2009 Louisiana Laws TITLE 13 Courts and judicial procedure :: RS 13:1952 Courts created by special legislative act

§1952.  Courts created by special legislative Act

The following city courts, heretofore created and established by special legislative Act, are hereby recognized and continued in existence and, except as otherwise provided in this Section, their territorial jurisdiction shall extend through the city and ward or wards wherein the city in which they are domiciled is located, as extended from time to time:

(1)  The City Court of Abbeville, domiciled in the city of Abbeville, parish of Vermilion, having one judge and a city marshal;

(2)  The City Court of Alexandria, domiciled in the city of Alexandria, parish of Rapides, having one judge and a city marshal;

(3)  The City Court of Bastrop, domiciled in the city of Bastrop, parish of Morehouse, having a city judge and a city marshal;

(4)(a)  The City Court of Baton Rouge, domiciled in the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge, having five city judges and a city constable.  The court shall be divided into five divisions, namely, divisions "A", "B", "C", "D", and "E" and its territorial jurisdiction shall extend throughout the territorial area of the city of Baton Rouge as extended from time to time.

(b)  For the purpose of electing judges, the court shall be divided into two election sections.  Election section one shall consist of precincts: 1-1A, 1-1B, 1-3A, 1-3B, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-8, 1-11, 1-13A, 1-13B, 1-16, 1-17, 1-18, 1-19, 1-20, 1-21, 1-22, 1-23, 1-24, 1-25, 1-26, 1-27, 1-28, 1-29, 1-31A, 1-31B, 1-38A, 1-38B, 1-45, 1-46A, 1-46B, 1-46C, 1-46D, 1-50A, 1-50B, 1-51A, 1-51B, 1-58A, 1-58B, 1-61, 1-67, 1-68, 1-84A, 1-84B, 1-85A, 1-85B, 1-86A, 1-86B, 1-91, 1-92A, 1-92B, 1-93, 1-94A, 1-94B, 1-95A, 1-95B, 1-96A and 1-96B.  Election section two shall consist of precincts: 1-7, 1-10, 1-14A, 1-14B, 1-15A, 1-15B, 1-30, 1-32, 1-33, 1-34A, 1-34B, 1-35, 1-36A, 1-36B, 1-36C, 1-36D, 1-37, 1-39, 1-40, 1-41, 1-42, 1-43, 1-44, 1-48A, 1-48B, 1-49A, 1-49B, 1-52A, 1-52B, 1-53A, 1-53B, 1-53C, 1-53D, 1-54A, 1-54B, 1-55A, 1-55B, 1-56A, 1-56B, 1-57, 1-59, 1-60A, 1-60B, 1-62, 1-63, 1-64, 1-65, 1-69A, 1-69B, 1-71A, 1-71B, 1-71C, 1-71D, 1-72A, 1-72B, 1-72C, 1-73A, 1-73B, 1-74A, 1-74B, 1-74C, 1-75A, 1-75B, 1-75C, 1-75D, 1-76A, 1-76B, 1-76C, 1-76D, 1-78A, 1-78B, 1-79, 1-80, 1-81, 1-82A, 1-82B, 1-82C, 1-82D, 1-83A, 1-83B, 1-87, 1-88A, 1-88B, 1-89, 1-90, 1-97, 1-98A, 1-98B, 1-99A, 1-99B, and 1-99C.

(c)  Two judges shall be elected by election section one, and three judges shall be elected by election section two.

(d)  The metropolitan council for the city of Baton Rouge, parish of East Baton Rouge, is hereby authorized to assign annexations which are approved subsequent to June 15, 1993, the effective date of Act No. 609 of the 1993 Regular Session of the Legislature, to the appropriate election section.  After each such assignment, the metropolitan council shall submit the assignment by certified mail or by hand delivery with receipt to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs for approval.  Upon the receipt of the submission, the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs shall have forty-five days to determine, either jointly or separately, whether the assignment shall be approved or disapproved.  If the time period for action by the committees has lapsed without any action by such committees, the assignment shall be deemed approved.  If one or both committees disapprove the assignment, such assignment to the election section shall not be effective for any purpose.

(5)  The City Court of Bogalusa, domiciled in the city of Bogalusa, parish of Washington, having one city judge and a city constable;

(6)  The City Court of Bossier City, domiciled in the city of Bossier City, parish of Bossier, having one city judge and a city marshal.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not affect the jurisdiction of the mayor of the town of Benton over the violation of the municipal ordinances of the town of Benton;

(7)  The City Court of Bunkie, domiciled in the city of Bunkie, parish of Avoyelles, having one city judge and a city marshal;

(8)  The City Court of Crowley, domiciled in the city of Crowley, parish of Acadia, having one city judge and a city marshal;

(9)  The City Court of Eunice, domiciled in the city of Eunice, parish of St. Landry, having a city judge and a city marshal.  The territorial jurisdiction of this court shall extend throughout the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth voting precincts of Ward 6 of the parish of St. Landry, as presently constituted and defined, and that portion of the city of Eunice situated within the parish of Acadia.  The provisions of this Paragraph shall not affect the jurisdiction of the justice of the peace for Ward 7 of the parish of Acadia.

(10)  The City Court of Hammond, domiciled in the city of Hammond, parish of Tangipahoa, having one city judge and a city marshal.  Its territorial jurisdiction shall extend throughout Ward 7 of the parish of Tangipahoa, within which the city of Hammond and the town of Ponchatoula are contained.  The court shall also hold sessions in the town of Ponchatoula on such days and at such times as the judge may determine as best suited for all concerned.  The provisions of this paragraph, however, shall not affect the jurisdiction of the mayor of the town of Ponchatoula over violations of the municipal ordinance of the town of Ponchatoula.

(11)  The City Court of Jennings, domiciled in the city of Jennings, parish of Jefferson Davis, having one city judge and a city marshal;

(12)(a)  The city court of Lafayette, domiciled in the city of Lafayette, having two city judges and a city marshal; its territorial jurisdiction shall extend over all territory which is now or hereafter included within the corporate limits of the city of Lafayette and throughout the third and tenth wards of the parish of Lafayette.  Whenever the corporate limits of the city of Lafayette are hereafter extended into a justice of peace ward, that portion of any such justice of the peace ward, not included within the city of Lafayette, shall remain under the jurisdiction of the justice of the peace.

(b)  The judges of the city court of Lafayette shall not practice law; however, the judge presiding over Division A of the court may practice law until January 1, 1985.

(13)  The City Court of Lake Charles, domiciled in the city of Lake Charles, parish of Calcasieu, having two city judges and a city marshal;

(14)  The City Court of Minden, domiciled in the city of Minden, parish of Webster, having one city judge and a city marshal.  The provisions of this Paragraph shall not affect the jurisdiction of the mayor of the village of Lanesville over violations of the municipal ordinances of the village of Lanesville.  The territorial jurisdiction of the City Court of Minden shall extend throughout Ward 1 of the parish of Webster, as presently constituted and defined.

(15)(a)  The City Court of Monroe, domiciled in the city of Monroe, parish of Ouachita, having three city judges and a city marshal.  Such city court judges may not practice law.  The court shall be divided into three divisions, which shall be designated as divisions "A", "B", and "C".

(b)  One judge, who shall preside over Division "A", shall be elected at large by the qualified electors of the territorial jurisdiction; one judge, who shall preside over Division "B", shall be elected by the qualified electors of an election district composed of Ward 10; and one judge, who shall preside over Division "C", shall be elected by the qualified electors of an election district composed of Ward 3.  Candidates for election to Division "A", "B", or "C" need not be residents of the election districts from which they seek election, but they must be qualified electors of the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

(c)  In civil matters, the territorial jurisdiction of the court shall extend over all territory which is now or hereafter included within the corporate limits of the city of Monroe and throughout the third and tenth wards of the parish of Ouachita.

(16)  The City Court of Morgan City, domiciled in the city of Morgan City, parish of St. Mary, having one city judge and a city marshal.

(17)  The City Court of Natchitoches, domiciled in the city of Natchitoches, parish of Natchitoches, having one city judge and a city marshal;

(18)  The City Court of New Iberia, domiciled in the city of New Iberia, parish of Iberia, having one city judge and a city marshal.  The territorial jurisdiction of the court shall extend over all territory within Iberia Parish which is now or hereafter included within the corporate limits of the city of New Iberia.  Wherever the corporate limits of the city of New Iberia extend or hereafter extend into a justice of the peace ward, the city court shall have jurisdiction within that portion of the justice of the peace ward included within said corporate limits concurrent with that of the justice of the peace in those cases in which the said justice of the peace would have jurisdiction, and that portion of the justice of the peace ward not included within the said corporate limits shall remain under the jurisdiction of the justice of the peace.

(19)  The City Court of Rayne, domiciled in the city of Rayne, parish of Acadia, having one city judge and a city marshal;

(20)  The municipal court of Ruston, domiciled in the town of Ruston, parish of Lincoln, having one city judge and a city marshal.  The jurisdiction of the municipal court of Ruston shall extend throughout the parish of Lincoln; provided that this shall not affect the jurisdiction of any existing mayor's court nor shall it affect in any manner the offices of justice of the peace and constable in any ward of the parish.

(21)(a)  The city court of Shreveport, domiciled in the city of Shreveport, parish of Caddo, having four city judges and a city marshal.  The court shall be divided into four divisions, which shall be designated as divisions "A", "B", "C", and "D".

(b)  Effective January 1, 1998, judges shall be elected to the City Court of Shreveport from areas as provided in this Subparagraph.  Two judges shall be elected by the qualified electors from election district 1 composed of those portions of Bossier Parish designated as those parts of Precinct 4-8C lying within the corporate limits of the city of Shreveport and those portions of Caddo Parish designated as those parts of Precincts 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 47, 48, 49, 56, 61, 62, 63, 69, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 122, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 133, and that portion of Precinct 51 composed of 1990 Census Block No. 243 which is bounded on the South by the Industrial Loop Expressway, on the East by Ellerbe Road, on the West by the Kansas City Southern Railroad Track, and on the North by an abandoned road running east to west which is approximately one hundred sixty feet south of Rollins Road lying within the corporate limits of the city of Shreveport; and two judges shall be elected by the qualified electors from election district 2 composed of those portions of Bossier Parish designated as those parts of Precincts 2-6 and 2-23 lying within the corporate limits of the city of Shreveport and those portions of Caddo Parish designated as those parts of Precincts 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 75, 80, 81, 82, 86, 130, 131, 137, 140, and Precinct 51 except for that portion of Precinct 51 composed of 1990 Census Block No. 243 which is bounded on the South by the Industrial Loop Expressway, on the East by Ellerbe Road, on the West by the Kansas City Southern Railroad Track, and on the North by an abandoned road running east to west which is approximately one hundred sixty feet south of Rollins Road lying within the corporate limits of the city of Shreveport or within the boundaries of the fourth ward.

(c)  The territorial jurisdiction of the court shall extend over all territory within Caddo Parish which is now or hereafter included within the corporate limits of the city of Shreveport and throughout the fourth ward of Caddo Parish.  In addition to all other jurisdiction vested in the court, it shall have criminal jurisdiction, as conferred by Article VII, Section 51 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1921 and Article XIV, Section 16(A)(5) of the Constitution of Louisiana of 1974, of all those portions of Bossier Parish now or hereafter included within the corporate limits of the city of Shreveport.  Wherever the corporate limits of the city of Shreveport extend or hereafter extend into a justice of the peace ward, the city court shall have jurisdiction within that portion of the justice of the peace ward included within the corporate limits concurrent with that of the justice of the peace in those cases in which the justice of the peace would have jurisdiction, and that portion of the justice of the peace ward not included within the corporate limits shall remain under the jurisdiction of the justice of the peace.

(22)  The City Court of Springhill, domiciled in the city of Springhill, parish of Webster, having one city judge and a city marshal.  The court shall hold sessions in the town of Cotton Valley at least once a week, but nothing contained in this Paragraph shall affect or interfere with the jurisdiction of the mayor of the town of Cotton Valley over the violation of the municipal ordinances of the town of Cotton Valley.  The territorial jurisdiction of the City Court of Springhill shall extend throughout Ward 2 of the parish of Webster, as presently constituted and defined.

(23)  The City Court of Sulphur, domiciled in the city of Sulphur, parish of Calcasieu, having one city judge and a city marshal.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not affect the jurisdiction of the mayor of the town of Westlake over the violations of the municipal ordinances of the town of Westlake;

(24)  The City Court of West Monroe, domiciled in the city of West Monroe, parish of Ouachita, having one city judge and a city marshal.  In civil matters, the territorial jurisdiction of the court shall also extend to those wards in Ouachita Parish which are contiguous to Ward 5 and in which no justice of the peace has been elected and qualified or in which the duly elected and qualified justice of the peace is absent from the ward or is otherwise unable to serve.

Acts 1960, No. 32, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1961; Acts 1966, No. 27, §1, eff. July 11, 1966 at 3:20 P.M.; Acts 1968, No. 6, §1; Acts 1970, No. 15, §1, emerg. eff. June 8, 1970, at 3:30 P.M; Acts 1972, No. 34, §1; Acts 1975, No. 749, §1; Acts 1975, No. 750, §1; Acts 1977, No. 393, §1, eff. July 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 616, §1; Acts 1979, No. 522, §1, eff. July 19, 1979; Acts 1983, No. 226, §2(A), eff. June 24, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 58, §1, eff. June 12, 1984; Acts 1985, No. 205, §1; Acts 1988, No. 5, §1, eff. June 2, 1988; Acts 1990, No. 8, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1990, No. 728, §1, eff. July 20, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 501, §1; Acts 1992, No. 682, §1; Acts 1993, No. 609, §1, eff. June 15, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 644, §1; Acts 1997, No. 240, §1, eff. June 16, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 1160, §1; Acts 1999, No. 891, §1.