UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
COVID-19
AMENDED GENERAL ORDER NO. 20-5
April 3, 2020
This order is being issued in response to the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease
(COVID-19) in the United States, the State of Louisiana and specifically New Orleans, Louisiana.
The World Health Organization has declared that COVID-19 qualifies as a global pandemic,
having spread across more than 190 countries and territories with more than 240,000 confirmed
cases in the United States and 10,297 (as of this order) in Louisiana. New Orleans, where the
Eastern District of Louisiana federal courthouse is located, continues to lead the state with 3,476
coronavirus cases in Orleans Parish.
The President of the United States, Governor of the State of Louisiana, and the Mayor
of the City of New Orleans have declared a public health emergency throughout the country,
State and the City, respectively in response to the spread of COVID-19; and
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health
authorities have recommended social distancing as a means of limiting further community
spread of COVID-19; and
The State of Louisiana has issued a Stay at Home Order directing all Louisiana
residents to shelter at home and limit movements outside of their homes beyond essential
needs;
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Accordingly, to combat the spread of the disease, given the severity of risks posed to
the public, Court staff, and other Court agencies, and considering the public health
recommendations from the CDC, the undersigned as Chief Judge of the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana hereby issues the following order:
Effective immediately, the Hale Boggs Federal Building located at 500 Poydras Street,
New Orleans, Louisiana, which houses the United States District Court as well as the
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, is closed to the
general public. The District Court and Bankruptcy Court are operating with skeletal
crews to perform critical mission responsibilities. Litigants may file documents
electronically, by U.S. mail, or by facsimile.
The public is encouraged to use online Court resources for the District Court
http://www.laed.uscourts.gov and the Bankruptcy Court http://www.laeb.uscourts.gov or contact
the Court by telephone with any questions.
Documents may be filed electronically through the District Court’s electronic filing
system, CM-ECF, which remains fully operational. Unrepresented persons may send filings to the
District Court electronically at
[email protected]; by U.S. mail to The Clerk’s Office,
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, 500 Poydras Street, Room C-151, New Orleans,
LA 70130; or by facsimile to (504) 310-8159. The District Court Clerk’s Office Intake Unit may
be reached at (504) 589-7674 and the Pro Se Unit may be reached at (504) 589-7751.
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Documents may be filed electronically through the Bankruptcy Court’s electronic filing
system, CM-ECF, which remains fully operational. Unrepresented persons may send filings to the
Bankruptcy Court electronically at
[email protected]; by U.S. mail to The Clerk’s
Office, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, 500 Poydras Street, Suite B-601,
New Orleans, LA 70130; or by facsimile to (504) 589-7866. The Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s Office
may be reached at (504) 589-7878.
This order will remain in effect until further order of the Court.
IT IS ORDERED.
3rd day of April, 2020.
New Orleans, Louisiana, this _______
NANNETTE JOLIVETTE BROWN
CHIEF JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
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