Gulf Coast Region Court Information

Federal courts in Louisiana relocate under new law

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana relocated last month after President Bush signed legislation Sept. 9 allowing federal courts to hold special sessions outside their circuits or districts in emergency conditions.

The ABA had urged prompt enactment of the legislation, P.L. 109-63 (H.R. 3650), pointing out that judicial business in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina had come to a complete halt and that the courts were prohibited from temporarily resuming operations out of the geographical area in which they are authorized to sit. It was impossible to determine how long the disruption may continue, the ABA maintained.

In a letter to Congress Sept. 2, ABA Governmental Affairs Director Robert D. Evans pointed out that "court delays may impede the timely resumption of commercial activities and unnecessarily add to the anguish of many hurricane victims."

The Fifth Circuit reopened for business in Houston Sept. 21 and plans to remain there for three months. The district court judges and employees are relocating to three separate sites: Baton Rouge, Houma and Lafayette.