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Justice of the Peace

Sources & Legal Authorities

Section titled “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

Section titled “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

Section titled “Louisiana Revised Statutes”

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

Justice of the Peace Courts (RS 13:2581 – RS 13:2592)

Section titled “Justice of the Peace Courts (RS 13:2581 – RS 13:2592)”
SectionSubject
RS 13:2581Election of justices of the peace; return; commissions; term
RS 13:2582Justices of the peace; qualifications; election; term of office
RS 13:2583Constables; election; term of office; qualifications
RS 13:2585Holding court in place where alcoholic beverages are sold prohibited
RS 13:2586Jurisdiction and procedure
RS 13:2587Sale of property by constable of justice of the peace court
RS 13:2588Compensation of justices of the peace for performing marriages
RS 13:2589Compensation of justices of the peace and constables in criminal matters
RS 13:2590Security for costs
RS 13:2591Amount of additional salary for justices of the peace and constables
RS 13:2592Justice of the peace ad hoc; appointment; qualifications

Constables

Section titled “Constables”
SectionSubject
RS 13:2583Constables; election; term of office; qualifications
RS 13:2583.1–.7Deputy constables; oath; compensation (parish-specific)
RS 13:2589Compensation of justices of the peace and constables in criminal matters
RS 13:2590Security for costs (50/50 court cost split)
RS 13:5807Fees and costs (constables and marshals)
RS 13:5814Power to seize and sell property

Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure

Section titled “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 – Jurisdiction; concurrent with district court; amount in dispute
  • Article 4912 – Possession or ownership of movable property; eviction proceedings
  • Article 4913 – Limitations upon jurisdiction; nature of proceedings

Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure

Section titled “Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure”

Criminal procedure provisions applicable to magistrate functions:

  • Article 202 – Warrant of arrest; issuance
  • Article 161 – Search warrants; property subject to seizure (JP authority limited by Art. 161(C))
  • Article 314 – Authority to fix bail; bail order
  • Articles 26–33 – Peace bonds

Louisiana Attorney General

Section titled “Louisiana Attorney General”

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

Louisiana Supreme Court

Section titled “Louisiana Supreme Court”

For official court information and judicial resources:

Judiciary Commission of Louisiana

Section titled “Judiciary Commission of Louisiana”

For judicial discipline and complaints:

Louisiana Legislative Auditor

Section titled “Louisiana Legislative Auditor”

For audit reports on government entities including JP courts:

Louisiana State Legislature

Section titled “Louisiana State Legislature”

Official statutory text and legislative updates:

How Sources Are Used

Section titled “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

Section titled “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.

See the Legal Disclaimer for important information about the educational nature of this content.