Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:1894

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • 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.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

A.  The criminal jurisdiction of city courts is limited to the trial of offenses committed within their respective territorial jurisdictions which are not punishable by imprisonment at hard labor, including the trial of cases involving the violation of  those offenses under state law, the violation of those offenses under a municipal or parochial ordinance adopted under the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 14:143, and the violation of any other municipal or parochial ordinance.

B.  In cases involving the violation of a state law or the violation of an ordinance enacted pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. 14:143(B), all procedure shall comply with those parts of thethe Louisiana Constitution of 1974, the Louisiana Revised Statutes, and the Code of Criminal Procedure pertaining to the prosecution of criminal cases not requiring trial by jury.

C.  City judges may also require bonds to keep the peace; issue warrants of arrest; examine, commit, and admit to bail and discharge; and hold preliminary examinations in all cases not capital.

Added by Acts 1960, No. 32, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1961; Acts 2001, No. 944, §1.