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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 169
BY REPRESENTATIVE MACK
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
JUDGES/DISTRICT: Provides for the abolishment and creation of judgeships in certain
judicial districts
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 13:621.21(B) and to enact R.S. 13:621.21(C), (D), (E), and (F),2
relative to district court judgeships in the Twenty-First Judicial District Court; to3
abolish a judgeship in the Twenty-First Judicial District Court and to provide for the4
creation of a new judgeship; to provide for limited subject matter jurisdiction; to5
provide for effective dates; to provide election requirements and terms of office; to6
provide for compensation and expense allowances; and to provide for related7
matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 13:621.21(B) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.10
13:621.21(C), (D), (E), and (F) are hereby enacted to read as follows: 11
ยง621.21. Twenty-First Judicial District12
* * *13
B.(1) The judgeship comprising Division H shall be abolished effective14
midnight, December 31, 2014, or at any earlier time upon such judgeship becoming15
vacant for any reason.16
(2) There is hereby created a new judgeship effective January 1, 2015 , or at17
any earlier time upon the judgeship in the former Division H becoming vacant. This18
judge and his successors shall preside over Division J, which is hereby created for19
purposes of nomination, election, and subject matter. The subject matter jurisdiction20 HLS 13RS-510 ENGROSSED
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of Division J is limited, under the provisions of Article V, Section 15(A) of the1
Constitution of Louisiana, to family and juvenile matters as provided by law. For2
purposes of this Subsection, "family matters" shall include all actions arising under3
Titles V and VII of Book I and Title VI of Book III of the Louisiana Civil Code,4
adoptions arising under the Louisiana Civil Code and the Louisiana Children's Code,5
actions involving protection from family violence pursuant to R.S. 46:2131 et seq.,6
and actions for enforcement, collection of support, and paternity pursuant to R.S.7
46:236.5. The jurisdiction or term of office of any other judge of the district shall8
not be affected or reduced by the creation of this judgeship.9
(3) For the purposes of this Subsection, a vacancy shall be created by death,10
resignation, retirement, or any other reason.11
C.(1) The judgeship comprising of Division G shall be abolished effective12
midnight, December 31, 2014.13
(2) There is hereby created a new judgeship effective January 1, 2015. The14
judge and his successors shall preside over Division K, which is hereby created for15
purposes of nomination, election, and subject matter. The subject matter jurisdiction16
of Division K is limited, under the provisions of Article V, Section 15(A) of the17
Constitution of Louisiana, to family and juvenile matters as provided by law. For18
purposes of this Subsection, "family matters" shall include all actions arising under19
Titles V and VII of Book I and Title VI of Book III of the Louisiana Civil Code,20
adoptions arising under the Louisiana Civil Code and the Louisiana Children's Code,21
actions involving protection from family violence pursuant to R.S. 46:2131 et seq.,22
and actions for enforcement, collection of support, and paternity pursuant to R.S.23
46:236.5. The jurisdiction or term of office of any other judge of the district shall24
not be affected or reduced by the creation of this judgeship.25
D.(1) Should a vacancy occur prior to December 31, 2014, in Division G or26
H, the judges of the Twenty-First Judicial District may, by en banc order, assign and27
transfer all family matters as provided by law to either or both divisions wherein28
there is a vacancy, through December 31, 2014.29 HLS 13RS-510 ENGROSSED
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(2) For the purposes of this Subsection, a vacancy shall be created by death,1
resignation, retirement, or any other reason.2
E. The judges and their successors created by this Section shall be elected3
at large and shall have jurisdiction throughout the district. The judges shall be4
elected for a six-year term at the congressional election held in 2014 and every sixth5
year thereafter.6
F. The judges and their successors created by this Section shall receive the7
same compensation and expense allowances, payable from the same sources and in8
the same manner, as are provided for other judges of the Twenty-First Judicial9
District.10
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not11
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature12
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If13
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become14
effective on the day following such approval.15
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Mack HB No. 169
Abstract: Provides for the abolishment of a judgeship and the creation of a new judgeship
in the 21st Judicial District Court for family and juvenile matters and provides for
its jurisdiction, elections, and term of office.
Present law provides for the creation of a new judgeship on Jan. 1, 2015, or when the former
Division H becomes vacant. Further provides that the judge and his successors shall preside
over Division J, and the subject matter jurisdiction of Division J shall be limited to family
matters as provided by law. Further prevents the jurisdiction of any other judge of the
district from being affected by the creation of the judgeship.
Proposed law removes the provision which allows for the creation of a new judgeship when
the former Division H becomes vacant. Proposed law further adds juvenile matters to the
subject matter jurisdiction for Division J and prevents the reduction of term of office for any
other judge of the district.
Proposed law provides for the creation of a vacancy by death, resignation, retirement, or any
other reason. HLS 13RS-510 ENGROSSED
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Proposed law requires the judgeship comprising of Division G to be abolished on midnight
on Dec. 31, 2014.
Proposed law provides for the creation of a new judgeship effective Jan. 1, 2015, to preside
over Division K with limited subject matter jurisdiction over family and juvenile matters as
provided by law. Further prevents the jurisdiction or term of office of any other judge from
being reduced or affected by the new judgeship.
Proposed law authorizes the judges on the 21st JDC, by en banc order, to assign and transfer
all family matters in Division G or H, should a vacancy occur in either division prior to Dec.
31, 2014.
Proposed law provides for the creation of a vacancy by death, resignation, retirement, or any
other reason.
Proposed law requires the judges to be elected at large for a six-year term at the
congressional election held in 2014 and every sixth year thereafter.
Proposed law requires the judges and their successors to receive the same compensation and
expense allowances from the same sources and in the same manner as the other judges in the
21st JDC.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 13:621.21(B); Adds R.S. 13:621.21(C), (D), (E), and (F))