Senate Bill No. 197, introduced by Senator Morris, proposes to amend the number of judges serving on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal in New Orleans, reducing the total from twelve to eight. The bill specifies that the number of judges elected from the first district will decrease from eight to five, while the number of judges elected from the circuit at large will be reduced from two to one. This change aims to streamline the court's operations and is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.

Importantly, the bill includes provisions to ensure that current judges will not be removed from office and can complete their terms. Specifically, it states that no further elections will be held for Divisions F, G, or H of the first district or for the at-large seat currently held by Chief Judge Roland Belsome, whose term expires on December 31, 2031. This approach allows for a gradual implementation of the reduced number of judges without disrupting the current judicial framework.

Statutes affected:
SB197 Original: 13:1(D)