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)]
HB 46 Original 2021 Regular Session James
Abstract: Provides relative to certain pretrial procedures including issuance of subpoenas,
appointment of counsel for certain persons, motions to obtain transcripts of preliminary
examination proceedings, orders for preliminary examination, service of subpoenas by
sheriffs; and provides relative to the time period within which a bill of information or
indictment is filed, the time period for setting an arraignment, the release or reconsideration
of the defendant's bail obligation under certain circumstances, and other procedures relative
to the right to a speedy trial.
Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 66) provides that upon written motion of the attorney general or district
attorney setting forth reasonable grounds, the court may order the clerk to issue subpoenas directed
to the persons named in the motion, ordering them to appear at a time and place designated in the
order for questioning by the attorney general or district attorney, concerning any offense under
investigation by him. Further authorizes the court to order the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum.
Proposed law provides that defense counsel may also give written motion to the court to order the
clerk to issue subpoenas to persons named in the motion to appear for questioning. Further provides
that defense subpoenas on behalf of an arrested person shall only be issued after an arrest is made.
Present law authorizes the attorney general or district attorney to determine who shall be present
during the examination.
Proposed law adds defense counsel to those eligible to determine who shall be present during the
examination.
Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 292) provides that after the defendant has been indicted by a grand jury,
the court may rescind its order for a preliminary examination.
Proposed law retains present law but provides that a defendant can preserve his request for a
preliminary examination in writing prior to indictment.
Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 293) provides that when a preliminary examination is ordered, the court
is required to conduct the examination promptly but shall allow the defendant a reasonable time to
procure counsel.
Proposed law provides that if the arrested person is determined to be indigent pursuant to present
law, the court is required to appoint counsel to represent him at the preliminary examination. Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 294) provides that upon motion of the state or the defendant, a transcript
of the preliminary examination proceedings may be made. The cost of the transcript preparation
shall be paid by the party making the motion, unless the party is an indigent defendant.
Proposed law retains present law and requires that a copy of the preliminary examination
proceedings be promptly provided to the state or defense counsel upon written motion.
Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 701) provides that the time period for filing a bill of information or
indictment after arrest is as follows:
(1)When the defendant is continued in custody subsequent to an arrest, an indictment or
information shall be filed within 45 days of the arrest if the defendant is being held for a
misdemeanor and within 10 days of the arrest if the defendant is being held for a felony.
(2)When the defendant is continued in custody subsequent to an arrest, an indictment shall be
filed within 120 days of the arrest if the defendant is being held for a felony for which the
punishment may be death or life imprisonment.
(3)When the defendant is not continued in custody subsequent to arrest, an indictment or
information shall be filed within 90 days of the arrest if the defendant is booked with a
misdemeanor and 150 days of the arrest if the defendant is booked with a felony.
Proposed law amends present law as follows:
(1)When the defendant is continued in custody subsequent to an arrest, decreases the time
period within which an indictment or information shall be filed to within five days of the
arrest regardless of whether the defendant is being held for a misdemeanor or for a felony.
(2)When the defendant is continued in custody subsequent to an arrest for a felony for which
the punishment may be death or life imprisonment, decreases the time period within which
an indictment shall be filed from within 120 days of arrest to within 30 days of the arrest.
(3)When the defendant is not continued in custody subsequent to arrest, decreases the time
period within which an indictment or information shall be filed to within 14 days of the arrest
regardless of whether the defendant is booked with a misdemeanor or felony.
(4)Adds that when the defendant is not continued in custody subsequent to arrest for a felony
for which punishment may be death or life imprisonment, an indictment shall be filed within
60 days of the arrest.
Present law provides that when the defendant is continued in custody subsequent to arrest, failure
to institute prosecution as provided in present law shall result in release of the defendant if, after
contradictory hearing with the district attorney, just cause for the failure is not shown. If just cause
is shown, present law requires the court to reconsider bail for the defendant. Proposed law amends present law to remove the requirement that a contradictory hearing be held
prior to ordering the release of the defendant.
Present law provides that when the defendant is not continued in custody subsequent to arrest, failure
to institute prosecution as provided in present law shall result in the release of the bail obligation if,
after contradictory hearing with the district attorney, just cause for the delay is not shown.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that upon filing of a bill of information or indictment, the district attorney shall
set the matter for arraignment within 30 days unless just cause for a longer delay is shown.
Proposed law amends present law to provide:
(1)When the defendant is in custody upon the filing of a bill of information or indictment, the
district attorney shall set the matter for arraignment within seven days, exclusive of holidays,
unless just cause for a longer delay is shown. If no just cause for the delay is shown, the
defendant shall be released.
(2)When the defendant is not in custody upon the filing of a bill of information or indictment,
the district attorney shall set the matter for arraignment within 30 days, exclusive of holidays,
unless just cause for a longer delay is shown. If no just cause for the delay is shown, the
defendant shall be relieved of his bail obligation.
Present law provides that after a motion for a speedy trial has been filed by the defendant, if the
defendant files any subsequent motion which requires a contradictory hearing, the court may suspend
or dismiss upon a finding of bad faith the pending speedy trial motion.
Proposed law amends present law to provide that certain preliminary motions which require a
contradictory hearing are not grounds for which the court may suspend or dismiss a pending speedy
trial motion. Such motions include but are not limited to motions relating to the state's duty to
provide the defendant with any evidence constitutionally required to be disclosed pursuant to Brady
v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) and its progeny, motions relating to previously invoked rights to
discovery pursuant to present law, motions in limine regarding the presentation of evidence at trial,
motions for jury instructions, and other motions do not necessitate a delay in the commencement of
the trial beyond the dates set forth in present law.
Proposed law provides that a defendant's motion for speedy trial does not relieve the state of its
continued burden to comply with the holding in the case Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) and
its progeny, nor does it relieve the state of its duty to provide previously requested discovery
pursuant to present law.
Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 732) provides that a subpoena may order a person to produce at the trial
or hearing, books, papers, documents, or any other tangible things in his possession or under his
control, if a reasonably accurate description is given. Proposed law provides that the subpoena may also order a person to produce books, papers,
documents, or any other tangible things in his possession or under his control at a preliminary
examination. Further provides that a subpoena may be issued at the request of defense counsel or
the state at any point after a defendant has been initially arrested for a charge, even if the state has
not yet instituted prosecution by filing a bill of information or indictment and if the defendant is
subsequently released.
Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 734) provides that the sheriff of any parish in which the witness may be
found or of the parish in which the proceeding is pending shall serve the subpoena and make return
thereof without delay.
Proposed law provides that upon motion of an arrested person, the court shall appoint a person over
the age of majority, who is not a party and who is residing within the state whom the court deems
qualified to perform the duties required, to make service of process in the same manner as is required
of sheriffs. Service of process made in this manner shall be proved as any other fact in the case.
(Amends C.Cr.P. Arts. 66(A) and (C), 292, 293, 294(D), 701(B), (C), and (D)(1)(intro. para.) and
(3), and 732; Adds C.Cr.P. Art. 734(D))