Orleans Parish law sets when designated court judgeships end

The law provides for specified judgeships to end in Orleans Parish criminal, juvenile, and municipal and traffic courts. The named seats are Criminal District Court divisions A, E, and J and Municipal and Traffic Court divisions B and F. Separate vacancy rules cover one juvenile seat and one other municipal and traffic seat. Judges already in office can finish their current terms. Seats designated to end have no further elections. For the vacancy rules, a judge constitutionally barred from starting another term counts as retiring when the current term ends. New Orleans' funding for the juvenile judgeship that ends goes to improved juvenile services. Municipal and traffic divisions B and F end December 31, 2026, at midnight, with current terms protected. The first other municipal and traffic vacancy after December 31, 2026, and the first juvenile vacancy after January 1, 2027, trigger separate rules.

A nine-member judicial committee governs the Consolidated Judicial Expense Fund for Orleans Parish and approves amounts for criminal court law clerks and secretaries. The committee controls spending from the shared fund. Money identified for the Criminal District Court expense fund goes into it instead. Civil, criminal, and city court judges select five members. The Louisiana Supreme Court selects two sitting judges and two retired judges. The fund reimburses the sheriff for civil court attendants' full pay in fiscal year 2026–27. Later reimbursement depends on an agreement with the sheriff. Criminal court expenses beyond state funding may be paid from the fund. Orleans Parish pays when existing law already requires it. The fund receives an annual audit available for public inspection. Full reimbursement of the sheriff applies in fiscal year 2026–27; later years require an agreement.

New Orleans' First and Second City Courts handle covered civil disputes up to $50,000. The court of appeal serving Orleans Parish hears city court and municipal and traffic court appeals. The $50,000 limit applies to the amount in dispute or the value of the property involved. The court of appeal also oversees municipal and traffic courts. The city courts share authority over covered civil disputes with the district court. Municipal and traffic court appeals use the records and evidence from the original proceedings.

The governor appoints a five-member committee to recommend criminal court commissioners. Criminal court judges choose commissioners from its lists. Commissioners assist criminal court judges. Unless court rules say otherwise, they can recommend decisions on incarcerated people's requests for relief after conviction. Court rules may provide different commissioner duties and remain under Louisiana Supreme Court supervision. Removal requires a committee recommendation, notice, a hearing, and an order from the criminal court judges. Removal is subject to Louisiana Supreme Court review. The Judiciary Commission also keeps authority to recommend discipline. New Orleans or the shared court fund may supplement commissioners' pay, but total pay cannot exceed the limit set for commissioners under the referenced state law. The selection rules cover future appointments and vacancies.

Orleans Parish juvenile court judges may appoint a hearing officer or commissioner to assist with court work. This permission applies to the Juvenile Court for Orleans Parish. The official's duties must follow court rules, the Louisiana Constitution, and the legal limits for district court hearing officers or commissioners. New Orleans does not have to provide additional money without its consent.