The Louisiana Fifth Circuit now offers on-line access to public case records. For a subscription fee, it allows to court filings related to an appeal or a writ application. If you don’t want to subscribe, you can still use it to download a copy of an appeal record or a writ application for a one-time fee. To read the flyer on this new service, follow this link. To register, follow this link.
Recently, Lyle Cayce—the indefatigable clerk of the U.S. 5th Circuit—has implemented more tech tools to make lawyers’ practice in that court easier: a new “Attorney Toolbox” feature added to the court’s CM/ECF system. You can read his announcement and description of its features by following this link. Here’s his intro:
I write to make sure that BAFFC[*] members know that we have created a new “Attorney Toolbox” you can access by clicking on the link prominently displayed on the CM/ECF landing page. This Toolbox will eventually serve as the location for case related programs now found under our “Utilities Tab,” including the EROA download, brief template, and Quality Control (QC) programs. But the Toolbox also contains two features long requested by BAFFC members — a record excerpt creation tool for appellants, and hyperlinks in pleadings.
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* Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit
For anyone who doesn’t already know (like me until a few minutes ago), the Louisiana Third Circuit now has e-filing. To register, follow this link and click where it says “create an account.” To read the court’s e-filing rules, follow this link.
... by following this link.
The Louisiana Second Circuit has promulgated a new local rule authorizing e-filing, effective November 1, 2021. To read or download a copy of the new rule and the e-filing procedure, follow this link.
If you’re using Windows, you can type a section sign (§) or a pilcrow (¶) in any Windows application, including Word, using your numeric keypad. Here’s how.
First, make sure your Num Lock is on; that’s the key in the upper left corner of your numeric keypad. Most keypads have a little light indicated whether Num Lock is on or off.
To type the section sign, hold down the Alt key and press 0167 in sequence. In Word, you may have to hit space bar or another key before the symbol appears.
To type a pilcrow or paragraph sign, hold down the Alt key and press 0182 in sequence.
There are other Alt codes for dozens of typographic symbols that you won’t find on your keyboard. They work the same way: with Num Lock on, hold down Alt and press four numbers. To find those numeric codes, check out this web page by some folks at Penn State.
The Louisiana Supreme Court has a new web site. Check it out by following this link. To read a description of the new web site’s features, follow this link.
If you’re reading this blog, then you’ll enjoy this news: E-filing is now available at the Louisiana Fourth Circuit. To register, follow this link. Of course, you’ll want to learn the court’s e-filing rules, which you can read and download by following this link.
Check out the U.S. Supreme Court’s new web site. For a summary of the added features, follow this link to the SCOTUS Blog.
In a case I’m involved in at the U.S. Fifth Circuit, we recently received, along with the notice of oral argument, this notice of the court’s new policy on admitting electronic devices, such as smart phones and tablet computers. Bottom line: you can take your smart phone or tablet with you; you just need to power it down before entering the courtroom. Counsel presenting oral argument or assisting at counsel table may use a laptop or tablet computer, but must not use these devices to take pictures or photos, or to post to social media inside the courtroom.
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p.s. (3 Mar. 2015): For some reason, the link to the Fifth Circuit document did not work for me in MS Internet Explorer. I had no trouble using the link in Google Chrome. I haven’t tried it in Firefox.
p.p.s.: At iPhone JD, Jeff Richardson has a detailed post on this topic and on the general use of electronic devices in court.