Today, the Multi-District Litigation Panel in Boise, Idaho announced that the Oil Spill Litigation will be tried in New Orleans, Louisiana and presided over by Judge Carl J. Barbier.
With more than 12 years on the Federal bench, Judge Barbier is sited by the Panel as having the knowledge and experience to handle such mass tort litigation as the BP Oil Spill.
Here is the article that was released on August 10, 2010 by Nola.com
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/08/new_orleans_is_selected_as_sit.html
