| March 26, 1804 2 Stat. 283 | This act organized the Territory of Orleans as a judicial district and authorized one judgeship for the U.S. district court. This was the only time Congress provided a territory with a district court equal in its authority and jurisdiction to the district courts in the states. The district court in Orleans, not being assigned to a judicial circuit, was granted the same jurisdiction as U.S. circuit courts, except in appeals and writs of error, which were the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. |
| April 8, 1812 2 Stat. 701 | This act organized the State of Louisiana as a judicial district and authorized one judgeship for the U.S. district court. It provided that the judge of the court would have the same jurisdiction and powers that had been granted to the judge of the Orleans district court. The district court in Louisiana, not being assigned to a judicial circuit, was granted the same jurisdiction as U.S. circuit courts, except in appeals and writs of error, which were the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. |
| March 3, 1823 3 Stat. 774 | Louisiana divided into two judicial districts, the Eastern and the Western, with one judgeship authorized to serve both districts. |
| March 3, 1837 5 Stat. 176 | Congress reorganized the circuits and assigned the Eastern District of Louisiana to the Ninth Circuit. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana was not assigned to a circuit and continued to exercise the jurisdiction of a U.S. circuit court. |
| August 16, 1842 5 Stat. 507 | Congress reorganized the circuits and assigned Louisiana to the Fifth Circuit. |
| February 13, 1845 5 Stat. 722 | This act reorganized Louisiana as a single judicial district with one judgeship for the district court. |
| March 3, 1849 9 Stat. 401 | Louisiana again divided into the Eastern and the Western Districts. Congress authorized one additional judgeship for the Western District and granted the district court therein the jurisdiction of the U.S. circuit courts, except in appeals and writs of error, which were the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. |
| August 16, 1862 12 Stat. 576 | Congress reorganized the circuits and assigned Louisiana to the Sixth Circuit. |
| July 23, 1866 14 Stat. 209 | Congress reorganized the circuits and assigned the Eastern District of Louisiana to the Fifth Circuit. |
| July 27, 1866 14 Stat. 300 | This act abolished the Western District of Louisiana and reorganized Louisiana as a single judicial district with one judgeship for the district court. |
| March 3, 1881 21 Stat. 507 | Louisiana again divided into two judicial districts, the Eastern and the Western, with one judgeship authorized for each district. |
| March 18, 1938 52 Stat. 110 | One additional judgeship authorized for the Eastern District. |
| May 31, 1938 52 Stat. 584 | One additional judgeship authorized for the Western District. |
| May 19, 1961 75 Stat. 80 | Two additional judgeships authorized for the Eastern District and one additional for the Western District. |
| March 18, 1966 80 Stat. 75 | Four additional judgeships authorized for the Eastern District. |
| June 2, 1970 84 Stat. 294 | Two additional judgeships authorized for the Eastern District and one for the Western District. |
| December 18, 1971 85 Stat. 741 | The act established the Middle District of Louisiana and authorized the transfer to the Middle District of one judgeship from the Eastern District. |
| October 20, 1978 92 Stat. 1629 | Four additional judgeships authorized for the Eastern District, one for the Middle District, and one for the Western District. |
| July 10, 1984 98 Stat. 333 | One additional judgeship authorized for the Western District. |
| December 1, 1990 104 Stat. 5089 | One additional judgeship authorized for the Western District. |
| October 6, 1997 111 Stat. 1173 | The act authorized the transfer to the Middle District of one judgeship from the Eastern District. |
Authorized Judgeships
Territory of Orleans District | Louisiana District | Eastern District | Western District | Middle District | Total Judgeships | |
1804 | 1 | 1 | ||||
1812 | 1 | 1 | ||||
1823 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
1845 | 1 | 1 | ||||
1849 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
1866 | 1 | 1 | ||||
1881 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
1938 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
1938 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||
1961 | 4 | 3 | 7 | |||
1966 | 8 | 3 | 11 | |||
1970 | 10 | 4 | 14 | |||
1971 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 14 | ||
1978 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 20 | ||
1984 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 21 | ||
1990 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 22 | ||
1997 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 22 |