Abstract: Changes how the magistrate judge is elected in the Fourteenth Judicial District, changes
the composition of the election sections in the Fourteenth Judicial District, provides relative
to the divisions of the Fourteenth Judicial District, and provides relative to the subject matter
of Division J.
Present law creates the office of magistrate judge of the Fourteenth Judicial District Court and
provides that the magistrate judge shall be elected from election sections one and three combined.
Present law further provides that the magistrate judge shall serve a six-year term and that the position
is a full-time position in which the magistrate judge is prohibited from practicing law.
Present law further provides that the initial election shall occur in the fall of 2020 and that the term
shall begin Jan. 1, 2021.
Proposed law retains present law except in how the magistrate judge is elected. Proposed law
provides that the magistrate judge shall be elected at large from the Fourteenth Judicial District
instead of being elected from specific election sections.
Proposed law specifies that precincts referenced in district descriptions in proposed law are
those contained in the file named "2018 Precinct Shapefiles" published on the La. House of
Representatives website. Specifies that the 2018 Precinct Shapefiles are based upon those
Voting Districts (VTDs) contained in the 2010 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles
for the state of La. as those files have been modified by the staff of the legislature to represent
precinct changes submitted through July 3, 2018, to the legislature by parish governing authorities
pursuant to the provisions of present law (R.S. 18:532 and 532.1).
Present law provides that the Fourteenth Judicial District Court shall have nine judges.
Present law provides that two judges (Divisions F and H) shall be elected from election section one,
four judges (Divisions B, C, D, and G) shall be elected from election section two, two judges
(Divisions A and E) shall be elected from election section three, and one judge (Division I) shall be
elected from election sections one and three combined.
Proposed law retains present law except proposed law provides that the three judges shall be elected
from each of the election sections created by proposed law as follows: Divisions F, H, and J shall
be elected from election section one; Divisions C, D, and G shall be elected from election section
two; and Divisions A, B, and E shall be elected from election section three.
Proposed law creates a new judgeship (Division J) effective Jan. 1, 2021, who shall be elected at the
congressional election in 2020 and limits the subject matter of Division J to family and juvenile
matters and defines what family and juvenile matters include.
Proposed law eliminates the Division I judgeship effective midnight, Dec. 31, 2020.
Proposed law retains the jurisdiction of Divisions A and C over family and juvenile matters.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 13:477(14), 589(A), and 621.14)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original bill:
1. Add an effective date of July 1, 2020.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Change the composition of all the election sections in the Fourteenth Judicial District.
2. Change the magistrate judge election to an at-large election.
3. Make changes to the divisions of the Fourteenth Judicial District.
4. Limit Division J subject matter to family and juvenile matters and define what family and
juvenile matters include.
5. Change the effective date from July 1, 2020, to being effective upon the signature of the
governor.


Statutes affected:
HB62 Original:
HB62 Engrossed:
HB62 Reengrossed: 13:477(14), 13:589(A)
HB62 Enrolled: 13:477(14), 13:589(A)