Sources & Legal Authorities

Primary Legal Sources

All information on this website is derived from official Louisiana legal authorities. Primary sources are cited throughout to enable verification and further research.

Louisiana Constitution

The foundation of Justice of the Peace Courts rests in the Louisiana Constitution of 1974:

• Article V, Section 1 – Establishes the judicial branch and vests judicial power in the Supreme Court, courts of appeal, district courts, and other courts authorized by the Constitution
• Article V, Section 20 – Specifically authorizes Justice of the Peace Courts as courts of limited jurisdiction

Louisiana Revised Statutes

The primary statutory authority for Justice of the Peace Courts appears in Title 13 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

Chapter 14 – Justice of the Peace Courts (RS 13:2581 – RS 13:2595)

Section	Subject
RS 13:2581	Justice of the peace courts; creation; composition
RS 13:2582	Civil jurisdiction
RS 13:2583	Criminal jurisdiction
RS 13:2585	Fees of justices of the peace
RS 13:2586	Concurrent jurisdiction with district courts
RS 13:2587	Issuance and execution of process
RS 13:2588	Time and place for holding court
RS 13:2589	Transfer of cases to district court
RS 13:2590	Appeals
RS 13:2591	Justice of the peace as committing magistrate
RS 13:2592	Justice of the peace as ex officio notary

Chapter 15 – Constables (RS 13:2601 – RS 13:2611)

Section	Subject
RS 13:2601	Election; term of office
RS 13:2602	Powers and duties
RS 13:2603	Service of process
RS 13:2604	Deputy constables
RS 13:2605	Constable fees
RS 13:2606	Bonds

Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure

Procedural rules governing civil matters in Justice of the Peace Courts:

• Articles 4911 – 4925 – Special provisions for Justice of the Peace Courts
• Article 4911 – Venue in Justice of the Peace Courts
• Article 4912 – Jurisdiction; amount in dispute
• Article 4913 – Service of citation

Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure

Criminal procedure provisions applicable to magistrate functions:

• Article 202 – Issuance of arrest warrant by magistrate
• Article 211 – Search warrant issuance
• Article 313 – Setting bail by committing magistrate
• Article 321 – Peace bonds

Louisiana Attorney General

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office provides mandatory training and resources for Justices of the Peace:

• Training Requirements: RS 49:251.1 – Annual certification requirements
• Attorney General Opinions: ag.state.la.us/Opinions
• Justice Court Directory: ag.state.la.us/JusticeCourt/Directory

Louisiana Supreme Court

For official court information and judicial resources:

• Louisiana Supreme Court: lasc.org
• Code of Judicial Conduct: lasc.org/Court_Rules?p=CJC

Judiciary Commission of Louisiana

For judicial discipline and complaints:

• File a Complaint: judiciarycommissionla.org/Complaints

Louisiana Legislative Auditor

For audit reports on government entities including JP courts:

• Audit Reports by Agency: lla.la.gov/reports/audit-reports

Louisiana State Legislature

Official statutory text and legislative updates:

• Louisiana State Legislature: legis.la.gov
• Louisiana Revised Statutes: legis.la.gov/legis/Laws_Toc.aspx?folder=75

How Sources Are Used

Throughout this website, several methods are employed to cite sources:

1. Inline statute buttons – Link directly to statute text on legis.la.gov
2. Section references – For specific court decisions or administrative rules
3. External links – Provide additional resources for deeper research

Verification Notice

Users are encouraged to:

• Verify statute citations on the official Louisiana State Legislature website
• Check for recent amendments or legislative changes
• Consult with legal professionals for interpretation

Statutes are subject to amendment by the Louisiana Legislature. This website strives to reflect current law but cannot guarantee real-time accuracy.

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