiana Judicial College (LJC) and the Louisiana District Judges Association (LDJA) provided guidance to all judges through their websites and hosted several online conferences which included specific attention to remote proceedings and emergency handling of matters in Civil, Criminal, Juvenile, and Family Courts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Training webinars for state judges have been taught <strong>by 24th Judicial District Court (JDC) Judge Scott Schlegel</strong> who is Chair of the LDJA Technology Committee; <a href="mailto:jeagan@lasc.org"><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court staff attorney Jennifer Eagan</strong></a>, and <a href="mailto:JMurray@lasc.org"><strong>Louisiana</strong> <strong>Supreme Court Information Technology Director James Murray</strong></a>. These training webinars had almost 300 attendees, including district, city and appellate court judges. Judge Schlegel has offered continued guidance with technology and online platforms that are both effective and secure approaches to handling court procedures during this time.&nbsp; In many jurisdictions however, with the implementation of new technological platforms and creative approaches, judges are scheduling and proceeding with much more than simply emergency matters. </p><p>Many judges throughout the state immediately implemented video conferencing in their courts. Appellate courts are using these tools as well; the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal utilizes video conferencing for panel discussion on individual cases and for weekly conferences, and is planning to hear Oral Arguments in May through the use of video conferencing for attorneys who wish to utilize it. &nbsp;Courts are continuing to function with limited staff in the office and others are working remotely utilizing video conferencing technology.&nbsp;In a number of jurisdictions, district courts which had held video arraignments with local and state jails to reduce cost and manpower required to transport incarcerated individuals to the courthouse prior to the pandemic continue to utilize that technology during this coronavirus event.</p><p>Courts have extended deadlines in cases pending before them based on guidelines from the Supreme Court.&nbsp; Other courts, including Appellate courts are allowing for filings to be received by fax during the pendency of this event, in addition to filings being submitted by mail or e-filing, where applicable.&nbsp; Courts have waived convenience fees associated with e-filing to allow for greater use of this method of submitting filings, with the goal of reducing potential coronavirus spread caused by person-to-person contact.</p><p>Additionally, the Supreme Court&rsquo;s Office of Language Access has worked to provide translations of court Orders in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Arabic, to better inform and assist limited English proficient parties who utilize the court system.</p><p>At the Louisiana Supreme Court, video conferencing is a tool that has been used for many years. Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson said, &ldquo;The Court&rsquo;s IT department has worked diligently over the past few years to prepare our staff and justices with the ability to work remotely should this very type of situation arise. Their forward-thinking and preparation has allowed the Court, its justices and staff to continue working for the duration of this ongoing pandemic.&rdquo;</p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court&rsquo;s office has accepted the e-filing of documents for several years<strong>.&nbsp; </strong><strong>Public access to the&nbsp;<strong>Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse</strong>&nbsp;will be restricted until further notice.&nbsp; Filings will be received via mail, although&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://cdx.lasc.org/" target="_blank"><strong>e-filing</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;is preferred and the Court is waiving the e-filing convenience fee during this public health crisis.</strong></p><p>The Justices have continued to consider and vote on writ applications and Opinions, albeit remotely through the use of video conferencing.&nbsp; During any given week IT support allows the seven Louisiana Supreme Court Justices the option to remain in the districts they serve while meeting through video conferencing to vote on writ applications and discuss administrative matters.&nbsp;&nbsp; However, since March, the Justices have met via video conferencing on an average of three times per week to consider writ applications, opinions, and administrative matters.&nbsp; These conferences are attended via conference call by key court staff members, who disseminate necessary orders, updates and pertinent information to citizens, court administrators and staff, the legal community and media throughout Louisiana and legal professionals in other states. The Supreme Court is also considering holding its next Oral Arguments via video conferencing.</p><p>In summation, Chief Justice Johnson commented, &ldquo;Our citizens can be assured their safety is a priority as the judicial system remains open during this challenging time, thanks to technology and the efforts of our dedicated judges and court staff.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>For more e-filing information, please contact:</strong><br /><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court, John T. Olivier at </strong><a href="mailto:JOlivier@lasc.org"><strong>JOlivier@lasc.org</strong></a></p><p><strong>For more on Information Technology, please contact: </strong><br /><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Information Technology Director James Murray at </strong><a href="mailto:JMurray@lasc.org"><strong>JMurray@lasc.org</strong></a><strong> or Louisiana Supreme Court staff attorney Jennifer Eagan at </strong><a href="mailto:JEagan@lasc.org"><strong>JEagan@lasc.org</strong></a><strong> </strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 23, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES TWO NEW ORDERS</p><p>Today the Louisiana Supreme Court, in accordance with declarations by Governor John Bel Edwards and President Donald Trump, released two Orders in its continuing effort to reduce the number of new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) by citizens, including judges and court staff. Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson said, &ldquo;It is the Court&rsquo;s responsibility to remain steadfast staving off newly contracted cases of the Coronavirus. In doing so, we yield to reasonable alternative methods to adhere to the constitutional rights of all citizens; both litigants and court staff to provide due process in an environment of safety to the public health of all.&rdquo;</p><p><a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-04-06_LASC_order.pdf" target="_blank">The first Order</a> repeals and replaces the Supreme Court&rsquo;s March 16, 2020, March 20, 2020 and March 23, 2020 Orders and advises on court proceedings and reads as follows:</p><p>Acting under the authority of Article V, Section 1 of Constitution of 1974, and the inherent power of this Court, and considering the continuing spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; declaration of public health emergencies in Proclamation Numbers 25 JBE 2020, 27 JBE 2020, 30 JBE 2020, 33 JBE 2020, and 41 JBE 2020, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, the Orders of this Court dated March 16, March 20, and March 23, 2020, and in consideration of ongoing public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts,</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Prior Orders:</span> This Order shall repeal and replace the Orders of this Court dated March 16, March 20, and March 23, 2020;</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Jury Trials:</span> All jury trials, both civil and criminal, scheduled to commence in any Louisiana state court between the date of this Order and May 1, 2020, are hereby continued to a date to be reset by local order no earlier than May 4, 2020.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;">In-person emergency matters only:</span> Until at least May 4, 2020, courts may only conduct in-person proceedings to address emergency matters that cannot be resolved virtually. Courts must continue to take measures to limit access to courtrooms and other spaces, with absolute minimum physical contact, to practice social distancing and limit in-person court activity to only the emergency matters set forth in sections 4 and 5 below. As this situation is constantly changing, courts are further instructed to follow all guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control, the President and the Governor, and to further limit access to courtroom and other spaces to the maximum number of people set forth in any future guideline or official proclamation that may be issued. All emergency matters should be conducted with the use of video and telephone conferencing whenever possible. Any court lacking the technological capabilities to implement this mandate shall notify the Judicial Administrator of the Louisiana Supreme Court so that accommodations can be made.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Criminal Matters:</span> In criminal matters, the following matters are deemed emergency matters for purposes of section 3 above: criminal initial appearances for adults and juveniles, arraignments for incarcerated individuals, bond hearings, criminal protective orders and other emergency matters necessary to protect the health, safety and liberty of individuals as determined by each court.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Civil Matters:</span> In civil matters, the following matters are deemed emergency matters for purposes of section 3 above: civil protective orders, child in need of care proceedings, emergency child custody matters, proceedings for children removed from their home by emergency court order, proceedings related to emergency interdictions and mental health orders, temporary restraining orders and injunctions, and matters of public health related to this crisis and other emergency matters necessary to protect the health, safety and liberty of individuals as determined by each court.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Remote Proceedings:</span> This Order expressly does not prohibit any court proceedings by telephone, video, teleconferencing, or any other means that do not involve in-person contact with consent of all parties and the judge. This Order does not affect courts&rsquo; consideration of matters that can be resolved without in-person proceedings. This authority does not extend to any matters suspended by executive action by the Governor, including but not limited to evictions.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Speedy Trial Computations:</span> Given the public health concerns and the necessity of taking action to slow the spread of the disease, the continuances occasioned by this Order serve the ends of justice and outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial. Therefore, the time periods of such continuance shall be excluded from speedy trial computations pursuant to law, including but not limited to those set forth in the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure and the Louisiana Children&rsquo;s Code, and presumptively constitute just cause.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Clerk&rsquo;s Offices:</span> Courts should work with parish clerks to encourage in-person filings of court pleadings to be replaced with filing by other means, such as U.S. mail, e-filing, email or facsimile. In all criminal, juvenile and civil matters handled on an emergency or expedited basis, a record shall be kept under the direction of the acting judge for each action.</p><p><a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-04-06_LASC_DEADLINES.pdf" target="_blank">The second Order</a> amends a March 20, 2020 Louisiana Supreme Court Order regarding filing deadlines with the state&rsquo;s high court, and states, &ldquo;All filings which were or are due to this Court between Thursday, March 12, 2020 through Friday, May 1, 2020 shall be considered timely if filed no later than Monday, May 4, 2020. Parties who are unable to meet this deadline due to the COVID-19 emergency may submit motions for extensions of time, supported by appropriate documentation and argument.&rdquo;</p><p style="text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold;">REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:</p><p>In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from Louisiana&rsquo;s courts on its website, <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>. We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 23, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-03-23_LASC.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>The Louisiana Supreme Court issued a new Order today</strong></a>, considering the continuing spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; declaration of public health emergencies in Proclamation Numbers 25 JBE 2020, 27 JBE 2020, 30 JBE 2020 and 33 JBE 2020, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, the Orders of this Court dated March 16 and March 20, 2020, and in consideration of public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts.</p><p>The Court&rsquo;s new order sets forth the following:</p><ol><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">The provisions set forth in the Orders of this Court dated March 16, 2020, as amended by the Order dated March 20, 2020, remain in effect, but are further restricted as set forth below;</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">Courts must take immediate measures to limit access to courtrooms and other spaces, with absolute minimum physical contact, to practice social distancing and limit court activity to only the essential functions enumerated in Sections 2 and 3 of this Courts March 16, 2020 Order, as amended by the Order dated March 20, 2020, as modified herein, in accordance with the &ldquo;Stay at Home Order&rdquo; issued by Governor Edwards in Proclamation 33 JBE 2020 on March 22, 2020.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">As this situation is constantly changing, courts are further instructed to follow all guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control, the President and the Governor, and to further limit access to courtroom and other spaces to the maximum number of people set forth in any future guideline or official proclamation that may be issued.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">All essential court functions should be conducted with the use of video and telephone conferencing whenever possible. Any court lacking the technological capabilities to implement this mandate shall notify the Judicial Administrator of the Louisiana Supreme Court so that accommodations can be made.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">The essential criminal matters set forth in Section 3 of this Court&rsquo;s March 16, 2020 Order should be conducted via video and/or telephone conferencing with increased frequency to alleviate potential overcrowding of jails, which is a public health emergency for citizens and jail personnel.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">The essential civil matters set forth in Section 2 of this Court&rsquo;s March 16, 2020 Order should be conducted via video and/or telephone conferencing, including but not limited to civil protective orders, child in need of care proceedings, emergency child custody matters, proceedings for children removed from their home by emergency court order, proceedings related to emergency interdictions and mental health orders, temporary restraining orders and injunctions, and matters of public health related to this crisis and other emergency matters necessary to protect the health, safety and liberty of individuals as determined by each court.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">All matters that are resolved by agreement of the parties and with the approval of the court that do not involve any appearance at the court may proceed during the pendency of this order. This authority does not extend to any matters suspended by executive action by the Governor, including but not limited to evictions.</li><li style="margin-bottom:1em;">Courts should work with parish clerks to encourage in-person filings of court pleadings to be replaced with filing by other means, such as U.S. mail, e-filing, email or facsimile. In all criminal, juvenile and civil matters handled on an emergency or expedited basis, a record shall be kept under the direction of the acting judge for each action.</li></ol><p>&ldquo;In compliance with the Governor&rsquo;s stay at home mandate released yesterday, it is the Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s responsibility to modify daily operations to reduce traffic to our courts by reducing the number of individuals in one space,&rdquo; Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson said today. &ldquo;The circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic are ever-changing and the Court is committed to supporting government efforts to flatten the curve of newly contracted cases by altering the means by which we interact. While remaining dedicated to due process and the rule of law, we continue to balance the legal needs of our citizens with their safety which includes the safety of our court staff.&rdquo;</p><p>Copies of the Court&rsquo;s previous orders can be found here:</p><ul><li><a href="/COVID19/orders/2020-03-20_LASC_EXTENSION.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Order for Louisiana Courts</strong></a> (3/20/2020) - amending the Court&rsquo;s Order of March 16, 2020 </li><li><strong><a href="/COVID19/orders/2020-03-20_LASC_DEADLINES.pdf" target="_blank">Louisiana Supreme Court Order</a></strong> (3/20/2020) - affecting filing deadlines at the Louisiana Supreme Court</li><li><strong><a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-03-16_LASCorder.pdf" target="_blank">Louisiana Supreme Court Order for Louisiana Courts</a></strong> (3/16/2020)</li></ul><p>Copies of the previous Orders and press releases from the Louisiana Supreme Court as well as information and Orders from courts across Louisiana can be found at <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 20, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES ORDERS AFFECTING LOUISIANA STATE COURTS AND LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT</strong></p><p>Due to the recent outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; declaration of a public health emergency in Proclamation Number 25 JBE 2020, and President Donald Trump&rsquo;s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, and in consideration of public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease, today the Louisiana Supreme Court issued two Orders.</p><p><a href="/COVID19/orders/2020-03-20_LASC_EXTENSION.pdf" target="_blank">The first Order from the Louisiana Supreme Court</a> amends the Court&rsquo;s Order of March 16, 2020, extending it through April 13, 2020, and orders the following:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">1. All jury trials, both civil and criminal, scheduled to commence in any Louisiana state court between the date of this Order and April 13, 2020, are hereby continued to a date to be reset by local order no earlier than April 14, 2020.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">2. Except as otherwise provided herein, all civil trials, hearings and court appearances set for any date between the date of this Order and April 13, 2020 are hereby continued to a date to be reset by local order, except for hearings related to the following: civil protective orders, child in need of care proceedings, emergency child custody matters, proceedings for children removed from their home by emergency court order, proceedings related to emergency interdictions and mental health orders, matters of public health related to this crisis and other emergency matters necessary to protect the health, safety and liberty of individuals as determined by each court.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">3. All other provisions set forth in the March 16, 2020 Order of this Court remain in full force and effect.</p><p><a href="/COVID19/orders/2020-03-20_LASC_DEADLINES.pdf" target="_blank">The second Order issued by the Louisiana Supreme Court</a> affects filing deadlines at the Louisiana Supreme Court, and states:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">All filings which were or are due to this Court between Thursday, March 12, 2020 through Monday, April 13, 2020 shall be considered timely if filed no later than Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Parties who are unable to meet this deadline due to the COVID-19 emergency may submit motions for extensions of time, supported by appropriate documentation and argument.</p><p>&ldquo;It is important that we remain vigilant during this time of challenge,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson. &ldquo;We must continue to balance the rights of litigants in the courts against the necessary and recommended measures to slow the spread of the COVID-19 Disease. Information and directives from our president, governor, the Louisiana Supreme Court and state courts are of utmost importance and adherence to such is imperative and greatly appreciated.&rdquo;</p><p>Copies of the Orders from the Louisiana Supreme Court as well as information and Orders from courts across Louisiana can be found at <a href="/">www.lasc.org</a> and <a href="/COVID19">www.lasc.org/COVID19</a>.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 16, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES ORDER FOR LOUISIANA COURTS</strong></p><p><a href="/COVID19/Orders/2020-03-16_LASCorder.pdf" target="_blank">The Louisiana Supreme Court today issued an Order</a>, in response to the recent outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards&rsquo; declaration of a public health emergency in Proclamation Number 25 JBE 2020, and President Donald Trump&rsquo;s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, and in consideration of public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to maintain access to Louisiana courts, directing Louisiana courts to proceed in the following manner:</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">1. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All jury trials, both civil and criminal, scheduled to commence in any Louisiana state court between the date of this Order and March 27, 2020, are hereby continued to a date to be reset by local order no earlier than March 30, 2020. Civil and criminal jury trials that are in progress as of March 13, 2020 may continue to conclusion, in the discretion of the local court.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">2. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Except as otherwise provided herein, all civil trials, hearings and court appearances set for any date between the date of this Order and March 27, 2020 are hereby continued to a date to be reset by local order, except for hearings related to the following: civil protective orders, child in need of care proceedings, emergency child custody matters, proceedings for children removed from their home by emergency court order, proceedings related to emergency interdictions and mental health orders, matters of public health related to this crisis and other emergency matters necessary to protect the health, safety and liberty of individuals as determined by each court. </p><p style="margin-left:30px;">3. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Criminal initial appearances for adults and juveniles, arraignments for incarcerated individuals and bond hearings shall continue as scheduled and shall be conducted with the use of telephone and video conferencing whenever possible.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">4. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All judges and court clerks are urged to limit in-person courtroom contact as much as possible by utilizing available technologies, including alternative means of filing, teleconferencing, email and videoconferencing.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">5. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This Order expressly does not prohibit any court proceedings by telephone, video, teleconferencing, or any other means that do not involve in-person contact. This Order does not affect courts&rsquo; consideration of matters that can be resolved without in-person proceedings.</p><p style="margin-left:30px;">6. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Given the public health concerns and the necessity of taking action to slow the spread of the disease, the continuances occasioned by this Order serve the ends of justice and outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial. Therefore, the time periods of such continuance shall be excluded from speedy trial computations pursuant to law, including but not limited to those set forth in the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure and the Louisiana Children&rsquo;s Code, and presumptively constitute just cause.</p><p>&ldquo;Both the Center for Disease Control and the Louisiana Department of Health have advised people to take precautions in light of the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus) outbreak, and Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a public health emergency,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.&nbsp; &ldquo;First and foremost, we must handle this public health crisis in a way that protects the health and safety of everyone at our court facilities, while at the same time, to the extent possible, maintains access to the courts.&nbsp; To that end, we have issued this Order to allow access to the courts while balancing the need to be proactive in protecting those who work in and come in contact with those in the court system to help lessen the potential impact and spread of the coronavirus.&rdquo;</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">REMINDER FOR ALL MEDIA:</span></strong><br />In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from Louisiana&rsquo;s courts on its website, <a href="/"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.lasc.org</span></a> and <a href="/COVID19"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.lasc.org/COVID19</span></a>.&nbsp; We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court&rsquo;s website for information.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>February 19, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA CITY JUDGES ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW OFFICERS</strong></p><p>At a meeting of its general membership during the Fall Judges Conference, the Louisiana City Judges Association elected new officers for the 2019-20 term. The officers are as follows:</p><ul><li>President &ndash; Judge Daniel Stretcher, Jennings City Court</li><li>Vice President &ndash; Judge Pammela Lattier, Shreveport City Court</li><li>Secretary &ndash; Judge Raylyn Beevers, 2nd Parish Court of Jefferson</li><li>Treasurer &ndash; Judge Brian Barber, Shreveport City Court</li></ul><p>The officers will serve one-year terms.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><style>.picgrid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; grid-gap: .8rem; align-content: center; } </style> <div class="picgrid"><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2020/images/Stretcher_LCJA_president.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Judges Association President, Judge Daniel Stretcher" /><br />Judge Daniel Stretcher<br />Jennings City Court <br />Louisiana City Judges Association President </div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2020/images/Lattier_LCJA_VicePresident.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Judges Association Vice President, Judge Pammela Lattier" /><br />Judge Pammela Lattier<br />Shreveport City Court <br />Louisiana City Judges Association Vice President </div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2020/images/Beevers_LCJA_secretary.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Judges Association Secretary, Judge Raylyn Beevers" /><br />Judge Raylyn Beevers<br />2nd Parish Court of Jefferson <br />Louisiana City Judges Association Secretary </div><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2020/images/Barber_LCJA_treasurer.jpg" alt="Louisiana City Judges Association Treasurer, Judge Brian Barber" /><br />Judge Brian Barber<br />Shreveport City Court <br />Louisiana City Judges Association Treasurer </div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>February 19, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>NEWLY ELECTED NAWJ PRESIDENT JUDGE BERNADETTE D&rsquo;SOUZA:<br />SERVICE IN THE FACE OF HIGHS AND LOWS</strong></p><p>The year 2019 was one of highs and lows for Honorable Bernadette D&rsquo;Souza, Judge, Orleans Civil District Court. She had a career-high when she took the Oath of Office to become president of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) in Los Angeles on October 19, 2019. She was honored when District of Columbia Court of Appeals Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, who administered the Oath, read a congratulatory letter expressing sentiments from longtime NAWJ member, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.</p><p>This has been a season of new experiences for Judge D&rsquo;Souza. In late 2018 she was an invited speaker at the U.S. State Department International Narcotics and Law Bureau (INL) Office&rsquo;s Role of Women in Justice Conference in Yerevan, Armenia. The conference united Armenian judges, lawyers, investigators, and law enforcement personnel on ways to overcome cultural obstacles in the justice system. In March 2019, Judge D&rsquo;Souza presented on &ldquo;Integrated Domestic Violence Courts&rdquo; at the United Nations Convention on the Status of Women in New York. In June, at the invitation of Pope Francis, she attended the First Pan American Judges&rsquo; Summit on Social Justice and the Franciscan Doctrine in the Vatican City where she made a presentation on &ldquo;Equal Access to Justice: The Importance of Civil Legal Aid and Delivery of Justice to Eradicate Poverty.&rdquo; She commented, &ldquo;As a former legal aid lawyer representing the poor of our city, I was truly humbled and privileged to have been bestowed with the honor to participate.&rdquo; October brought her NAWJ appointment as president.</p><p>The NAWJ&rsquo;s mission to &ldquo;protect the rights of individuals under the rule of law through strong, committed, diverse judicial leadership; fairness and equality in the courts; and equal access to justice,&rdquo; aligns with principles Judge D&rsquo;Souza has displayed throughout her career. During her NAWJ swearing-in ceremony, she mentioned her humble beginnings in Goa, India; the opportunities she was afforded, and the consistent support she received from her husband with whom she moved to the United States and started a family. She discussed her family&rsquo;s encouragement during law school. With all the highs of 2019, in July there was a major loss; the challenge to endure the loss of her husband, best friend, and father to her three children. His life of service, her faith and commitment to this important work of the bench has inspired her to move forward. Judge D&rsquo;Souza thanked her children, who were present at the swearing-in, and her colleagues, whose constant support helped her throughout this year.</p><p>Regarding serving as president, Judge D&rsquo;Souza expressed, &ldquo;I am humbled by both the opportunity and responsibility of this office and inspired by the passion, grace, and dedication of our leaders and membership. NAWJ provides a vital and unique source of community, support, diplomacy and integrity to our members and the individuals we serve.&rdquo; Judge D&rsquo;Souza understands the highs and lows and uses them to complete her life&rsquo;s work to serve others. She is once again supported by family, her children and the spirit of her beloved husband, which she says give her the momentum to look beyond her emotions, see the needs of others, and concentrate on the work that must be completed.</p><p>Judge D&rsquo;Souza&rsquo;s theme for her term as NAWJ president is &ldquo;Innovation Efforts to Improve Access to Justice through Global Judicial Leadership.&rdquo; As president, she will utilize her NAWJ experience as a Co-chair of the Domestic Violence Committee, NAWJ Secretary, Chair of the Personnel Committee, Co-chair of the Executive Director Search Committee, and District Director. Judge D&rsquo;Souza looks forward to playing host to the NAWJ in New Orleans at its 2020 Mid-Year Meeting, March 11-13.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="picgrid"><style>.picgrid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; grid-gap: .8rem; align-content: center; </style><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2020/images/DSouza.jpg" alt="Newly Elected NAWJ President Judge Bernadette D’Souza" /><br />Newly Elected NAWJ President Judge Bernadette D&rsquo;Souza</div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/press_room/press_releases/pressroompicgrid.css" /><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2020 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>January 27, 2020</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT HEARD ORAL ARGUMENT AT</strong><br /><strong>TULANE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL</strong></p><p><strong>(New Orleans, LA &ndash; January 27, 2020)</strong> The Louisiana Supreme Court Justices held oral argument at Tulane University Law School today, providing law students with the opportunity to observe the state&rsquo;s highest appellate court&rsquo;s proceedings. </p><p>The court heard three cases before an audience that also included university students from all majors, faculty, and the general public. The visit is part of ongoing outreach by the state&rsquo;s highest Court to provide the public with a sample of the complexity of litigation before the court.</p><p>Visiting other venues to hold court has become a tradition of the Louisiana Supreme Court. </p><p>&nbsp;&ldquo;These visits simulate the court&rsquo;s early history when transportation to New Orleans for court was a challenge for citizens from other parishes,&rdquo; commented Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson. &ldquo;The Louisiana Supreme Court was constitutionally required to &lsquo;ride the circuit&rsquo; by traveling to parishes throughout the state to hear oral argument, ensuring access to justice. We enjoy continuing that tradition of our former colleagues with future members of the Bar.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;The Court&rsquo;s visit provides an exceptional opportunity for students, faculty and the public to observe advocates and the Court in action,&rdquo; said Dean David Meyer.&nbsp; &ldquo;It highlights the Court&rsquo;s commitment to access to justice and the strength of Louisiana&rsquo;s civil law tradition.&nbsp; We&rsquo;re grateful for this extraordinary partnership with the bench and bar in educating the next generation of lawyers.&rdquo;</p><p>Before arguments, the Justices took part in a luncheon where they met students and faculty to encourage greater understanding of the judicial system and the legal profession. </p><p>For more information visit <a href="https://www.lasc.org/"><strong>lasc.org</strong></a>, or <a href="https://law.tulane.edu/content/louisiana-supreme-court-sitting"><strong>l</strong><strong>aw.tulane.edu</strong></a>, contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist Trina S. Vincent, at<strong> </strong><a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org"><strong>tvincent@lasc.org</strong></a><strong> </strong>or (504) 310-2590 or Tulane University Law School Director of Communications Alina Hernandez, at<strong> </strong><a href="mailto:ahernandez4@tulane.edu"><strong>ahernandez4@tulane.edu</strong></a> (504) 865-5976.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="picgrid"><div><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2020/images/Tulane.jpg" alt="The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court held oral argument at Tulane University Law School on Monday, January 27, 2020." /><br />The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court held oral argument at Tulane University Law School on Monday, January 27, 2020.</div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 26, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>CHIEF JUDGE SUSAN M. CHEHARDY APPOINTED AS JUSTICE <em>PRO TEMPORE</em> TO THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT</strong></p><div><img alt="Susan Chehardy" src="/press_room/press_releases/2019/images/Chehardy_Susan.jpg" style="float:left;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;pointer-events:none;" width="300" /><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson and the Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court have appointed Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Susan M. Chehardy as justice <em>pro tempore</em> of the Louisiana Supreme Court, First District, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Greg G. Guidry.&nbsp; Chehardy&rsquo;s appointment will be effective July 26, 2019 through December 31, 2019 or until the vacancy is filled, whichever occurs sooner.</p><p>Chief Judge Chehardy received her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University College of Law in 1985. Upon graduation she held the position as law clerk for the late Hon. Veronica Wicker for the 85&rsquo;-86&rsquo; term. In August of 1986 she was employed as an associate with the firm of Gauthier, Murphy, Chehardy, Sherman &amp; Breslin. &nbsp;In 1989 she became a partner in the firm of Chehardy, Sherman, Ellis &amp; Breslin. In 1991, she opened her own general litigation practice, Chehardy &amp; Nielsen.</p><p>In January of 1992 she was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court as judge <em>pro tempore</em> to Division C of the 24th JDC. In September of 1992 she was elected judge of Division N of the 24th JDC. She served as judge of Division N, winning re-election to her district court seat in 1996. In October of 1998 she was elected to Division D of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, the first woman to be elected to that Court. She was re-elected in 2002 and 2012. In January of 2013, she was sworn in to her new term as the first female Chief Judge of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.</p><p>Judge Chehardy is a member of the American Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Jefferson Bar Association and the New Orleans Bar Association, as well as a retired member of the Federal Bar Associations of the Eastern and Middle Districts. She is also a member of the American Judges Association, the Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeal, the Conference of Court of Appeal Judges, the Fifth Circuit Judges Association, the Fourth and Fifth Circuit Judges Association, the Association of Women Judges and the American Judicature Society.</p><p>Justice Greg Guidry retired from the Louisiana Supreme Court effective June 22, 2019 after his confirmation as a judge to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.&nbsp; Guidry began serving on the Louisiana Supreme Court as an Associate Justice in January 2009. He was formerly a judge on the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, having won election in August 2006. He served as a district court judge on the 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson for six years beginning in October 2000. </p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2009 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:0;">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">(504) 310 - 2590<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;cellpadding:0;cellspacing:0;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>&nbsp; december 23, 2009</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p align="left">Attorney William C. Credo, III, has been appointed by order of the Louisiana Supreme Court as judge&nbsp;<em>pro tempore</em>&nbsp;of the 24th Judicial District Court, Section &ldquo;A,&rdquo; according to Justice Greg G. Guidry.</p><p align="left">Credo fills the vacancy created by the removal of Judge Joan S. Benge. Credo will serve from December 21, 2009 through June 21, 2010, or until the vacancy is filled, whichever occurs sooner.</p><p align="left">Credo received his B.S. degree from Louisiana State University in 1972 and his J.D. degree from Loyola Law School in 1976. An Assistant District Attorney in Jefferson Parish from 1979 through 2009, Credo supervised the Juvenile Division Research and Appeals Division and the Felony Division. As a Felony Trial Assistant he litigated over 300 jury trials. This year, Credo has also served as an adjunct Professor of Law for Tulane Law School. Before joining the Jefferson Parish District Attorney Office, Credo had a civil law practice with a specialty in forensic law. Additionally, Credo served as a member of the Louisiana National Guard from 1971-1977.</p><p align="left">Credo is a member of the United State Supreme Court Bar, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana, the Jefferson Bar Association, and the American Inns of Court. He is the recipient of a Volunteer of the Year Award from the Jefferson Bar Auxiliary; the 2002 Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year Award from Victims &amp; Citizens Against Crime; and the 2008 New Orleans&nbsp;<br />CityBusiness Award for Leadership in the Law.</p><p style="text-align:center;">- 30 -</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>July 24, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>CHIEF JUSTICE JOHNSON RECEIVES ESTEEMED WILLIAM H. HASTIE AWARD</strong></p><div><img alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson received the William H.Hastie Award at the NBA's 94th Annual Convention" src="\press_room\press_releases\2019\images\NBA _ William H_Hastie 6.jpg" style="float:left;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;pointer-events:none;" width="350" /><p>Louisiana Supreme Court <a href="/About/Biography?p=Bernette_J._Johnson">Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson</a> received the William H. Hastie Award today in New York. The award, presented by the National Bar Association (NBA) Judicial Council recognizes excellence in legal and judicial scholarship and demonstrated commitment to justice under law.</p><p>The William H. Hastie Award, the NBA Judicial Council&rsquo;s highest award, was presented to Chief Justice Johnson at the organization&rsquo;s 94th Annual Convention during its Thurgood Marshall Awards Luncheon. Judge William H. Hastie for whom the award is named, served as a United States District Court Judge as well as Governor for the United States Virgin Islands, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Dean of Howard University Law School. Upon accepting the award at the annual convention, Chief Justice Johnson said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to express my deepest appreciation to the National Bar Association and my colleagues for this distinguished award.&rdquo;</p><p>The National Bar Association is the oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges. It represents the interest of approximately 65,000 lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students. The National Bar Association Judicial Council is an independent autonomous section of the National Bar Association formed in 1971 to eradicate racial and class bias from every aspect of the judicial and law enforcement process.</p><p>Chief Justice Johnson serves as the first African-American Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. She is one of the first African-American women to attend and earn a Juris Doctorate degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University and the first woman elected to serve on the Civil District Court of New Orleans where in 1994, her colleagues elected her Chief Judge. She was elected to serve on the Louisiana Supreme Court in 1994 and was re-elected without opposition in 2000 and 2010. As the senior justice on the Court, she was sworn in as Chief Justice on February 1, 2013.</p><p>For more information on Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson visit <a href="/About/Biography?p=Bernette_J._Johnson">http://www.lasc.org/About/Biography?p=Bernette_J._Johnson</a></p></div><p align="center">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2009 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:0;">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">(504) 310 - 2590<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;cellpadding:0;cellspacing:0;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>&nbsp; november 19, 2009</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p align="left">First Circuit Court of Appeal Judge John Michael Guidry has been appointed by the Conference of Court of Appeal Judges to serve as their representative on the Judicial Council of the Louisiana Supreme Court for a three-year term commencing January 1, 2010.</p><p align="left">The Judicial Council is composed of 17 members representing the judiciary, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Louisiana State Law Institute, the Legislature, the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association, and the citizens of Louisiana. The Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court serves as Chair of the Council and one other Justice serves as a member. Through its various standing committees, the Judicial Council serves as a research arm for the Supreme Court. It often acts as a resource center where ideas for simplifying and expediting judicial procedures and/or correcting shortcomings in the system are studied.</p><p align="left">Judge Guidry received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in 1983 and his law degree from the Southern University Law Center in 1987. Guidry had a private law practice from 1987-1997. During that time, he also served as an Assistant Parish Attorney from 1988-1991, as a State Representative for District 67 from 1992-1993, and as a State Senator for District 14 from 1993-1997. Guidry has served as an instructor for the Southern University Law Center since 1988 and Southern University since 1993. In 1997, Guidry was elected to the First Circuit Court of Appeal where he currently serves.</p><p align="left">Guidry is a member of numerous professional organizations including: the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the American Judges Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Baton Rouge Bar Association, the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society and the Louisiana Judicial College.</p><p style="text-align:center;">- 30 -</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2008 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD<br />PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER&nbsp;<br />(504) 310-2590</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 17, 2008</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p align="left">Attorney Preston Joseph Castille, Jr. has been appointed to serve as judge&nbsp;<em>pro tempore</em>&nbsp;of Division &ldquo;B,&rdquo; Baton Rouge City Court in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, according to Justice Catherine D. &ldquo;Kitty&rdquo; Kimball. He will fill the vacancy created at Baton Rouge City Court by the election of Judge Trudy M. White to the 19th Judicial District Court. He will serve at Baton Rouge City Court for the period of January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009, or until the vacancy is filled, whichever occurs sooner.</p><p align="left">Castille received his undergraduate degree from Southern University in 1990 and his law degree from Tulane Law School in 1994. He is a partner in the law firm Taylor, Porter, Brooks and Phillips and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Louisiana State University Law Center and Southern University Law Center where he has instructed courses on Pretrial Civil Litigation Practice and Louisiana Civil Procedure. He is a member of the the Louisiana State Bar Association, a past member of the Board of Governors for the Baton Rouge Bar Association, and was a founder and Chairman of the Board of the Louis A. Martinet Foundation and President of the Louis A. Martinet Society, Baton Rouge Chapter.</p><p align="left">Active in the community, Castille has served on the Baker Planning and Zoning Commission, on the Board of Directors for Volunteers in Public Schools, ADVANCE Baton Rouge, the St. Paul Adult Education Center, and the Baker Little League.</p><p align="left">In 2000, the&nbsp;<em>Baton Rouge Business Report</em>&nbsp;named Castille one of its &ldquo;Top 40 Under 40.&rdquo; He is also a 1997 graduate of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program.</p><p align="center">- 30 -</p><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table style="background-color:#428bca;border-color:X357ebd;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2019 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 9, 2019</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><p>Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced that the Louisiana Supreme Court recently approved substantive revisions to Supreme Court Rule XIX and its appendices, pertaining to Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, to be effective on May 15, 2019.</p><p>The Court adopted the rule revisions following a lengthy study and an audit by the American Bar Association. The Court solicited, received, and reviewed comments from the Louisiana State Bar Association&rsquo;s Rules of Professional Conduct Committee, the Court&rsquo;s Attorney Disciplinary Board and practitioners before making its final determination.</p><p>The amendments to Rule XIX and its appendices seek to streamline the disciplinary process; clarify certain processes regarding existing practices; implement a new permanent retirement status; implement a procedure for inventorying lawyer files; and also include changes for stylistic and consistency purposes. The revised <a href="/rules/orders/2019/RULE_XIX.pdf" target="_blank">Rule XIX</a> and its <a href="/rules/orders/2019/RULE_XIX_APPENDICES.pdf" target="_blank">appendices</a>, effective May 15, 2019, can be found on the Court&rsquo;s website, <a href="http://www.lasc.org">www.lasc.org</a>.</p><p align="center">-30-</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2009 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:0;">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">(504) 310 - 2590<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;cellpadding:0;cellspacing:0;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>&nbsp; November 10, 2009</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p align="left"><a href="/press_room/press_releases/2009/2009-22.pdf" target="_blank">Justice Bernette J. Johnson to receive the 2010 ABA Spirit of Excellence Award for Diversity Leadership</a></p><p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2008 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD<br />PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER&nbsp;<br />(504) 310-2590</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 9, 2008</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p align="left">Justice Catherine D. &ldquo;Kitty&rdquo; Kimball, the first woman in the history of the state to be elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court will be sworn-in as Chief Justice of the court, also making her the first woman in the history of the state to be Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.</p><p align="left">To mark this historic event, a Mass will be celebrated at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans on Monday, January 12, 2009 at 9:00 A.M. by Archbishop Alfred Hughes and Father Miles Walsh of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. A swearing-in ceremony will take place afterward at 11:00 A.M. on the steps of the Louisiana Supreme Court at 400 Royal Street. A reception will follow. The Mass and Swearing-In Ceremony are open to the public. No individual invitations will be sent for either function. Invitation is by this and other similar announcements.</p><p align="left">The anticipated cost of printing invitations and postage will be donated to the Baton Rouge Battered Women&rsquo;s Shelter.</p><p align="left">For more information on these events and hotel information, contact Jan Tolar at 504.310.2607 or by email at Tolar@lajao.org.</p><p align="center">- 30 -</p><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2016 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:0;">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE S. WILLARD<br />PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER&nbsp;<br />(504) 310-2590</p><p style="margin-bottom:0;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;cellpadding:0;cellspacing:0;width:100%;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>&nbsp; &nbsp;OCTOBER 19, 2016 </strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court justices sat <em>en banc</em> in a courtroom ceremony today to honor one of their own, Justice Jeannette Theriot Knoll, on her last day sitting on the Supreme Court bench. Surrounded by friends, family and a host of colleagues from the legal profession, Justice Knoll celebrated 34 years of being a member of the Louisiana state judiciary. Her service began in 1983 when she was elected to the Third Circuit Court of Appeal. She was the first woman to be elected to an appellate court in the history of Louisiana.<br /><br />&ldquo;Twenty years ago Justice Knoll joined the Louisiana Supreme Court bench and she has since devoted herself to serving the Court, the judiciary and the people of Louisiana. She has established an impressive record during her time here, having read and voted on over 58,000 writ applications and authored nearly 200 Louisiana Supreme Court full opinions. When you add this to the 856 opinions she wrote during her 14 year tenure at the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, it is impossible to overstate Justice Knoll&rsquo;s contribution to the development of Louisiana Law. Justice Knoll is also a gifted operatic soprano who once dreamed of an opera career. It is the good fortune of the State of Louisiana that law was her ultimate calling,&rdquo; Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson said.<br /><br />Justice Knoll received her undergraduate degree and her law degree from Loyola University. She cut her teeth as an indigent defender in Avoyelles Parish and for 13 years she practiced law with Knoll and Knoll. From 1972-1982 she served as the first Assistant District Attorney for the 12th Judicial District. In 1996, she earned a Master of Laws degree in the judicial process from the University of Virginia School of Law. Justice Knoll is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including: the 2017 St. Ives Award from Loyola College of Law; the 2002 Outstanding Judicial Award from Victims and Citizens Against Crime, Inc.; and, the 2000 Outstanding Jurist of the Year Award from Louisiana Crimefighters. In 2007, she was inducted, along with her whole family, into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame.<br /><br />Justice Knoll has been married for nearly 50 years to Jerold Edward &ldquo;Eddie&rdquo; Knoll with whom she raised five sons and has nine grandchildren. Her official last day before retirement is December 31, 2016.</p><p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p><table><tbody><tr style="height:50%;"><td style="width:100%;"><img alt="Justice Jeannette Theriot Knoll" src="/press_room%2Fpress_releases%2F2016%2Fimages%2FKnoll_Portrait.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr><tr style="height:50%;"><td style="width:100%;text-align:center;">Justice Jeannette Theriot Knoll</td></tr></tbody></table>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2009 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:0;">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">(504) 310 - 2590<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;cellpadding:0;cellspacing:0;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>&nbsp; october 20, 2009</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p align="left">Attorney James M. Williams has been appointed, by order of the Louisiana Supreme Court, as judge&nbsp;<em>pro tempore</em>&nbsp;of Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Section &ldquo;J,&rdquo; according to Justice Bernette J. Johnson.</p><p align="left">Williams will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Nadine M. Ramsey and will serve from October 12, 2009 through March 30, 2010, or until the vacancy is filled by election, whichever comes sooner.</p><p align="left">Williams received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in 1995 and his juris doctor degree from Washington &amp; Lee University School of Law in 1998. While a law student, Williams was Editor in Chief of the Journal for Civil Rights and Social Justice and was selected as a Burk&rsquo;s Scholar for academic excellence and aptitude for advocacy. Additionally, he worked with United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to publish a scholarly article entitled &ldquo;<em>Civility</em>.&rdquo; Following law school, Williams served as a law clerk for Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Bernette J. Johnson from 1998-1999.</p><p align="left">Currently he is a partner in the law firm Gauthier, Houghtaling &amp; Williams, practicing in the area of civil litigation with a concentration on catastrophic personal injury and business litigation. While practicing law, Williams has served as an Adjunct Professor at Tulane University teaching the Legal Aspects of Sports and as President of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Inc. He now serves on the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and the New Orleans Bar Association.</p><p align="left">Williams has been recognized for &ldquo;<em>Leadership in Law</em>&rdquo; by New Orleans City Business in 2008 and 2009 and has been inducted in the publication&rsquo;s Hall of Fame for being honored consecutively. The Million Dollar Advocates Forum has recognized Williams as one of the &ldquo;<em>Top Trial Lawyers in America</em>.&rdquo;</p><p style="text-align:center;">- 30 -</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2008 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD<br />PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER&nbsp;<br />(504) 310-2590</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#f7ebc6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 8, 2008</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p align="left">Thibodaux attorney Christopher H. Riviere was recognized for his service as a member of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (LADB) in a December 4, 2008 ceremony at the Louisiana Supreme Court. Riviere, who joined the LADB in 2003, was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Associate Justice John L. Weimer before the Court&rsquo;s morning session.</p><p align="left">Riviere has been in the practice of law in south Louisiana for the past twenty seven years. He began his practice in 1981 after completing Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has presented statewide as a lecturer in lawyer's continuing education as well as professionalism.</p><p align="left">In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Riviere is an experienced mediator having received his certification from Attorney-Mediators Institute in 1997. He is a past president of the Lafourche Parish Bar Association and a past member of the House of Delegates for the Louisiana State Bar Association. He has served two terms on the Louisiana State Republican Central Committee. Additionally, Mr. Riviere previously served as an adjunct lecturer in law at Nicholls State University and is involved in numerous community service and civic organizations. Mr. Riviere is an active volunteer firefighter and first responder, having served as First Assistant Fire Chief of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department for five years.</p><p align="left">The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, which was established by the Supreme Court of Louisiana in 1990, is tasked with the responsibility of investigating all allegations of lawyer misconduct and with the responsibility of making recommendations to the Court when discipline is warranted. The agency consists of a statewide board, hearing committees, disciplinary counsel and administrative staff.</p><p align="center">- 30 -</p><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2016 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:0;">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE S. WILLARD<br />PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER&nbsp;<br />(504) 310-2590</p><p style="margin-bottom:0;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;cellpadding:0;cellspacing:0;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>&nbsp; OCTOBER 18, 2016</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>PUBLIC STATEMENT</strong></p><p>On behalf of the Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson issued the following statement today:<br /><br />The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court join with the Louisiana legal community in sadness due to the recent loss of Richard &ldquo;Dick&rdquo; Knight, an esteemed member of the legal profession and former Judicial Administrator of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Knight came to the Supreme Court right out of LSU Law in 1958, where he had been Editor-in-Chief of the LSU Law Review and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Delta Phi honor societies.<br /><br />Knight was a pioneer in judicial administration, being one of the earliest court-appointed administrators in the United States. With an undergraduate degree from LSU in business administration, Knight brought a business perspective to court operations which was an innovative approach at the time and which now has become the norm.<br /><br />Although Knight left the Court in 1960 to enter the practice of law at the law firm Tally, Anthony, Hughes &amp; Knight, over the next 42 years he continued to dedicate his life to improving and educating others about the administration of justice through his service for the Louisiana State Law Institute and as a continuing legal education lecturer at LSU Law Center.<br /><br />Richard &ldquo;Dick&rdquo; Knight lived a life of professional achievement and distinguished service. The Louisiana Supreme Court is proud to have been a part of his journey. We will always remember his contributions and he will be sorely missed.<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;">- 30 -<br /><br /></p>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2009 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:0;">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER</p><p align="left" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;">(504) 310 - 2590<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;cellpadding:0;cellspacing:0;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>&nbsp; october 15, 2009</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p align="left">Justice Greg G. Guidry was in Beauregard Parish today on behalf of the Louisiana Supreme Court to present a grant check in the amount of $56,164 to Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court Brian Lestage for the acquisition of a new and improved case management system. The new system provides a technological solution for Beauregard Parish where heretofore criminal and traffic case management was paper-driven, done manually, and not able to be shared in an automated fashion.</p><p align="left">&ldquo;With these funds the Clerk of Court for Beauregard Parish takes a giant step into the 21st century and it is a win-win for everyone. The parish citizens and legal community benefit from the convenience of the automated case management services provided by the Clerk&rsquo;s Office on a day-to day basis. The criminal justice system as a whole benefits from the criminal and traffic statistical data which can now be integrated with other criminal justice agencies&rsquo; information systems,&rdquo; said Justice Guidry.</p><p align="left">According to Lestage, the newly acquired system enables state-of-the-art scanning, indexing and preserving of criminal and traffic records on par with most of the Clerk of Court Offices in the state. The collected data can now be reported to the Case Management Information Systems (CMIS) division of the Louisiana Supreme Court and passed on to other criminal justice agencies such as the Louisiana State Police Criminal History Repository and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.</p><p align="left">The $56,164 grant for Beauregard Parish&rsquo;s modernized case management system is federally funded through the Crime Information Technology Act of 1998 which is administered by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice. The Louisiana Supreme Court&rsquo;s CMIS division serves as a conduit for these federal funds to state district courts.</p><p align="left">For more information on the Beauregard Clerk of Court Office&rsquo;s newly acquired case management system contact Brian Lestage at 337.463.8595.</p><p style="text-align:center;">- 30 -</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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<div align="left"><table bgcolor="#428bca" border="1" bordercolor="#357ebd" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2008 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">CONTACT PERSON: VALERIE WILLARD<br />PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER&nbsp;<br />(504) 310-2590</p><div align="left"><table style="background-color:#F7EBC6;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:3px;width:100%;"><tbody style=""><tr valign="top"><td style="" width="38%"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>December 2, 2008</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p align="left">&nbsp;</p><p align="left">The justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court honored Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. today in an&nbsp;<em>en banc</em>&nbsp;ceremony held in the Supreme Court courtroom where he has presided since the court&rsquo;s return to the 400 Royal Street courthouse in 2004. Calogero is the longest serving Justice in the history of Louisiana, having served the court and the citizens of Louisiana for nearly 36 years; 18 of which as Chief Justice.</p><p align="left">"I was recently asked how would I like to be remembered. I responded that I hoped history would look back on me kindly. I would like to be remembered as an energetic, hard-working, honest and able judge who contributed during his service on the Louisiana Supreme Court to maintaining stability in the law and jurisprudence, while serving the least privileged of our citizens with compassion, integrity and fairness," said an overwhelmed Calogero.</p><p align="left">Also participating in the retirement ceremony were S. Guy deLaup. Louisiana State Bar Association Immediate-Past President; Father Kevin Wildes, S.J., President of Loyola University; Kim Boyle, Louisiana State Bar Association President-Elect; Judge Eldon Fallon, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana; Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Catherine D. &ldquo;Kitty&rdquo; Kimball; and Calogero&rsquo;s former law partners former Mayor and Judge Moon Landrieu and Charles Kronlage.</p><p align="left">Chief Justice Calogero graduated first in his class from Loyola Law School and served as President of the Student Editorial Board of the Loyola Law Review. He received a Master of Laws in Judicial Process from the University of Virginia, was inducted into LSU Law Center&rsquo;s Hall of Fame, presented a Doctor of Laws degree&nbsp;<em>honoris causa</em>&nbsp;from Loyola School of Law, and is an honorary member of the LSU Center&rsquo;s Order of the Coif.</p><p align="left">Calogero served as a military police officer and as Captain in the Judge Advocate General&rsquo;s Corps of the United States Army from 1954 to 1957. He served as a law clerk to the judges of Civil District Court in Orleans Parish prior to practicing law from 1958 to 1972. Calogero was elected to the Supreme Court in 1972, took his first oath as an Associate Justice on January 10, 1973, and was re-elected three times thereafter. He was sworn in as Chief Justice on April 9, 1990 and is credited with major improvements to the law, the legal system and the administration of justice in Louisiana. Calogero has participated in over 6,000 oral argument and publishedSupreme Court decisions and has authored over 1,000 majority opinions, concurrences and dissents. Additionally, he was the driving force in restoring the 400 Royal Street building located in the historic French Quarter to its original use as a courthouse and home to the Louisiana Supreme Court.</p><p>Calogero is the recipient of the Louisiana Bar Foundation&rsquo;s 1991 Distinguished Jurist Award, the Indiana University School of