§ 49:978.1 — Judicial review of adjudication

Louisiana § 49:978.1

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 49: State Administration

Text

§978.1. Judicial review of adjudication
A.(1) Except as provided in R.S. 15:1171 through 1177, a party who is aggrieved by
a final decision or order in an adjudication proceeding is entitled to judicial review under this
Chapter whether or not he has applied to the agency for rehearing, without limiting, however,
utilization of or the scope of judicial review available under other means of review, redress,
relief, or trial de novo provided by law. A preliminary, procedural, or intermediate agency
action or ruling is immediately reviewable if review of the final agency decision would not
provide an adequate remedy and would inflict irreparable injury.
(2) However, if the agency conducting the adjudication proceeding issues the final
decision or order, the agency conducting the adjudication proceeding shall not be entitled to
seek judicial review under this Chapter.
B. Proceedings for review may be instituted by filing a petition in the district court
of the parish in which the agency is located within thirty days after the transmittal of notice
of the final decision by the agency or, if a rehearing is requested, within thirty days after the
decision thereon. Copies of the petition shall be served upon the agency and all parties of
record.
C. The filing of the petition does not itself stay enforcement of the agency decision.
The agency may grant, or the reviewing court may order, a stay ex parte upon appropriate
terms, except as otherwise provided by Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
relative to professions and occupations. The court may require that the stay be granted in
accordance with the local rules of the reviewing court pertaining to injunctive relief and the
issuance of temporary restraining orders.
D. Within thirty days after the service of the petition, or within further time allowed
by the court, the agency shall transmit to the reviewing court the original or a certified copy
of the entire record of the proceeding under review. By stipulation of all parties to the review
proceedings, the record may be shortened. A party unreasonably refusing to stipulate to limit
the record may be taxed by the court for the additional costs. The court may require or
permit subsequent corrections or additions to the record.
E. If, before the date set for hearing, application is made to the court for leave to
present additional evidence, and it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that the additional
evidence is material and that there were good reasons for failure to present it in the
proceeding before the agency, the court may order that the additional evidence be taken
before the agency upon conditions determined by the court. The agency may modify its
findings and decision by reason of the additional evidence and shall file that evidence and
any modifications, new findings, or decisions with the reviewing court.
F. The review shall be conducted by the court without a jury and shall be confined
to the record. In cases of alleged irregularities in procedure before the agency, not shown in
the record, proof thereon may be taken in the court. The court, upon request, shall hear oral
argument and receive written briefs.
G. The court may affirm the decision of the agency or remand the case for further
proceedings. The court may reverse or modify the decision if substantial rights of the
appellant have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions,
or decisions are:
(1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions;
(2) In excess of the statutory authority of the agency;
(3) Made upon unlawful procedure;
(4) Affected by other error of law;
(5) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly
unwarranted exercise of discretion; or
(6) Not supported and sustainable by a preponderance of evidence as determined by
the reviewing court. In the application of this rule, the court shall make its own
determination and conclusions of fact by a preponderance of evidence based upon its own
evaluation of the record reviewed in its entirety upon judicial review. In the application of
the rule, where the agency has the opportunity to judge the credibility of witnesses by
first-hand observation of demeanor on the witness stand and the reviewing court does not,
due regard shall be given to the agency's determination of credibility issues.
(7) Repealed by Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 89, §3, eff. April 18, 2002.
H. In interpreting a state statute or rule, a court, administrative judge, or hearing
officer presiding over a contested case, hearing, or appeal shall not defer to the agency's
interpretation of the statute or rule. The court, administrative judge, or hearing officer shall
interpret the meaning of the statute or rule de novo.
NOTE: R.S. 15:1171-1179 were included in the Unconstitutional Statutes Biennial
Report to the Legislature, date March 14, 2016.
NOTE: Former R.S. 49:978.1 redesignated as R.S. 49:974.1 by Acts 2022, No. 663,
§1.

Legislative History

Acts 1966, No. 382, §14, eff. July 1, 1967; Acts 1995, No. 1105, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 128, §1, eff. June 12, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 1216, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1224, §1; H.C.R. No. 89, 1997 R.S., eff. June 2, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 1332, §1, eff. July 12, 1999; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 89, §3, eff. April 18, 2002; Acts 2012, No. 289, §1, eff. May 25, 2012; Acts 2018, No. 90, §1, eff. May 10, 2018; Acts 2022, No. 663, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 49:964; Acts 2025, No. 139, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.