Louisiana Supreme Court returns to Royal Street Courthouse Monday, December 5, 2005 - Press Release

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Louisiana Supreme Court returns to Royal Street Courthouse Monday, December 5, 2005 
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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;">2005 Press Releases </span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><p>CONTACT PERSON: ROBERT GUNN<br />(504) 310-2588<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0;">&nbsp;</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>November 23, 2005</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>Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. announced that the Louisiana  Supreme Court will formally return to its French Quarter home at 400 Royal Street, New Orleans, and will be open to the public beginning Monday, December 5, 2005. Chief Justice Calogero stated, &ldquo;Just a little over a year ago, the Louisiana Supreme Court returned to its newly renovated quarters in the French Quarter. We are happy to return after a short absence made necessary by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.&rdquo;</p><p>The move back to the Court&rsquo;s home at 400 Royal Street comes after the Louisiana Office of 
State Buildings completed the necessary cleanup and inspections and gave the clearance for occupancy. Chief Justice Calogero thanked Governor Kathleen Blanco and the Office of State Buildings for their efforts which made it possible for the Court to return to New Orleans sooner than anticipated.</p><p>Although closed from August 29, 2005 through November 25, 2005 for regular filing purposes, the Louisiana Supreme Court has been operating out of its temporary location at the First Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge, handling emergency filings and administrative matters, and assisting lower courts in resuming normal operations after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Supreme Court&rsquo;s limited closure order expires Friday, November 25, 2005, and pleadings otherwise due during this time period must be filed no later than Monday, November 28, 2005. The Court will hold earlier scheduled oral arguments in a series of cases in Baton Rouge at the First Circuit Court of Appeal November 28-30, 2005. Then on Thursday, December 1, 2005, the Court will participate in a Red Mass for the Healing and Renewal of New Orleans at noon at St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. Members of the bench and bar as well as the public are invited to this Red Mass.</p><p>On Monday, December 5, 2005, the Supreme Court Clerk&rsquo;s office will open at 9:00 a.m. at 400 Royal Street and will resume its normal operating hours of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. As of December 5, 2005, court filings by hand will only be accepted at the Clerk&rsquo;s office in New Orleans and will no longer be accepted in person at the Clerk&rsquo;s temporary office at the First Circuit Court of Appeal. Filings may continue to be filed by mail addressed to the Louisiana Supreme Court, 400 Royal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.</p><p>In addition, the Law Library of Louisiana will also reopen its doors to the public to make available the many services and resources it offers to the citizens of Louisiana. As of December 5, 2005, the Law Library of Louisiana will be open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with limited weekend hours. For further information, call the Law Library of Louisiana at 504-310-2400.</p><p>&ldquo;These last few months have been challenging ones for the state judiciary, but the judges and  personnel of the affected courts worked tirelessly to ensure the protection of constitutional rights of our citizens, access to the civil and criminal justice systems, and the resumption of normal operations as early as possible. I&rsquo;d like to thank these judges and staff members for their dedication and efforts. I would also like to extend a special thanks to Chief Judge Burrell Carter and the judges and personnel of the First Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge for the courtesies and hospitality shown to the Louisiana Supreme Court during our stay there,&rdquo; said Chief Justice Calogero.</p><p align="center">- 30 -</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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