§ 13:2589 — Compensation of justices of the peace and constables in criminal matters

§2589. Compensation of justices of the peace and constables in criminal matters
A.(1) Justices of the peace and constables shall receive no fees in criminal matters
or in peace bond cases, but in lieu thereof they shall receive such salaries as are fixed by the
parish governing authority and paid by the parish, which salaries shall be graded, but which
in no case shall be less than seventy-five dollars per month. This salary of not less than
seventy-five dollars per month shall include and shall not be in addition to the amount of the
salary provided for in R.S. 13:5802.
(2) Every justice of the peace and constable shall attend at least one of the Justice of
the Peace Training Courses offered by the attorney general pursuant to R.S. 49:251.1 every
other year, and a justice of the peace or constable who fails to do so shall not earn or receive
the compensation provided in this Section, until he attends a course and receives a certificate
of completion from the attorney general.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 30:2531 through 2531.5 and 2532,
governing the distribution of fines for littering, and notwithstanding the provisions of
Subsection A of this Section, the local governing bodies receiving the fines imposed by R.S.
30:2531 through 2531.5 and by any parish ordinance shall reimburse those justice of the
peace courts and ward constable offices who handle litter violations for the time spent and
expenses incurred by the respective justice of the peace, and constable, deputy constable, or
special deputy constable for handling those litter violations.
C. In Caddo Parish, in addition to the reimbursements provided for in Subsection B
of this Section, the justice of the peace courts and ward constable offices shall also be
reimbursed for handling property standards violations.
D. In St. Tammany Parish, in addition to the reimbursement provided in Subsection
B of this Section, the justice of the peace courts and ward constable offices shall also be
reimbursed for handling property standards and nuisance violations as defined per local
ordinance.
NOTE: The Title and Section 10 of Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 148 purport to
repeal R.S. 13:2589(B). However, Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 148, §2 includes R.S.
13:2589(B) with amendments, though introductory language of §2 does not mention this
Section.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1975, No. 87, §1. Acts 1986, No. 401, §1; Acts 1989, No. 296, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 148, §§2, 10; Acts 2001, No. 689, §1; Acts 2008, No. 656, §1; Acts 2019, No. 28, §1, eff. May 30, 2019.