Senate Bill No. 1878, introduced by Senator Seabaugh, enacts a new provision under R.S. 13:1878(C) concerning the determination of a chief judge for city courts in Louisiana. The bill outlines specific circumstances under which a judge's continuous service is considered interrupted, including removal or suspension without pay by the Louisiana Supreme Court, nonreelection for a subsequent term, and taking a leave of absence for thirty days or more without agreement from other judges. However, leaves of absence for medically necessary reasons will not interrupt continuous service.

Additionally, the bill specifies that if continuous service is interrupted, it will restart when a judge is reinstated, reelected, or returns from a qualifying leave of absence. It also clarifies that a leave of absence of less than thirty days, or one agreed upon by other judges, will not interrupt continuous service but will be considered a suspension, with no credit given towards the judge's continuous service for the duration of the leave.

Statutes affected:
SB186 Original: 13:1878(B)
SB186 Engrossed: 13:1878(B)