United States District Court -- Middle District of LA
Russell B. Long Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
777 Florida St., Ste. 139
Baton Rouge, LA 70801-1712
www.lamd.uscourts.gov
CLERK OF COURT
Michael L. McConnell
Ste. 139
(225) 389-3500
Fax: (225) 389-3501
U.S. Attorney
Brandon J. Fremin
Ste. 208
(225) 389-0443
Fax: (225) 389-0561
U.S. Marshal
William Brown
Rm. G-50
(225) 389-0364
Fax: (225) 389-0370
Chief U.S. Probation Officer
Clarence Rambo
Ste. 161
(225) 389-3600
Fax: (225) 389-3601
Welcome to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana. The U.S. Attorney, Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., is the chief federal law enforcement official in the district. He and his staff are responsible for enforcing the federal criminal laws, representing the U.S. government in civil proceedings, and managing programs for the community and state and local law enforcement to keep our district safe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains ever vigilant against terrorism, while also prosecuting public corruption, major frauds, human trafficking, child exploitation, civil rights violations, drug trafficking, and various other federal crimes. We also protect the interests of the taxpayers by collecting debts owed to the U.S. government and representing the interests of the U.S. government in civil matters. Finally, our office priorities extend beyond handling criminal and civil cases to supporting various outreach programs designed to prevent recidivism and violence.
Our web site is designed to provide information about our office and its many components, community resources, and victim-witness services. Our news section highlights some of our cases and provides information about what happens in federal cases. Thank you for visiting our site.
See our office blog for updates concerning the Middle District of Louisiana.
| (M.D. La.) |
| Baton Rouge |
| Fifth Circuit |
| December 18, 1971 |
| 3 |
| Shelly Dick |
| Ronald C. Gathe |
| William Travis Brown Jr. |
| www.lamd.uscourts.gov |
The United States Court for the Middle District of Louisiana (in case citations, M.D. La.) comprises the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana. Court is held at the Russell B. Long United States Courthouse in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[1] It falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).
The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Louisiana represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of December 13, 2021 the United States Attorney is Ronald C. Gathe.[2]
History[edit]
On March 26, 1804, Congress organized the Territory of Orleans and created the United States District Court for the District of Orleans - the only time Congress provided a territory with a district court equal in its authority and jurisdiction to those of the states.[3] The United States District Court for the District of Louisiana was established on April 8, 1812, by 2 Stat. 701,[3][4] several weeks before Louisiana was formally admitted as a state of the union. The District was thereafter subdivided and reformed several times. It was first subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on March 3, 1823, by 3 Stat. 774.[3][4]
On February 13, 1845, Louisiana was reorganized into a single District with one judgeship, by 5 Stat. 722,[3] but was again divided into Eastern and the Western Districts on March 3, 1849, by 9 Stat. 401.[3] Congress again abolished the Western District of Louisiana and reorganized Louisiana as a single judicial district on July 27, 1866, by 14 Stat. 300.[3] On March 3, 1881, by 21 Stat. 507, Louisiana was for a third time divided into Eastern and the Western Districts, with one judgeship authorized for each.[3] The Middle District was formed from portions of those two Districts on December 18, 1971, by 85 Stat. 741,[3] making it one of the youngest districts in the United States.
Current judges[edit]
As of July 18, 2018:
| 7 | Chief Judge | Shelly Dick | Baton Rouge | 1960 | 2013–present | 2018–present | — | Obama |
| 6 | District Judge | Brian Anthony Jackson | Baton Rouge | 1960 | 2010–present | 2011–2018 | — | Obama |
| 8 | District Judge | John W. deGravelles | Baton Rouge | 1949 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
Former judges[edit]
| 1 | Elmer Gordon West | LA | 1914–1992 | 1972–1979[Note 1] | 1978–1979 | 1979–1992 | Kennedy/Operation of law | death |
| 2 | John Victor Parker | LA | 1928–2014 | 1979–1998 | 1979–1998 | 1998–2014 | Carter | death |
| 3 | Frank Joseph Polozola | LA | 1942–2013 | 1980–2007 | 1998–2005 | 2007–2013 | Carter | death |
| 4 | Ralph E. Tyson | LA | 1948–2011 | 1998–2011 | 2005–2011 | — | Clinton | death |
| 5 | James J. Brady | LA | 1944–2017 | 2000–2013 | — | 2013–2017 | Clinton | death |
- ^ Reassigned from the Eastern District of Louisiana
Chief judges[edit]
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge. A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire on what has since 1958 been known as senior status or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
Succession of seats[edit]
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See also[edit]
- Courts of Louisiana
- List of current United States district judges
- List of United States federal courthouses in Louisiana
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
References[edit]
- ^ 28 U.S.C. § 98
- ^ "Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. Sworn in as United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana" (Press release). U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h U.S. District Courts of Louisiana, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ a b Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 392.
External links[edit]
- United States District Court - Louisiana Middle District
How many federal district courts are in Louisiana?
What circuit is the Middle district of Louisiana?
United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana | |
(M.D. La.) | |
Location | Baton Rouge |
Appeals to | Fifth Circuit |
Established | December 18, 1971 |