--- title: "Karen L. Hayes | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-l-hayes-9277" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Karen L. Hayes U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana · Magistrate ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana - State: Louisiana - Role: Magistrate - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - U.S. Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (Monroe Division), serving from May 9, 2005 until her retirement on January 4, 2021 - court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana · role: United States Magistrate Judge · start date: 2003 · notes: Monroe Division, 201 Jackson Street Suite 215 Monroe LA 71201; verified via WD LA official court page - Early Career: Law clerk to U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter (Western District of Louisiana), 1990–1991 - Hayes clerked for Judge Donald E. Walter (1990–1991), practiced at Hayes, Harkey, Smith & Cascio, and joined the Louisiana bar in 1990 ### Education - gives a 1955 Baton Rouge birth, LSU BA in 1976, Northeast Louisiana University MA in 1981 and Mississippi College JD with special distinction in 1990. ### Additional information - Magistrate, District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 2005-present - The overview lists a part-time magistrate appointment in 1997, full-time service beginning in May 2005 and departure in 2021. - Appointment: Hayes joined a part‐time position in 1997 and became a full‐time magistrate judge in 2005 - Affiliations include Fourth Judicial District, Louisiana and American bar associations, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel and Fred Fudickar Inn of Court. - She was a member of the Fourth Judicial District of Louisiana and active in professional legal organizations - It mentions ERISA, Medicare recoupment and administrative-review matters and Martindale-Hubbell recognition. ## 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/9277/karen-l-hayes/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9277/karen-l-hayes/) - [U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9277/karen-l-hayes/) - [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/9277/karen-l-hayes/) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-l-hayes-9277) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=42) - [Supplied Louisiana biography research](https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/content/magistrate-judge-karen-l-hayes) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9277/karen-l-hayes/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-l-hayes-9277", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-l-hayes-9277", "name": "Karen L. Hayes | KnowJudges", "description": "Karen L. Hayes, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-l-hayes-9277#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-l-hayes-9277#judge", "name": "Karen L. Hayes", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-l-hayes-9277", "jobTitle": "Magistrate", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9277/karen-l-hayes/" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Louisiana", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/louisiana" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karen L. Hayes", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-l-hayes-9277" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.