Are Louisiana Court Records Public?

Under the Louisiana Public Records Law that was introduced in 1940 and amended in 1974, the general public is authorized to access public records generated and maintained by any government agency, including the Louisiana Judicial Body, which maintains court records. Court records requestors are not obligated by the law to indicate a reason for requesting these records neither does the law restrict the requestor's use of the records after they have been obtained. However, Louisiana Revised Statutes Section 44:32 (A) authorizes the record custodian to demand the requestor's age and valid identification.

Certain records containing information that violates a person's constitutional rights, such as a right to privacy, are sealed from public view. Also, some sensitive parts of court records may be redacted or restricted to only authorized persons, such as the record’s subjects and persons authorized by a court order or state law.

How Do I Find Court Records in Louisiana?

The first step to take when trying to obtain court records in Louisiana is to identify the type of court records being requested and locate the courthouse where the case records are maintained. The clerk in the courthouse where a case originates is responsible for generating and maintaining the official records. Use the information provided on the Louisiana Judicial Branch website to get the contact information and address of the courthouse where the case was filed. The courts are grouped into Judicial Districts, with each parish’s courthouse represented under specific Judicial Districts. Court records in printed or electronic formats are provided to requestors upon request.

Requesting parties may find court records in Louisiana by an in-person request. Here, the requestor submits a court record request at the court clerk’s office. In some cases, the courthouse will require that the requestor presents a written request alongside valid identification. However, other courthouses have request forms that the requestor is expected to fill out with the necessary details of the case that will facilitate the search, such as the case number or the name of the parties involved. Note that each request may attract a nominal fee for duplication and production of the requested court records, although the requestor may not be charged for inspection of records during office hours. Inquire about the required fees from the clerk of court in the parish the court was filed and make the payment if required.

While requesting a court record, ensure that the request application is explicit, containing details of the records requested, such as whether the record will be inspected or obtained, the number of duplicates to be made, etc.

Online requests and requests by mail are allowed in some parishes. Interested persons may contact the court clerk in the parish where the court records are being maintained to inquire whether online requests and requests by mail are allowed and if so, the necessary procedures follow to request via these platforms. In some parishes like Webster parish, on the Parish Clerk of Court website, the requestor may be required to create an account or log in to an existing account and pay a subscription fee with varying plans like a subscription for one day, 30 days, six months, or one year. After this registration, the registered person will be able to access records any time they log in.

Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through traditional government sources and third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. To gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:

• The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
• The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, parishes, and states.

While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government-sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites compared to government sources.

How Do Louisiana Courts Work?

Louisiana Courts are composed of different levels of courts that resolve civil and criminal cases by interpreting and applying the state’s constitutional law. Louisiana’s highest court is the Supreme Court, which sets the pace for other courts in the state. The state has five Courts of Appeal, 43 District Courts, five Family, and Juvenile Courts, 48 City Courts, three Parish Courts, about 250 Mayors Courts, and 390 Justices of the peace.

The Supreme Court has the final word on matters relating to the state’s constitution, and it has appellate jurisdiction over cases heard in lower courts in the state. Appeal cases from the Courts of Appeals are sometimes transferred to the Supreme Court for review, while certain cases can only be reviewed by the Supreme Court, hence, bypassing the Courts of Appeals. Examples of such cases are cases involving capital penalty and questions of law. The Supreme Court is composed of seven justices, including one chief justice.

The second group of appellate courts in Louisiana are the five Circuit Courts of Appeal, divided into at least three districts. However, this is subject to change by the legislature with a two-thirds vote of each house. The Circuit Courts of Appeal hear appeals on civil and criminal cases from the District Courts, Family or Juvenile Courts, City Courts, and Parish Courts. The Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal has 53 judges elected in partisan elections to serve 10-year terms. The judges sit in panels of at least three; a majority of a panel must concur to decide on a case.

Most civil and criminal cases originate at the Louisiana District Courts. There are 40 judicial districts in Louisiana, each representing specific parishes assigned to it. Most of these District Courts comprise more than one parish. Each of the 63 parishes except for Orleans Parish has a district court domiciled at its parish seat.

The major courts of limited jurisdiction in the state are the City Courts with jurisdiction in civil cases, similar to that of the District Courts, ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. City Courts’ criminal jurisdiction is primarily restricted to misdemeanors, but their jurisdiction is concurrent with the District Courts in juvenile cases where separate juvenile courts are not in existence.

Other courts of limited jurisdiction in the state include the Family and Juvenile Courts, Parish Courts, Mayors Courts, and Justices of the peace Courts.

What Are Civil Court and Small Claims in Louisiana?

Louisiana small claims courts are subdivisions of City Court (established under LA. R.S. 13:5201) and Justice of the Peace Courts. Small claim cases involve money disputes that are not more than $5000. To avoid default, a defendant must file a written answer within ten days of service or 15 days if served by the secretary of state. Small claims actions are not allowed to have more than ten plaintiffs in one case, and no class actions may be filed in the Small Claims Division. Parties involved in the case are allowed to have an attorney represent them in a small claims court. On the other hand, they may also draft their petitions to meet the requirements of the law.

A suit filed in the Small Claims Division follows the same procedures as regular civil actions. The difference is that no discovery procedures, like depositions or interrogatories, are available in the Small Claims Division. Note that exceptions and motions may be filed, but the judges’ practice in Small Claims actions to refer all motions to the merits at trial instead of considering them before the trial. In a Small Claims trial, technical rules of evidence are relaxed, and all relevant evidence is admissible, including hearsay, if the judge determines it is reliable. The judge will decide based on competent evidence before the court. In Louisiana, jury trials are not permitted in small claims court.

City courts have jurisdiction over civil cases in which the amount in dispute, or the value of the property in question, is between $15,000 and $50,000.

What Are Appeals and Court Limits in Louisiana?

An appeal involves reviewing a case solely based on the records that existed in a lower court during initial case hearings. This also includes the appellant and appellee's written briefs being heard to determine if any mistakes of the law were made during the court’s proceedings. An appeal is not a new trial. The Court of Appeal will not permit the parties to the case to bring before the court any discovery, call witnesses, or offer any evidence that was not initially presented at the lower court during the case hearings.

The Court of Appeal decides appeals and writ applications. In civil cases the Courts of Appeal has appellate jurisdiction to review final appellate orders issued by a trial judge, a worker’s compensation judge and decisions by a civil service commission. An order is final if it resolves all the issues, including the attorney’s fees issue. The appellate court may accept a partial final judgment appeal if the trial court has designated it as appealable. A trial court may also appeal an interlocutory ruling.

For a criminal case, the defendant may appeal to the Court of Appeals from a judgment in a case triable by jury, except where capital punishment has been imposed. Cases with capital punishments are transferred to the Supreme Court. The state has the right to appeal in a few cases.

The Appellate Courts time limits include:

• A writ application must be filed within 30 days from the date the ruling was rendered.
• A civil judgment appeal must be filed within ten days from the date of judgment or from when the notice of judgment is served.
• Within seven days after the order of appeal is granted, the trial court clerk shall transmit to the Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court’s judicial administrator the notice of appeal required by the Code of Civil Procedure or the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Motions to remand or dismiss appeals must be submitted to the court by the clerk without oral argument within ten days following the date of filing. The court may also fix any such motion for oral argument or refer the motion to the argument on the merits according to its discretion. The mover to remand or dismiss may file a brief with the motion, and the opposing party may file an opposition brief within seven days of the filing of the motion.
• The appellant’s brief must be filed within 25 calendar days after the filing of the record in the court, and the brief of the appellee must be filed within 45 calendar days after the filing of the record in the court. If there will be a reply brief, the appellant must file it within ten calendar days after the appellee's brief is filed.
• In cases regulated by the Code of Criminal Procedure, an application for rehearing must be filed with the clerk not more than 14 days after the judgment is rendered. On the other hand, for cases regulated by the Code of Civil Procedure an application for rehearing must be filed with the clerk within 14 days after the notice of the judgment and opinion of the court is received. Note that there will be no extension of time for filing an application for rehearing.

For more details on the appellate procedure in Louisiana, refer to the Uniform Rules Courts of Appeal.

What Are Louisiana Judgment Records?

Louisiana judgment records are created towards the end of a case when a judge issues a decision and the court clerk enters the decision into the court docket. So, judgment records mostly exist for cases considered closed or adjudicated unless a litigant pursues an appeal.

Copies of Louisiana judgment records are available for public perusal per the Louisiana Public Records Law. Interested persons who wish to obtain judgment records in Louisiana must visit the clerk's office during work hours. The administrative staff will require certain information to process the request, including the case number and the parties' names involved in the case.

Furthermore, the requester must pay the applicable search fees and administrative cost of copying or certifying the judgment record. Most clerk offices accept cash, money order, certified check, and credit cards. Yet another way to obtain judgment records in Louisiana is to prepare and send a mail-in request. This method is especially suitable for requesters who prefer to obtain judgment records from the repose of their homes. A typical judgment record in Louisiana contains the litigants' names, the judge's name, a case description, and the court's decision.

What are Louisiana Bankruptcy Records?

Louisiana bankruptcy records provide information on individuals and businesses who file for bankruptcy in the state of Louisiana. Sometimes, people and companies get into more debts than they can manage. When this happens, such parties have to seek help from the court in offsetting their debts, either by liquidating their asset or structuring a repayment plan. There are special courts that handle bankruptcy cases in the United States, and they are governed by federal laws. When filing a bankruptcy case in Louisiana, the debtor has to submit a statement that includes all assets, incomes, debts, and details of all creditors, and the amount owed. These details remain stored in Louisiana bankruptcy records.

Bankruptcy records and accompanying documents, including foreclosure, judgments, writs, and Louisiana liens, can be made accessible to be public pursuant to state law. To access these records, requestors may be required to provide information to facilitate the record search and cover the cost of duplicating the record (if copies are required).

How Do I Find My Case Number in Louisiana?

A case number is defined as a group of numbers and letters that indicates the year a case was filed, the judicial office where it was filed, and other unique details of the case. Case numbers make it easy to differentiate a case from another and distinctively reference civil and criminal cases in courts across Louisiana. Being that case numbers are uniquely assigned to court cases, it is pretty easy to search and access case information, once the searcher knows the case number of the case in question. Specific search results are provided when searching with a case number as opposed to when searching for court records with a party’s name. The search results provided in a name search are usually very long as the search portal provides the names of persons with identical names.

Typically, case numbers can be found by conducting a name search with the name of one of the parties involved in a case. Conduct a search with the party’s last name, first name, or company name and provide the optional information required (if need be). Use the information provided on the Louisiana Judicial Branch website to get the contact information and address of the courthouse where the case was filed. On the other hand, visit the Parish Clerk of Court’s office where the case was filed and request the case number of the specific case of interest.

Can You Look up Court Cases in Louisiana?

Yes, persons interested in looking up court cases can access them at the Clerk of Court’s office. Some courts in Louisiana also maintain a central database where interested persons may track court cases that are available to the public in Louisiana. Note that certain sensitive cases, such as cases involving minors, may be unavailable to the general public.

Does Louisiana Hold Remote Trials?

With the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, court operations have reduced to the barest minimum. The Louisiana Supreme Court’s order instilled on April 22, 2020, provided that all jury trials, civil or criminal, be put on hold from June 30, 2020. Until May 4, 2020, courts were instructed only to conduct in-person proceedings to resolve emergencies that cannot be resolved virtually. However, the courts must continue to take precautionary measures to restrict access to courtrooms and other spaces, ensure social distancing, zero physical contact, and limit in-person court activity to only emergency matters.  

Following the increase in the spread of the virus, Louisiana courts are further instructed to follow all guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control, the President, and the Governor. They are also instructed to restrict access to courtrooms and other spaces to the maximum number of people and follow any future guideline or official proclamation that may be issued.

Furthermore, emergency matters will be attended to virtually using video and telephone conferencing. Emergency matters include but are limited to hearings related to:

• Civil protective orders
• Child in need of care proceedings
• Emergency child custody matters
• Proceedings related to emergency interdictions and mental health orders
• Proceedings for children removed from their home by emergency court order
• Temporary restraining orders and mental health orders
• All matters of public health related to the coronavirus pandemic
• Other emergency matters required to protect the health, safety, and freedom of individuals as determined by each court are considered emergency civil matters that should be conducted through video and telephone conferencing.

Also, court proceedings by telephone, video, teleconferencing, or any other virtual means that do not require physical contact may proceed with all the parties and the judge’s consent. Under the April 22, 2020 order, the Louisiana Supreme Court ordered that no party must not unjustifiably hold back permission to allow remote proceedings in civil matters. Also, a trial judge can enforce this order under the authority granted by the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 191 or as expressly provided by law.

It was also provided that courts work with parish clerks to encourage remote case filings, such as U.S. mail, e-filing, email, or facsimile, instead of in-person filings. Records for criminal, juvenile, and civil cases presided over on an emergency or expedited basis shall be kept under the acting judge’s supervision for each action.

What Is the Louisiana Supreme Court?

The Louisiana Supreme Court is the state’s last resort court and has the final say in matters regarding the state’s constitutional law. The court is composed of seven justices elected from six districts across Louisiana to serve 10-year terms. Among the justices, one is assigned as the chief justice, who is the main administrative officer of the judicial system. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over cases within its jurisdiction, including appellate cases outside the jurisdiction of the state’s Courts of Appeals. These include cases where a law or ordinance has been declared unconstitutional and capital cases where the death penalty has been ruled.

The court also has exclusive original jurisdiction to take disciplinary actions against lawyers, make recommendations to the judiciary commission for the discipline of judges, and fact questions relating to the court’s appellate jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court has the authority to assign a sitting or retired judge to any court and establish procedural and administrative rules that agree with the law. The Supreme Court is authorized to provide by rule for attorneys’ appointments as temporary or ad hoc judges of parish, city, traffic, municipal, juvenile or family courts. It reviews applications for writs to appeal in individual cases and other criminal cases.

Louisiana Courts of Appeals

The Louisiana Courts of Appeals is authorized to supervise the affairs of each court originating within its circuit. It is the intermediate appellate court in Louisiana. It hears appeals from lower courts within its circuit on all civil matters, all matters appealed from Family and Juvenile Courts, and all criminal cases that may be tried by a jury, excluding cases within the exclusive appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court or the District Courts. The five Circuit Courts of Appeals in Louisiana include:

The First Circuit Court of Appeal - The First Circuit is composed of 12 judges and has jurisdiction over sixteen parishes in Southeastern Louisiana, including Ascension, Assumption, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Lafourche, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Washington. The contact information of the First Circuit Courthouse is as follows: 

Court of Appeal, First Circuit
1600 North Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Telephone: (225) 382-3000
Fax: (225) 382-3010

The Second Circuit Court of Appeal -The Second Circuit is composed of nine judges, elected from three election districts in Louisiana’s 20 northernmost parishes.

• Election District One consists of Ouachita, Morehouse, Richland, Franklin, East Carroll, West Carroll, Madison, and Tensas.
• Election District Two consists of the nine parishes between Shreveport and Monroe, including Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Bienville, Union, Lincoln, Jackson, Caldwell, and Winn.
• Election District Three comprises the parishes of Caddo, DeSoto, and Red River.

Election Districts One and Three contain a sub-district. The contact information of the First Circuit Courthouse is as follows: 

30 Fannin Street Shreveport, LA 71101 Phone: (318) 227-3700 Fax: (318) 227-3735 Office Hours: 8:30 am- 4:45 pm, Monday through Friday

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal - This is the largest among the five Circuit Courts of Appeal in Louisiana. Its geographical jurisdiction covers 21 parishes in the southwest and central Louisiana. The parishes include Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vernon, and Vermilion. There are 12 judges, and the court is located at:

Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal
1000 Main Street
Lake Charles, LA 70615
Email: coc@la3circuit.org
Phone: (337) 433-9403
Fax: (337) 491-2590

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal - This Court of Appeal has 12 judges and covers the parishes of Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines. Its contact information is as follows:

3rd Floor, 400 Royal Street New Orleans, LA 70130 Telephone: (504) 412-6001 Facsimile: (504) 412-6019 Email: coc@la4th.org

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal - It covers the parishes of Jefferson, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist. Its contact information is as follows:

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal 101 Derbigny Street Gretna, LA 70053 Email: clerksoffice@fifthcircuit.org Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Louisiana District Courts

Louisiana District Courts are also referred to as Louisiana's trial courts of general jurisdiction. The 40 District Courts, excluding Orleans, have 170 district judges elected to six-year terms. The District Court is divided into civil and criminal district courts. The Orleans District Court has a Civil District Court with 14 judges and a Criminal District Court with ten judges and one magistrate judge, each elected to terms of six years.

The District Courts have jurisdiction over all matters within their territorial limits. However, in Orleans, and in the 1st, 19th, and 24th judicial districts, Family and Juvenile Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over specific types of cases. Also, in Orleans Parish, municipal ordinance violations are tried by the municipal and traffic courts. In civil cases, District Courts’ jurisdiction extends up to $2,000 in areas where Justices of the Peace function, and from $5,000 to $25,000 when their territorial jurisdiction is similar to that of a City Court.

Furthermore, the District Courts exercise appellate jurisdiction over criminal cases that City, Municipal, Traffic, and Mayor's court preside over. However, this does not include cases in City, Parish, and Municipal Courts that are tried under a state statute, where the case is appealed to the applicable Court of Appeal. District courts also have appellate jurisdiction over Justices of the Peace Courts, where no parish court exists.

Louisiana Family and Juvenile Courts

These courts include the Family Court of  East Baton Rouge and the Juvenile Courts of Orleans, East Baton Rouge, Caddo, and Jefferson Parishes. These courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over particular types of cases, that in other districts, are handled by District Courts or District, Parish and City Courts concurrently. Juvenile and Family Court judges possess the same qualifications and serve the same term as District Court judges. However, in Orleans Parish, the term for a Juvenile Court judge is eight years.

The Juvenile Courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over various types of cases involving children, such as delinquency cases involving persons below 21 years old who commit delinquent acts before clocking 17 years old. Exceptions to this include cases where children who have reached the age of 15 are indicted for first-degree murder, second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, or aggravated rape. These cases are transferred to the applicable court exercising criminal jurisdiction over the charged offenses.

Furthermore, Juvenile Courts also have original jurisdiction of all adoption proceedings involving unemancipated minors under 17 years old. The Parish of East Baton Rouge Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction for cases like divorce, annulment of marriage, spousal and child support, establishment and repudiation of the paternity of children, and custody and visitation of children.

Louisiana City and Parish Courts

City and Parish Courts have similar jurisdiction. The Uniform Parish Court Jurisdiction and Procedure Act codified in R.S. 13:1441 et seq defines the Parish Courts’ jurisdiction. The court has original jurisdiction identical to that of the District Courts over criminal offenses punishable by a $1,000 fine or less, imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. The Parish Courts also have civil jurisdiction concurrent with district courts in cases up to $20,000.

In Louisiana, there are 46 City Courts outside of Orleans Parish. These courts have a total of 56 judges elected for six-year terms. City Court judges are elected for six-year terms and have the same qualifications as district judges. In Orleans Parish, the City Court is divided into three, each having four judges. The divisions include:

• First and second City Courts, which exercise civil jurisdiction
• A Municipal Court, which handles only misdemeanor cases
• A Traffic Court, which handles traffic-related offenses.

City courts have jurisdiction over the following:  

• Criminal offenses not punishable by hard labor, including violations of parish and city ordinances, state DWI cases, peace bonds, and preliminary examinations in non-capital cases; and
• Civil cases where the amount in dispute, or the property’s value in question, is between $15,000 and $50,000, excluding matters where Parish Courts have no jurisdiction. This is with the exception of curatorship, tutorship, and emancipation, and partition proceedings.

City Courts also have juvenile jurisdiction, except where separate Juvenile Courts with exclusive original juvenile jurisdiction have been established. City Courts also have small claims divisions.

Louisiana Justices of Peace Courts

The Justices of the peace no longer exist in areas where City Courts have been established; however, it presides over claims and disputes involving $5000 or less in areas where it exists.

Louisiana Mayor’s Courts

There are about 250 Mayor's Courts operating in towns and villages across Louisiana. These Courts hear cases relating to traffic violations.