§ 15:1188 — Judicial screening and service of process

§1188. Judicial screening and service of process
A. The court shall review, before docketing if feasible or, in any event, before service
on the defendants, a petition in a civil action in which a prisoner seeks redress from a
governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. On review, the court
shall identify cognizable claims or dismiss the petition, or any portion of the petition, if the
petition is frivolous, is malicious, fails to state a cause of action, seeks monetary relief from
a defendant who is immune from such relief, or fails to state a claim upon which relief can
be granted.
B. A court shall not authorize or permit service of a prisoner suit until compliance
with both of the following:
(1) The screening required in Subsection A of this Section has been completed.
(2) The provisions of R.S. 15:1186(A)(1), (2), and (3) have been satisfied, if the
plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis.
C. The clerk shall not have a prisoner suit served until specifically ordered to do so
by the court as provided in Subsection B of this Section, and then the suit shall be served
only upon those defendants specifically ordered by the court to be served.

Legislative History

Acts 1997, No. 731, §1, eff. July 9, 1997; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 110, §1, eff. May 5, 1998; Acts 2001, No. 801, §1, eff. June 26, 2001; Acts 2025, No. 253, §1.