Louisiana § 18:621 Vacancy in office of judge

Louisiana Statutes

§ 18:621 — Vacancy in office of judge

Louisiana § 18:621

Title 18Conservation

This text of Louisiana § 18:621 (Vacancy in office of judge) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

La. Stat. Ann. § 18:621 (2026).

Text

§621. Vacancy in office of judge A.

(1)Within twenty-four hours after having knowledge of a vacancy in the office of a judge, including a vacancy by reason of a newly created judgeship, the supreme court shall give written notice to the governor that the vacancy exists, the date on which it occurred, and the cause thereof.

(2)If more than twelve months of the term remain unexpired, then within ten days after being notified of the vacancy, the governor shall determine the dates on which the special elections to fill the vacancy shall be held and the dates of the qualifying period and shall issue his proclamation ordering a special election and specifying the dates on which the primary and general elections will be held and the dates of the qualifying period for the election. However, if th

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

§621. Vacancy in office of judge
A.(1) Within twenty-four hours after having knowledge of a vacancy in the office
of a judge, including a vacancy by reason of a newly created judgeship, the supreme court
shall give written notice to the governor that the vacancy exists, the date on which it
occurred, and the cause thereof.
(2) If more than twelve months of the term remain unexpired, then within ten days
after being notified of the vacancy, the governor shall determine the dates on which the
special elections to fill the vacancy shall be held and the dates of the qualifying period and
shall issue his proclamation ordering a special election and specifying the dates on which the
primary and general elections will be held and the dates of the qualifying period for the
election. However, if the deadline for issuing the proclamation falls on a Saturday, Sunday,
or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday
shall be deemed to be the final day for issuing such proclamation.
(3) The governor shall call any special election to fill a newly created judgeship or
a vacancy in an existing judgeship in accordance with the dates for elections set forth in R.S.
18:402, if such dates can be utilized to fill a newly created judgeship or fill a vacancy in an
existing judgeship within the period of time prescribed in Article V, Section 22(B) of the
Louisiana Constitution. In selecting the dates for such special elections, the governor shall
first choose a gubernatorial or congressional election date; if no such date is available during
the constitutionally prescribed time period, the governor shall then select another election
date, as provided for in R.S. 18:402.
B. Immediately after issuance of the proclamation, the secretary of state shall publish
the proclamation in the official journal of each parish in which the election is to be held.
Within twenty-four hours after its issuance, the governor shall send a copy of the
proclamation to the secretary of state. Within twenty-four hours after he receives the copy,
the secretary of state shall notify all election officials having any duty to perform in
connection with a special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election
supervisors for the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1978, No. 38, §1, eff. May 31, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 792, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 778, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 152, §1, eff. as per Section 2, see note; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022.