Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure 253.3 – Duty judge exceptions; authority to hear certain matters
Terms Used In Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure 253.3
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
- In forma pauperis: In the manner of a pauper. Permission given to a person to sue without payment of court fees on claim of indigence or poverty.
- 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.
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
A. In any case assigned pursuant to Article 253.1, a duty judge shall only hear and sign orders or judgments for the following:
(1) Domestic relations emergency matters and protective orders concerning physical safety.
(2) Temporary restraining orders.
(3) Default judgments, stipulated matters, examination of judgment debtors, orders to proceed in forma pauperis, orders allowing the filing of supplemental and amending petitions when no trial date has been assigned, orders allowing incidental demands when no trial date has been assigned, orders allowing additional time to answer, and judicial commitments.
(4) Uncontested cases in which all parties other than the plaintiff are represented by an attorney appointed by the court.
(5) Uncontested judgments of divorce pursuant to Civil Code Article 102.
(6) Orders directing the taking of an inventory; judgments decreeing or homologating a partition, when unopposed; judgments probating a testament ex parte; orders directing the execution of a testament; orders confirming or appointing a legal representative, when unopposed; orders appointing an undertutor or an undercurator; orders appointing an attorney at law to represent an absent, incompetent, or unrepresented person, or an attorney for an absent heir; orders authorizing the sale of property of an estate administered by a legal representative; orders directing the publication of the notice of the filing of a tableau of distribution, or of an account, by a legal representative; judgments recognizing heirs or legatees and sending them into possession, when unopposed; and all orders for the administration and settlement of a succession, or for the administration of an estate by a legal representative.
(7) Orders for the seizure and sale of property in an executory proceeding.
B. In any case assigned pursuant to Article 253.1, a duty judge shall only sign orders for issuing the following: orders to show cause; orders directing the issuance and providing the security to be furnished by a party for the issuance of a writ of attachment or sequestration; orders directing the release of property seized under a writ of attachment or sequestration and providing the security to be furnished therefor; orders for the issuance of a writ, or alternative writ, of habeas corpus, mandamus, or quo warranto; and orders for appeal.
C. In any case assigned pursuant to Article 253.1, a duty judge may sign any order specifically and expressly authorized by the judge to whom the case is assigned.
D. When a duty judge hears any matter or signs any order or judgment pursuant to this Article, he shall not acquire jurisdiction over additional matters in the case. Following the ruling of the duty judge, the judge assigned pursuant to Article 253.1 shall hear the other matters in the case, including but not limited to discovery matters, preliminary injunctions, and injunctions.
Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 24, §1; Acts 2017, No. 419, §1; Acts 2021, No. 174, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2022.