U.S.D.C. Amends Covid Rules: Proof of Vaccine or Negative Covid Test Required. Failure to Comply Will Result in Sanctions and Costs of Covid Test

The Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued the following notice:

General Order No. 21-15 is hereby AMENDED by General Order No. 21-17, effective December 20, 2021, as follows:

All individuals seeking entry to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (including District Judges' chambers and courtrooms, Magistrate Judges' chambers and courtrooms, the Clerk's Office, the U.S. Probation Office, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court) must provide proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test within 72 hours before entry. If anyone needing to enter the courthouse does not have the required credentials, the Court will provide a rapid test to be self-administered prior to entry subject to the following paragraph

Attorneys admitted to practice before this Court, as well as their employees and witnesses, must provide proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before entry. Attorneys who fail to comply with this Order and/or fail to ensure that their employees and witnesses comply with this Order may be sanctioned by the Court, including, but not limited to, being ordered to reimburse the Court the cost of the rapid test plus an administrative fee, totaling $200.00 per instance.

The mask mandate and COVID-19 screening requirements, applicable to the entire Hale Boggs Federal Building, remain in effect for the United States District Court.