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 661 Original 2023 Regular Session Muscarello
Abstract: Provides relative to the Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of La.
Present law requires the Judicial Council to adopt standards and guidelines for approving the
creation of new judgeships and judicial offices and for splitting or merging courts.
Proposed law additionally requires the council to adopt standards and guidelines for the elimination
of judgeships and judicial offices.
Present law provides that the judgeships and judicial offices to which present law is applicable are
any judgeship of the supreme court, courts of appeal, district courts, city courts, parish courts,
juvenile courts, family courts, traffic courts, and municipal courts, and any office of commissioner,
magistrate, hearing officer, or any other judicial office by whatever other name designated.
Present law provides that present law does not apply to justice of the peace courts, mayors' courts,
or administrative law judges employed by the division of administrative law. Proposed law adds
clerks of court to the excepted offices.
Proposed law requires the supreme court in consultation with the clerks of court to adopt procedural
and administrative rules to establish uniform data reporting standards for all case filings and
adjudications, including requirements for electronic filing and reporting. Requires all clerks of
courts to report requested data to the council in the manner and form directed by the council.
(Amends R.S. 13:61)