§61. Judicial Council
A.
(1)The Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of Louisiana shall adopt
determinate standards and guidelines which shall be applied by the council in determining
whether to approve the necessity of creating any new judgeship of the supreme court, courts
of appeal, district courts, city courts, parish courts, juvenile courts, family courts, traffic
courts, and municipal courts, including the creation of any new office of commissioner,
magistrate, hearing officer, or any other judicial office by whatever other name designated.
(2)The Judicial Council shall adopt determinate standards and guidelines which
shall be applied by the council in determining whether to approve the necessity of splitting
or merging any courts of appeal, district courts, city courts, parish cou
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§61. Judicial Council
A.(1) The Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of Louisiana shall adopt
determinate standards and guidelines which shall be applied by the council in determining
whether to approve the necessity of creating any new judgeship of the supreme court, courts
of appeal, district courts, city courts, parish courts, juvenile courts, family courts, traffic
courts, and municipal courts, including the creation of any new office of commissioner,
magistrate, hearing officer, or any other judicial office by whatever other name designated.
(2) The Judicial Council shall adopt determinate standards and guidelines which
shall be applied by the council in determining whether to approve the necessity of splitting
or merging any courts of appeal, district courts, city courts, parish courts, juvenile courts,
family courts, traffic courts, and municipal courts.
B.(1) Before a bill is acted upon by the legislature to create a new judgeship or office
designated in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section, a designee of the Judicial Council shall
provide information to the appropriate standing committees of the House of Representatives
or of the Senate as to approval of the council as to the necessity of creating the new judgeship
or office of commissioner, magistrate, or hearing officer.
(2) Before a bill is acted upon by the legislature to split or merge courts designated
in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section, a designee of the Judicial Council shall provide
information to the appropriate standing committees of the House of Representatives or of the
Senate as to approval of the council as to the necessity of splitting or merging the courts.
C. The legislature shall not be required to act upon or enact legislation creating a new
judgeship or office of commissioner, magistrate, or hearing officer even though the council
has authorized the creation of the new office.
D. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to justice of the peace courts,
mayors' courts, or administrative law judges employed by the Division of Administrative
Law.
E. The Judicial Council shall have the authority to conduct an annual review of
judicial districts and appellate circuits and shall provide information and recommendations
to the legislature on the appropriate number of district and appellate court judgeships within
each district or circuit based upon caseload, population, or other pertinent factors, including
the findings and recommendations of the Judicial Structure Task Force established by House
Resolution No. 30 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature. The recommendations
may include proposed revisions to specific constitutional or statutory language addressing
the number of such judges in each district or circuit, the need for district or circuit merger
or other actions, and the filling of judicial office vacancies in such district or circuit.