Happy family

Find a legal form in minutes

Browse US Legal Forms’ largest database of 85k state and industry-specific legal forms.

Louisiana State Courts

Courts – State Courts – Louisiana

Highest Court

Supreme Court
The Supreme Court consists of 7 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Mandatory jurisdiction in civil, capital criminal, administrative agency, disciplinary cases. (2) Discretionary jurisdiction in original proceeding cases.

Intermediate Courts

Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals consists of 54 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Mandatory jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding cases. (2) Discretionary jurisdiction in original proceeding cases.

General Courts

District Court
The District Court consists of 360 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Tort, contract, real property rights, adoption, mental health, marriage dissolution, support/custody, paternity, exclusive estate, civil trial court appeals, and miscellaneous civil jurisdiction. (2) Misdemeanor, DWI/DUI. Exclusive felony, criminal appeals jurisdiction. (3) Traffic/other violation. (4) Juvenile.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.

Juvenile Court
The Juvenile Court consists of 15 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Interstate support, adoption, mental health. (2) Juvenile.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.

Family Court
The Family Court consists of 4 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Interstate support, adoption, mental health, marriage dissolution, support/custody, paternity, and domestic violence. (2) Juvenile.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.

Limited Courts

Justice of the Peace Court
The Justice of the Peace Court consists of 390 justices of the peace. It has jurisdiction over (1) Tort, contract, real property rights ($0/2,000), and small claims ($2,000) (2) Traffic/other violation.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.

Mayor’s Court
The Mayor’s Court consist of 250 judges. It has jurisdiction over Traffic/other violation.

City and Parish Courts
The City and Parish Courts consists of 73 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Tort, contract, real property rights ($0/15,000), New Orleans ($0/20,000); small claims ($2,000), paternity, miscellaneous domestic relations, and civil appeals of JOP decisions. (2) Misdemeanor and  DWI/DUI. (3) Traffic/other violation. (4) Juvenile (except for status petition). (5) Preliminary hearings.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.

Additional Information

Authority of supreme court to appoint judges relative to drug matters
The Supreme Court of Louisiana may appoint active and retired judges and attorneys as ad hoc judges to preside over drug related criminal matters at times that funding is sufficient by federal, state, or local sources.  These ad hoc judges are to appointed for a time not to exceed one year.
(LA RS 13:72.2)

Entry and publication of rules
Supreme court rules shall be entered in its minutes and be published in the manner which the court agrees to be most effective and practicable. (LA  RS 13:73)

Official court reporters; oath of office; bond
Each court reporter appointed as an official court reporter by any judge of any court shall take an oath of office and furnish a bond in the sum of ten thousand dollars for the faithful performance of the duties of office.  The bond shall be in favor of the appointing judge and the litigant party for protection against any acts of incompetence or neglect due to the reporter’s performance.  (LA  RS 13:10.2)

Member qualifications; terms of office; chairman
Judicial Compensation Commission shall consist of residents and qualified voters of the state of Louisiana.  The members of the said commission shall serve four year terms and vacancies shall be filled in the manner for original appointment.  The chairman of the said commission shall be elected by the members of the commission. (LA RS 13:43)

Limitations on liability for damages
Any act or issue done in conformity to a written order or judgment of any judge of court shall not be liable against the clerk or court or deputy of such officer in either his individual or official capacity to any person, firm, or corporation.  This exemption from liability shall extend to any surety or liability insurance carrier of such officer. (LA RS 13:760)

Traffic violations; fees to clerk of court; Twenty-seventh Judicial District
The clerks of the 27th Judicial District may assess a fee (no more than $5.00) for processing the payment of a citation involving the operation of a motor vehicle that has violated a state or local law.  This fee shall be added to any other fees authorized by law.  (LA RS 13:847.1)

Leased musical instrument not subject to seizure for rent
No landlord, lessee, owner of any tenement house(s), or agent of such may seize for rent any piano, organ, or other musical instrument in the property that is not the personal property of the inmates or sub-lessee. (LA RS 13:3878)


Inside Louisiana State Courts