House Bill No. 536 proposes significant amendments to the structure of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal in Louisiana, particularly concerning the election of judges from the first district. The bill increases the number of election sections from two to three, assigning four judges to election section one, one judge to election section two, and one judge to election section three. This restructuring is intended to enhance representation and fairness in judicial elections. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for filling vacancies, specifying that the first vacancy from a judge elected from election section one will be filled by an election from election section three. The bill also clarifies the precincts for these elections, referencing the 2025 Precinct Shapefiles based on the 2020 Census.

Moreover, the bill introduces several amendments to existing legal language, including the replacement of the term "queue" with "quines" and "laud" with "laurch." It also inserts the name "Jefferson" in multiple instances, suggesting a focus on a specific jurisdiction or individual. Other adjustments include changing "St." to "B" and "C" to "Ch," which may reflect a reorganization of legal references. These modifications aim to modernize the language of the law, ensuring clarity and accessibility for those who engage with it while preserving the integrity of the original statutes. The changes will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated time for gubernatorial action.

Statutes affected:
HB536 Original: 13:312(5), 13:1(E)(2)