--- title: "Helen Ginger Berrigan | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/helen-ginger-berrigan-262" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Helen Ginger Berrigan U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana - State: Louisiana - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, E.D. Louisiana, 1994-present - Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana - 2016 to 2024 - Helen Georgena “Ginger” Berrigan (April 15, 1948 – November 15, 2024) was a distinguished federal judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, serving from 1994 until her death in 2024 - Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana - 1994 to 2016 - Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana - 2001 to 2008 - Chief Judge: 2001–2008, leading the court through major challenges, including the Hurricane Katrina disaster response - title: Private Practice - Criminal Defense Attorney — New Orleans, Louisiana - 1978 to 1994 - After law school, Berrigan served as a staff attorney for the Louisiana Governor’s Pardon, Parole, and Rehabilitation Commission (1977–78) and practiced criminal defense law in New Orleans (1978–94). - title: Adjunct Professor — LSU Law School and Loyola University School of Law - title: Adjunct Associate Professor of Law — Tulane University Law School - details: Taught Trial Advocacy ### Education - J.D. — Louisiana State University Law School — 1977 — Juris Doctor - in Journalism — American University — M.A. (1971) - in Psychology — University of Wisconsin–Madison — B.A. (1969) ### Additional information - 15, 2024, in Saddle River, New Jersey, after a long illness. - In Memoriam Honorable Helen "Ginger" Berrigan | Eastern District of Louisiana | United States District Court until 2008 and assumed senior status on August 23, 2016. - Board of Directors, Amistad Research Center 1990-1997 - 1995 to 1996 - Private practice, New Orleans, LA, 1978-1994 - Staff attorney, Governor's Pardon, Parole and Rehabilitation Commission, LA, 1977-1978 - Date of birth: 1948-01-01 - Judge Berrigan died on Nov. - title: Freelance Journalist — Local publications - title: Legislative Aide — Senator Joe Biden - title: Author — Louisiana Criminal Trial Practice - Remembered as “beloved and respected by judges across the judiciary”. - Paul M. Hebert Law Center - The Judge Ginger Berrigan Parole & Reentry Support Fund and the LSU Parole & Reentry Clinic were established in her honor - She was known for her compassion, intellect, and leadership, mentoring judges and legal professionals across the judiciary - Birth place: New Rochelle, NY ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### electronic or photographic presentation of evidence Scope: statewide Louisiana trial judges may authorize electronic or photographic means for presenting evidence, preserving the record, counsel use, or judicial-administration purposes. Evidence excerpt: A trial judge may authorize ... the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### broadcast recording photography Scope: statewide Louisiana judges generally prohibit broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing courtroom proceedings unless a Canon 3A(9) exception applies. Evidence excerpt: a judge shall prohibit broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### appellate extended media coverage Scope: statewide Louisiana appellate courts may permit extended media coverage in public appellate proceedings, subject to the authority of the court and presiding judge or panel. Evidence excerpt: An appellate court may permit broadcasting, televising, recording, and taking photographs of public judicial proceedings [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/262/helen-ginger-berrigan/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/262/helen-ginger-berrigan/) - [U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/262/helen-ginger-berrigan/) - [Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3A(9)](https://www.lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/262/helen-ginger-berrigan/) - [Berrigan, Helen Ginger | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/berrigan-helen-ginger) - [In Memoriam Honorable Helen "Ginger" Berrigan | Eastern District of Louisiana | United States District Court](https://www.laed.uscourts.gov/news/memoriam-honorable-helen-ginger-berrigan) - [Wikidata: Helen Ginger Berrigan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13560925) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Ginger_Berrigan) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://ballotpedia.org/Helen_Berrigan) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/262/helen-ginger-berrigan/) - [Berrigan, Helen Ginger | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/berrigan-helen-ginger) - [In Memoriam Honorable Helen "Ginger" Berrigan | Eastern District of Louisiana | United States District Court](https://www.laed.uscourts.gov/news/memoriam-honorable-helen-ginger-berrigan) - [Wikidata: Helen Ginger Berrigan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13560925) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/helen-ginger-berrigan-262", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/helen-ginger-berrigan-262", "name": "Helen Ginger Berrigan | KnowJudges", "description": "Helen Ginger Berrigan, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. 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