In Louisiana, there are 3 federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.

Click a link for information about that court type.

• Federal courts
• State supreme court
• State court of appeals
• Trial courts

The image below depicts the flow of cases through Louisiana's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.

The structure of Louisiana's state court system.

Judicial selection process[edit]

See also: Louisiana judicial elections and Judicial selection in Louisiana

Selection of the state court judges in Louisiana occurs through the partisan election of judges. Interim vacancies are temporarily filled by the supreme court. Within one year of a vacancy occurring, a special election called by the governor is held. Louisiana Supreme Court and Circuit Courts of Appeal judges are elected to 10-year terms. District court judges are elected to six-year terms. Judge qualifications and chief justice selection methods vary. ^[1][2]

To read more about judicial elections in Louisiana, click here.

Federal courts[edit]

The federal district courts in Louisiana are the:

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
• United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Appeals from these districts go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.^[3]

Active judges[edit]

Eastern District[edit]

Below is a display of the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

• Democrat appointed: 5
• Republican appointed: 5

Middle District[edit]

Below is a display of the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

• Democrat appointed: 3
• Republican appointed: 0

Western District[edit]

Below is a display of the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

• Democrat appointed: 1
• Republican appointed: 5

District map[edit]

Judicial selection[edit]

Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.

Bankruptcy courts[edit]

There are three federal bankruptcy courts in Louisiana. These courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy courts in Louisiana are:

• United States bankruptcy court, Eastern District of Louisiana
• United States bankruptcy court, Middle District of Louisiana
• United States bankruptcy court, Western District of Louisiana

State supreme court[edit]

See also: Louisiana Supreme Court

Founded in 1813, the Louisiana Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort. The court has seven justices who are elected from seven judicial districts in the state. One justice is elected from each district. Justices are elected to serve 10-year terms of office. The most senior justice serving on the court is the chief justice. The chief justice serves as the chief administrative officer of the state's judicial system.^[4][5]

The state supreme court has exclusive original jurisdiction over cases involving disciplinary actions against lawyers and judges. The court has appellate jurisdiction in cases where a law has been declared unconstitutional, in cases where a death sentence has been imposed, and in civil cases. Such cases may originate in the state's trial courts and may bypass the intermediate courts of appeal for review. The court has supervisory jurisdiction over all courts in the state and may grant review in cases where there are conflicting rulings emanating out of two or more state or federal appellate courts, in cases where there are deemed to be significant unresolved issues of law, in cases where a previous legal precedent or ruling needs to be overruled or substantially modified, in cases where a lower court erred in its interpretation of the law, or in cases where a lower court's ruling has been deemed as a "gross departure from proper judicial proceedings".^[5]

State court of appeals[edit]

See also: Louisiana Court of Appeals

Jurisdiction of the current courts

Established in 1879, the Louisiana Court of Appeals are the intermediate appellate courts in Louisiana. There are five such courts and 53 judgeships. The term of an appellate court judge is 10 years. The judge with the most seniority on each court of appeal shall serve as the chief judge of that court.^[2][6][7]

The Court of Appeals has appellate jurisdiction of all civil matters including review of workers' compensation determinations by administrative agencies, all matters appealed from family and juvenile courts, and all criminal cases eligible for trial by jury except capital offenses. The courts have appellate jurisdiction for civil cases originating in city and parish courts. The courts have supervisory jurisdiction over cases originating from within their relevant circuit.^[2][7]

Each of the five circuits is divided into at least three districts. Each court of appeal sits in panels of at least three judges.^[2]

Judges[edit]

First Circuit Court of Appeal[edit]

Second Circuit Court of Appeal[edit]

Third Circuit Court of Appeal[edit]

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal[edit]

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal[edit]

Trial courts[edit]

District courts[edit]

See also: Louisiana District Courts

Louisiana District Courts

In Louisiana, there are 43 district courts. The district courts have general jurisdiction and the authority to adjudicate all civil and criminal cases except for cases otherwise assigned by the state constitution or in review of workers' compensation determinations by administrative agencies.^[2][5]

The court holds original jurisdiction over the following types of cases:^[2]

• The appointment of receivers or liquidators for corporations or partnerships
• Cases involving immovable property titles, except for divorce or annulment cases in family court related to community property partitions or matrimonial regimes claims;
• Civil or political rights;
• Felony cases;
• Probate and succession cases
• The right to hold office or other public position;
• The state, a political corporation, or political subdivisions;
• A succession (as a defendant);

The court has appellate jurisdiction over civil cases from a justice of the peace court if the justice of the peace court is in a parish where there is no parish court. The court may also conduct appellate review in certain criminal cases originating from lower courts.^[2]

The number of district court judges in any judicial district may be changed by a law or a two-thirds vote of the state legislature. The term of a district court judge is six years.^[2]

Juvenile courts[edit]

See also: Louisiana Juvenile Courts

There are four juvenile courts in Louisiana, located in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans Parishes. These courts have exclusive jurisdiction over delinquency cases involving individuals under the age of 17 years old, except for certain felony offenses. These courts also handle adoption proceedings for individuals under the age of 17.^[2][5]

Family courts[edit]

See also: Louisiana Family Courts

There is one Family Court in Louisiana. It is located in the East Baton Rouge Parish. It has specialized jurisdiction over all family matters, or cases involving divorce, child custody, and delinquency proceedings.^[2][5]

Parish courts[edit]

See also: Louisiana Parish Courts

There are three parish courts in Louisiana. These courts have jurisdiction over civil cases worth up to $20,000, and in criminal cases punishable by fines of $1,000 or less, imprisonment of six months or less, or both. Parties can appeal cases from the parish courts to the state courts of appeal.^[2][5]

City courts[edit]

See also: Louisiana City Courts

There are 50 Louisiana City Courts, including a court in the City of New Orleans, the First and Second City Courts, a municipal court, and a traffic court. City Courts exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in civil cases where the disputed amount does not exceed $50,000. In criminal cases, these courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses and city ordinance violations. The courts also handle traffic cases.^[2][5]

Mayor's court[edit]

See also: Louisiana Mayor's Courts

The Mayor's Courts are local courts in Louisiana that grant the mayor some judicial powers. There are approximately 250 mayor's courts in the state.^[8]

Under Louisiana law, the mayor's court is established with the following authority:^[9]

Also, the mayor is authorized with the power of a committing magistrate.^[9]

Justice of the peace courts[edit]

See also: Louisiana Justice of the Peace Courts

Justice of the peace courts are not courts of record but exercise civil jurisdiction along with the district courts in cases where the disputed amount does not exceed $5,000. Justices of the peace have criminal jurisdiction as committing magistrates, authorized to issue bail or discharge orders in cases that are not punishable by death or hard labor. Justices may issue bond orders to keep the peace.^[2][11][12]

Traffic courts[edit]

See also: Louisiana Traffic Courts

Traffic Courts and Traffic Violations Bureaus administer hearings for traffic violations in the state of Louisiana. Some of the courts are under the supervision of a city court.^{[13][14][15][16][17]}

In other states[edit]

See also[edit]

• Judicial selection in Louisiana
• Louisiana judicial elections

External links[edit]

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• Louisiana Judicial Branch

Footnotes[edit]

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