Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:996.9

  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • En banc: In the bench or "full bench." Refers to court sessions with the entire membership of a court participating rather than the usual quorum. U.S. courts of appeals usually sit in panels of three judges, but may expand to a larger number in certain cases. They are then said to be sitting en banc.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 1:10
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

A.  In addition to all other fees or costs now or hereafter provided by law, the clerk of court of the Fourteenth Judicial District shall collect from every person filing any type of civil suit or proceeding, and who is not otherwise exempted by law from the payment of court costs, a sum to be determined by the judges of said district, sitting en banc, which sum shall not exceed fifteen dollars, subject to the provisions of Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Article 5181 et seq.; and, in all criminal cases over which the Fourteenth Judicial District Court has jurisdiction, there shall be taxed as costs against every defendant who is convicted after trial or after plea of guilty, or who forfeits his bond, a sum likewise determined but which shall not exceed five dollars, which shall be in addition to all other fines, costs, or forfeitures lawfully imposed and which shall be transmitted to the clerk for further disposition in accordance herewith.  

B.  The clerk of court shall place all sums collected or received under this Section in a separate account to be designated as the Judicial Expense Fund for the Fourteenth Judicial District Court.  The judges, en banc, of the Fourteenth Judicial District shall have control over the fund and all disbursements made therefrom.  They shall cause to be conducted annually an audit of the fund and the books and accounts relating thereto and shall file the same with the office of the legislative auditor where it shall be available for public inspection.  

Added by Acts 1980, No. 547, §1; Acts 1986, No. 457, §1; Acts 1986, 1st Ex.  Sess., No. 14, §1.