§587.4. District courts; specialized divisions or sections; subject matter
A. Respecting seniority and the requirement that all cases be assigned randomly
within multi-judge divisions or sections, the judges of any judicial district court, by rule
adopted by a majority vote of the judges sitting en banc, may designate a certain division or
section of the court as a specialized division or section having criminal, civil, drug court,
driving while intoxicated court, human trafficking court, mental health court, misdemeanor,
traffic, juvenile, violent crimes or homicides, reentry court, or other specialized subject
matter jurisdiction.
B.
(1)If a special division or section of court is designated as a violent crimes or
homicide section, the court may provide the district attorney's office the
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§587.4. District courts; specialized divisions or sections; subject matter
A. Respecting seniority and the requirement that all cases be assigned randomly
within multi-judge divisions or sections, the judges of any judicial district court, by rule
adopted by a majority vote of the judges sitting en banc, may designate a certain division or
section of the court as a specialized division or section having criminal, civil, drug court,
driving while intoxicated court, human trafficking court, mental health court, misdemeanor,
traffic, juvenile, violent crimes or homicides, reentry court, or other specialized subject
matter jurisdiction.
B.(1) If a special division or section of court is designated as a violent crimes or
homicide section, the court may provide the district attorney's office the opportunity to
request an expedited docket to facilitate the hearing of cases involving homicides and crimes
of violence that are committed with a dangerous weapon to ensure and secure the accuracy
of testimony of witnesses and as a deterrence and prevention for crimes of violence and
homicides.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or court rule to the contrary, the
following components shall be complied with if a court designates a division or section of
court as a violent crimes or homicide division or section and grants the district attorney's
request for expedited status:
(a) If the district attorney requests an expedited docket, the trial court shall schedule
the case for trial no later than ninety days after time has elapsed for discovery.
(b) Continuances should be granted only for good cause and shall be for the shortest
time practicable.
C.(1) If a special division or section of court is designated as a human trafficking
section, the presiding judge may be trained in issues of human trafficking and the support
services available to victims.
(2) All cases where a person is charged or indicted pursuant to R.S. 14:46.2, 46.3,
81.1, 81.2, 81.3, 82, 82.1, 83, 83.1, 83.2, 83.3, 83.4, 84, 85, 86, 89, 89.1, 89.2, 104, 105, 281,
or 282 shall be transferred to the human trafficking section of the court.
(3) If it is determined that a case involves a victim in need of services upon
evaluation by the judge, and after a contradictory hearing, the following may apply:
(a) The victim may be mandated to attend the appropriate support services for
victims of human trafficking if available.
(b) The victim shall, with consent of the district attorney, have the opportunity to be
considered for a non-criminal disposition or dismissal of the case upon satisfactory
compliance with mandated support services.
D. No rule adopted by the court may designate any division or section, without its
consent, as a specialized division or section for a longer period than three years.