Due to COVID-19, all civil and criminal jury trials in federal court in New Orleans are suspended until May 1, according to the court's COVID-19 General Order 21-1 released Monday night.
"With regard to criminal matters, due to the Court's reduced ability to obtain an adequate spectrum of jurors and the effect of the recommendations of the health organizations mentioned in Exhibit A on the ability of counsel and Court staff to be present in the courtroom, the time period of the postponements implemented by this administrative order will be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act, as the Court specifically finds that the ends of justice served by ordering the postponements outweigh the best interest of the public and any defendants right to a speedy trial," the notice read in part.