Judge Sidney H. Cates IV Rules & Standing Orders

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 55 rules apply across Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 24

Applies to
Administrative stay application
An administrative-stay request must be presented to the Duty Judge by verified petition of appeal or supporting affidavits establishing immediate irreparable injury and certifying the efforts made to give notice or explaining why notice could not be given.
Applies to
Petition
Must include
case number
Hurricane Katrina and Rita property-damage petitions must bear the case number and be designated "Hurricane Litigation" on the pleadings.
Applies to
Motion to set trial
Counsel must file a written motion to request that the Division Judge set an allotted case for trial, although the judge retains discretion to grant the request.

Fees

All 9

Fee
$5000
Applies to
Jury cash deposit
A party requesting a jury trial must deposit $5,000.00 with the Clerk of Court for the first day of trial.
Applies to
Jury cash deposit
For a jury trial, the deposited funds are used to pay jury costs, and the court may require an additional deposit when needed.
Applies to
Jury cash deposit
The stated deposit schedule applies to a standard venire, but the court may require additional posted costs when more potential jurors are needed.

Filing Timing

All 8

Deadline
15 calendar days
A typewritten judgment must be submitted within fifteen calendar days after a written stipulation is executed.
Deadline
7 calendar days
All other judgments, including consent agreements and considered decrees, must be submitted within seven calendar days.
If a dispute leaves a judgment unsigned for more than ten days, the parties must obtain a transcript of the oral judgment and set an immediate status conference or seek a ruling from the presiding judge.

Service

All 8

Service
Personal service
A copy of the jury cash deposit order was served on counsel of record and/or parties by hand delivery or mail.
All pleadings in Small Claims cases must be served in accordance with the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure.
Deadline
5 court days
Service
Court service
In other cases, five judicial days must elapse between notice of trial and trial, with notice served through the Constable or by court order unless law provides otherwise.

More categories

View all Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans rules

About Judge Sidney H. Cates IV

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Chamber: Room 306
Phone: (504) 407-0220
Fax: (504) 558-9794
Chamber staff, in the order the page prints it: Law Clerk: Kevin J. Mulgrew kmulgrew@orleanscdc.com; Court Crier: Adrienne M. Yates ayates@orleanscdc.com; Court Reporter: Laurie Hendrickson lhendrickson@orleanscdc.com; Minute Clerk: Celeste Davis cdavis@orleanscdc.com

Common questions about Judge Sidney H. Cates IV's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Sidney H. Cates IV?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions and orders. Details: 3 copies. For exceptions, motions, and orders to set a rule to show cause, filers must provide a judge's copy, a copy for each service with a completed service cover sheet, and a return copy with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

View ruleSource: page 1, section IV. Copies submitted

What must be included with all documents filings before Judge Sidney H. Cates IV?

All documents require original signatures; /s/, permission, stamped, and computer-generated signatures are not processed, although any attorney in the firm may sign their own name.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. Original signatures

What must be included with pleading filings before Judge Sidney H. Cates IV?

Every pleading must include the full signature line of the attorney submitting it.

View ruleSource: page 1, section II. Attorney signature line

How may parties contact Judge Sidney H. Cates IV's chambers?

When a trial or motions become moot, withdrawn, or satisfied, or when the case is dismissed or settled, the parties must notify the court by telephone and fax letter.

View ruleSource: page 1, section III. Notification to Court of matters not proceeding

Is electronic filing required before Judge Sidney H. Cates IV?

Electronic filing is permitted for the covered filings. Exceptions, motions, and orders to set a rule to show cause may be filed electronically or by fax, subject to the stated copy requirements.

View ruleSource: page 1, section IV. Copies submitted

Complete rules summary for Judge Sidney H. Cates IV

All documents require original signatures; /s/, permission, stamped, and computer-generated signatures are not processed, although any attorney in the firm may sign their own name.

Every pleading must include the full signature line of the attorney submitting it.

When a trial or motions become moot, withdrawn, or satisfied, or when the case is dismissed or settled, the parties must notify the court by telephone and fax letter.

For exceptions, motions, and orders to set a rule to show cause, filers must provide a judge's copy, a copy for each service with a completed service cover sheet, and a return copy with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Exceptions, motions, and orders to set a rule to show cause may be filed electronically or by fax, subject to the stated copy requirements.

A timely physical copy of each opposition, reply, and pretrial or post-trial memorandum must be delivered to the law clerk and may not be faxed or emailed.

Every motion, order, and judgment submitted for the judge's signature must include the case number and caption on both the document and signature page.

The final page of an order or judgment must contain a substantial portion of the document and cannot contain only the date and the judge's signature line.

Every judgment must comply with Rule 9.5 and include the names and addresses of all parties who must receive a Notice of Signing of Judgment.