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 ten. Specifically, the bill decreases the number of judges elected from the first district from eight to seven and the number of judges elected from the circuit at large from two to one. The bill ensures that current judges will not be deprived of their ability to serve the remainder of their terms, and it stipulates that no further elections will be held for Division G of the first district or for the at-large seat currently held by Chief Judge Roland Belsome, whose term expires on December 31, 2031.

The bill is set to take effect upon the governor's signature or after the expiration of the time for bills to become law without the governor's signature. The proposed changes aim to streamline the judicial structure of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal while maintaining the integrity of current judicial terms. The legislation reflects a shift in judicial resource allocation and is part of ongoing efforts to optimize court operations in Louisiana.

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