The Honorable Wendy B. Vitter

Federal Judicial Center Biography

Section D
Phone: (504) 589-7570

500 Poydras Street
Room C368
New Orleans, LA 70130

Staff Information

Marie Firmin, Judicial Assistant

Frannie Montegut, Law Clerk (even cases)

Lauren Perry, Law Clerk (odd cases)

Melissa Verdun, Case Manager, (504) 589-7708

Judge Tabs

Chambers Communication

Chambers telephone (504) 589-7570

[email protected]

All counsel of record should be copied on all communication.

Courtroom Rules

All persons entering the courtroom:

All persons entering the courtroom should be dressed in a manner that reflects the dignity of the proceedings.

Cell phones, including phone watches, etc. must be turned off, not just turned to vibrate or silent.

No aspect of any proceeding may be recorded or videotaped/photographed except by the court designated court reporter.

Attorneys:

Always stand when speaking and speak into the microphone.

Stand at the podium when examining a witness or making an argument.

Request permission before approaching the witness stand.

When making an objection, state the basis for the objection. Speaking objections are not permitted.

Don’t abuse requests for sidebar conferences. Sidebar conferences disrupt the flow of the trial.

Preliminary matters or scheduling issues should normally be raised before the trial commences. If a matter arises which needs to be addressed during the trial, these should normally be raised during a recess, upon adjournment for the day, or in the morning before the matter is resumed. All personal communication devices should be set to silent before entering the courtroom and may only be used by attorneys in the matter before the court.

Media:

Laptops are permitted in the courtroom for credentialed media only. Members of the media must present their credentials to court security upon entering the courtroom.

Laptops may be used for note-taking. Any use of the internet in the courtroom is strictly prohibited.

Accessing any social media service from inside the courtroom is strictly prohibited.

No aspect of any proceeding may be recorded or videotaped/photographed except by the court designated court reporter.

Motions & Oral Argument

Civil Oral Argument

• Oral Argument on a Motion will not occur unless a proper request is filed and Order signed.

• The Court will issue an Order using its own discretion to select an available motion date to hear oral argument. The briefing schedule, however, will remain unchanged.

Criminal Oral Argument

• A separate request for oral argument is not necessary for criminal motions. If the filing attorney sets a criminal motion for hearing, the Court will issue an order either setting oral argument and/or setting submission deadlines.

Available motion submission and oral argument dates

Pretrial/Trial Procedure

Evidence Presentation System

Judge Vitter’s courtroom is equipped with an evidence presentation system for counsel’s use in displaying exhibits or demonstrative aids using either printed documents, physical evidence, or from a laptop supplied by counsel.

Please contact the Section “D” Case Manager for a demonstration on the equipment use well in advance of trial or hearing. The Court strongly advises counsel to test their personal equipment on the Evidence Presentation System prior to trial or hearing so that counsel will be prepared to use it.

Guidelines

• Preliminary Conference Status Reports are required five (5) working days prior to the conference and may be submitted either via email to the [email protected] or via facsimile at (504) 589-2393.

• When a case has settled, a letter must be submitted to Chambers with a copy to all opposing counsel. The letter may be submitted either via email to the [email protected] or via facsimile at (504) 589-2393. Following receipt of same, a 60 Day Order of Dismissal will be issued.

• For conflicts with status or preliminary status conference dates, counsel shall contact Marie Firmin, Judicial Assistant, at (504) 589-7570 for purposes of resetting on a mutually agreeable date.

• A formal motion to continue is required for any deadlines set in the scheduling order.

• Counsel shall deliver a hard copy of any pleadings along with any exhibits and attachments that together exceed 50 pages in total length to chambers at 500 Poydras Street, Room C-368 for the Court’s use. This copy must be forwarded at the time of CM/ECF filing. This copy must be bound, tabbed and reflect pagination and document numbers consistent with the electronic document stamping of CM/ECF.

United States District Court

Eastern District of Louisiana

The Honorable Nannette Jolivette Brown, Chief Judge
Carol L. Michel, Clerk of Court

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The Honorable Wendy B. Vitter

Staff Information

Judge Tabs