Learn about federal court from the law clerk's perspective

A new FBA seminar, Inside Chambers: A Conversation with Federal Career Law Clerks, will be held on Friday, October 1, 2004, 2:00-4:30 p.m., in Judge Lemelle's courtroom, 500 Poydras Street, Room C501. The moderator of the seminar will be Judge Kurt Engelhardt.

This seminar will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity for new-to-intermediate level attorneys to gain valuable information about the practical aspects of federal-court litigation from the unique perspective of the judges' law clerks. Registration forms are available at the New Orleans FBA website.

15th JDC District Judges Retire

Two judges from the 15th JDC (Acadia, Lafayette, and Vermillion Parishes) were honored at a ceremony sponsored by the local bar association. The Daily Advertiser reports on the ceremony for Judges Don Aaron, Jr. and Ronald Cox, who have both served nearly twenty years in the 15th JDC.

Louisiana Tax Breaks

The ACLU's successful challenge to a Louisiana state law granting tax exemptions exclusively to religious persons and organizations is still being considered by the Fifth Circuit, nine months after U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan ruled at the district level. The primary issue on appeal is whether the ACLU's challenge should be made in state court because state tax laws "are uniquely representative of state independence and state domestic policy."

Low Income Property Depreciation

A homeowner's association near Monroe is seeking an injunction in federal court to stop the construction of a low-income subdivision near their own. They allege that their property values have already fallen 30% since apartments were built near their homes.