HLS 22RS-1179 REENGROSSED
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 30
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
JUDGES: Establishes a task force to study the funding and workload of judicial districts
and circuits
1 A RESOLUTION
2To create the Judicial Structure Task Force to study the caseload data and the number of
3 judges of each appellate court and district court in Louisiana, to determine changes
4 necessary to the existing structure of the judiciary, to provide the most efficient use
5 of judicial resources, and to report its findings and recommendations to the House
6 Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on Judiciary no later than
7 February 1, 2023.
8 WHEREAS, House Concurrent Resolution No. 143 of the 2011 Regular Session of
9the Louisiana Legislature requested the supreme court to study the structure of the judiciary;
10and
11 WHEREAS, the National Center for State Courts developed a work point study to
12assess the workload of district and appellate courts throughout the state; and
13 WHEREAS, an updated work point study is needed to accurately assess the structure
14and workload of the judiciary; and
15 WHEREAS, the release of the detailed 2020 federal decennial census data on August
1612, 2021, revealed serious population losses in some parts of the state and tremendous
17population growth in other parts of the state; and
18 WHEREAS, as population shifts from some areas of this state to others, it would be
19prudent to examine the caseload data from each court in the state of Louisiana to determine
20if the judicial resources are being used in the most efficient manner possible; and
21 WHEREAS, population and demographic changes in the state of Louisiana provide
22a reassessment opportunity to determine if reallocation of judicial resources may be needed;
23and
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HR NO. 30
1 WHEREAS, it is necessary to consider the case filing data, case weights, court
2structure and finance, and the use of support personnel in this study; and
3 WHEREAS, it is also necessary to study the territorial boundaries and the
4jurisdictional limits of each court.
5 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
6Legislature of Louisiana does hereby establish the Judicial Structure Task Force to study the
7caseload data and the number of judges of each appellate court and district court in
8Louisiana, and to determine the changes necessary to the existing structure of the judiciary
9and the most efficient use of judicial resources.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
11following members:
12 (1)Three members of the House Committee on Appropriations appointed by the
13 speaker of the House of Representatives.
14 (2)Three members of the House Committee on Judiciary appointed by the
15 speaker of the House of Representatives.
16 (3)The chief justice of the Supreme Court, or his designee.
17 (4)The chair of the Louisiana Conference of Court of Appeals Judges, or his
18 designee.
19 (5)A representative from the Louisiana District Judges Association.
20 (6)Two members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that for purposes of this study, the task force shall
22have all powers otherwise provided by law and by rules of the House of Representatives, as
23well as all powers inherent in legislative committees, and that the legislative members shall
24receive the per diem and mileage authorized by law and in accordance with the rules of the
25member's house of the legislature.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a member of the House of Representatives on
27the task force designated by the speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve as the
28chairman of the task force and that the members of the task force shall select any other
29officers it deems necessary from among its members at the first meeting of task force.
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HR NO. 30
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the task force shall cause notice
2of each meeting of the task force to be provided to the speaker of the House of
3Representatives, the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, and the chairman
4of the House Committee on Judiciary.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
6of Louisiana further directs the task force to solicit input, information, data,
7recommendations, and advice from the following persons, agencies, and organizations in
8connection with the study directed by this Resolution:
9 (1)The Louisiana Supreme Court.
10 (2)The Louisiana District Judges Association.
11 (3)The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association.
12 (4)The Louisiana District Attorneys Association.
13 (5)The Louisiana Public Defender Board.
14 (6)The Louisiana State Bar Association.
15 (7)The Louisiana Association for Justice.
16 (8)The National Center for State Courts.
17 (9)Louisiana Association of Business & Industry.
18 (10)Any persons, agencies, entities, or stakeholders that the joint committee
19 deems necessary to fulfill its purposes.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of
21its findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Appropriations and the House
22Committee on Judiciary not later than February 1, 2023, and that such recommendations
23shall include the following:
24 (1)An updated work point study from the National Center for State Courts.
25 (2)Data from the National Center for State Courts on district court work flow.
26 (3)The caseload data of each appellate court and district court in Louisiana.
27 (4)The number of judges in each appellate court and district court in Louisiana.
28 (5)A determination of any necessary changes to the existing structure of the
29 judiciary.
30 (6)A determination of the most efficient use of judicial resources.
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HR NO. 30
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
2chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, the chairman of the House Committee
3on Judiciary, the chief justice of the supreme court, the chair of the Louisiana Conference
4of Court of Appeals Judges, and the president of the Louisiana District Judges Association.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that one print copy and one electronic copy of any
6report produced pursuant to this Resolution shall be submitted to the David R. Poynter
7Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:772.
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)]
HR 30 Reengrossed 2022 Regular Session Zeringue
Establishes the Judicial Structure Task Force to study the caseload data and the number of
judges of each appellate court and district court, to determine the changes necessary to the
existing structure of the judiciary and the most efficient use of judicial resources, and to
report its findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Appropriations and the
House Committee on Judiciary no later than Feb. 1, 2023.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the engrossed resolution:
1. Add two members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate and
make changes to provisions regarding per diem and mileage of members related
thereto.
2. Specify that the members of the House on the task force are appointed by the
speaker of the House.
3. Provide that the chairman is a member of the House designated by the speaker
of the House and provide that the task force may select any other officers it
deems necessary.
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