HLS 24RS-302 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 926
BY REPRESENTATIVE LYONS
REAPPORTIONMENT/JUDGES: Provides for the election of judges of the first district of
the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2), relative to the Fifth Circuit
3 Court of Appeal; to provide for the election of judges from the first district of the
4 Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal; to provide for the redistricting of judges; to provide
5 for election sections; to provide for the filling of vacancies; to provide for
6 effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2) are hereby amended and reenacted
9to read as follows:
10 §312. Courts of appeal; circuits and districts
11 There shall be five court of appeal circuits, which shall be subdivided into
12 districts as follows:
13 * * *
14 5.
15 * * *
16 (b) Districts of the fifth circuit.
17 (i) The parish of Jefferson shall compose the first district of the fifth circuit.
18 The first district shall be further divided into two three election sections. Election
19 section one shall consist of Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
20 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39,
Page 1 of 5
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are additions. HLS 24RS-302 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 926
1 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66,
2 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89,
3 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 116, 117,
4 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134,
5 136, 138, 152, 155, 157A, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179-A, 182, 183,
6 184, 185A, 185B, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197A, 197B, 197C, 198,
7 199, 202, 203, 204, 205, 210, 211, 212A, 212B, 213A, 213B, 213C, 214A, 214B,
8 215, 216, 217, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238,
9 246, 247, 248, 249, 1-G, 2-G, 3-G, 4-G, 5-G, 6-G, 7-G, 8-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G, 1-GI,
10 1-H, 2-H, 3-H, 4-H, 5-H, 6-H, 7-H, 8-H, 9-H, 13-KA, 1-K, 2-K, 3-K, 4-K, 5-K, 6-K,
11 7-K, 8-K, 9-K, 10-K, 11-K, 12-K, 14-K, 15-K, 16-K, 17-K,18-K, 19-K, 20-K, 25-K,
12 27-K, 28-K, 29-K, 30-K, 34-K, 35-K, 1-L, 1-W, 3-W, 4-W, 5-W, 6-W, and 7-W of
13 Jefferson Parish. Election section two shall consist of Precincts 104, 108, 115, 150,
14 151, 153, 154,156, 157B, 179B, 180, 181, 187, 188, 200, 201, 13-KB, 21-K, 22-K,
15 23-K, 24-K, 26-K, 31-K, 33-K, 173 and 2-W.
16 (aa) Election Section 1 is composed of Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
17 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,
18 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61,
19 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84,
20 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106,
21 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125A, 125B, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130,
22 131, 132, 133, 134, 136, 138, 152, 155, 157A, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177,
23 178, 179A, 182, 183, 185A, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193A, 193B, 198, 199, 202, 203,
24 210, 211, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232A, 232B, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238A,
25 238B, 246, 247, 248, 1-G, 2-G, 3-G, 4-G, 5-G, 6-G, 7-G, 8-G, 9-G, 10-G, 11-G,
26 12-G, 13-G, 1-GI, 1-H, 2-H, 3-H, 4-H, 5-H, 6-H, 7-H, 8-H, 9-H, 1-K, 2-K, 3-K, 4-K,
27 5-K, 6-KA, 6-KB, 7-KA, 7-KB, 8-K, 9-K, 10-K, 11-K, 12-K, 13-KA, 14-K, 15-K,
28 16-K, 17-K, 18-K, 19-K, 20-K, 25-K, 27-K, 28-K, 29-K, 30-K, 34-K, 35-K, 1-L,
29 1-W, 3-W, 4-W, 5-W, 6-W, and 7-W of Jefferson Parish.
Page 2 of 5
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are additions. HLS 24RS-302 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 926
1 (bb) Election Section 2 is composed of Precincts 104, 108, 115, 150, 151,
2 153, 154, 156, 157B, 173, 179B, 180, 181, 187, 188, 200, 201, 13-KB, 21-K, 22-K,
3 23-K, 24-K, 26-K, 31-K, 33-K, and 2-W of Jefferson Parish.
4 (cc) Election Section 3 is composed of Precincts 184, 185B, 194A, 194B,
5 195, 196, 197A, 197B, 204, 205, 212, 213A, 213B, 213C, 214A, 214B, 215, 216A,
6 216B, 216C, and 217 of Jefferson Parish.
7 * * *
8 §312.1. Circuit court of appeal; domicile; number of judges; election
9 * * *
10 E.
11 * * *
12 (2)(a) Six judges shall be elected from the first district of the fifth circuit by
13 the qualified electors thereof in the manner provided in this Paragraph.
14 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph:
15 (i) (a) The first vacancy created by the death, resignation, retirement, or
16 removal of a judge of the first district who was elected by the qualified electors of
17 election section one occurring after August 15, 2007, the effective date of the Act
18 that originated as House Bill No. 926 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature
19 shall be filled by election from election section two three of the first district and such
20 judgeship shall be assigned to election section two three of the first district for
21 election purposes thereafter. However, if no election has occurred or is scheduled to
22 occur to fill a vacancy in such a judgeship from election section two three prior to
23 the opening of qualifying for the regular statewide elections in 2012 2030, the
24 regular election to fill the judgeship designated as Division G B of the first district
25 shall be held in election section two three of the first district and such division shall
26 be assigned to election section two three for election purposes thereafter.
27 (ii) (b) At the time a judgeship is assigned to election section two three, the
28 remaining five four judgeships in the first district shall be assigned to election
29 section one for election purposes thereafter.
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are additions. HLS 24RS-302 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 926
1 (c) One judgeship shall be assigned to election section two.
2 * * *
3 Section 2.(A) The precincts referenced in this Act are those contained in the file
4named "2024 Precinct Shapefiles (01-10-2024)" available on the Legislature of Louisiana's
5website on the effective date of this Section. The 2024 Precinct Shapefiles are based upon
6those Voting Districts (VTDs) contained in the 2020 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line
7Shapefiles for the State of Louisiana as those files have been modified and validated through
8the data verification program of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana
9Senate to represent precinct changes submitted through January 10, 2024, to the Legislature
10of Louisiana by parish governing authorities pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 18:532 and
11532.1.
12 (B) When a precinct referenced in this Act has been subdivided by action of the
13parish governing authority on a nongeographic basis or subdivided by action of the parish
14governing authority on a geographic basis in accordance with the provisions of R.S.
1518:532.1, the enumeration in this Act of the general precinct designation shall include all
16nongeographic and all geographic subdivisions thereof, however such subdivisions may be
17designated.
18 (C) The territorial limits of the districts as provided in this Act shall continue in
19effect until changed by law regardless of any subsequent change made to the precincts by
20the parish governing authority.
21 Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature of the governor or, if not
22signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
23by the governor, as provided in Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
24this Act is vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, the
25provisions of this Act shall become effective on the day following such approval.
Page 4 of 5
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are additions. HLS 24RS-302 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 926
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 926 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Lyons
Abstract: Provides for an additional election section in the first district of the Fifth Circuit
Court of Appeals. Effective upon the signature of the governor for all purposes.
Statistical summaries of proposed law including maps illustrating proposed district
boundaries accompany this digest. (Attached to the bill version on the internet.)
Present law provides for composition of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. Provides that the
parishes of Jefferson, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist shall compose the fifth
circuit. Further provides that the parish of Jefferson shall compose the first district of the
fifth circuit. The parish of St. James and that portion of St. John the Baptist Parish east of
the Mississippi River shall compose the second district of the fifth circuit. The parish of
St. Charles and that portion of St. John the Baptist Parish west of the Mississippi River shall
compose the third district of the fifth circuit.
Present law provides that the fifth circuit shall be composed of eight judges. Provides that
six judges shall be elected from the first district of the fifth circuit by the qualified electors
thereof. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides further that the first district of the fifth circuit shall be divided into two
election sections and provides that five judges are assigned to election section one and one
judge is assigned to election section two.
Proposed law instead provides that the first district shall be divided into three election
sections. Further provides that four judges are assigned to election section one, one judge
is assigned to election section two, and one judge is assigned to election section three.
Proposed law provides that the first vacancy created by the death, resignation, retirement,
or removal of a judge of the first district who was elected by the qualified electors of election
section one shall be filled by election from election section three and such judgeship shall
be assigned to election section three for election purposes thereafter. However, if no election
has occurred or is scheduled to occur to fill a vacancy in such a judgeship from election
section three prior to the opening of qualifying for the regular statewide elections in 2030,
the regular election to fill the judgeship designated as Division B of the first district shall be
held in election section three of the first district and such division shall be assigned to
election section three for election purposes thereafter.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
Page 5 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. 354,017Election Section1 4 293,852 60,165 20.475%
41,708Election Section2 1 73,463 -31,755 -43.226%
45,056Election Section3 1 73,463 -28,407 -38.668%
Plan: HLS 24RS-302 (Lyons)
Plan Statistics
Districts: Relative DeviationAbsolute Deviation# of Members Actual PopulationIdeal Population
Grand Total: 6 440,781 440,778
Ideal Population Per Member:
Number of Districts for Plan Type:
Absolute Mean Deviation:
Range of District Populations:
Absolute Overall Range:
Absolute Range:
Relative Overall Range:
Relative Range:
Relative Mean Deviation:
Ideal - Actual:
Unassigned Population:
Remainder:
73463
3
41,708
30,640
-31,755
91,920
34.12%
-43.23%
63.70%
to
to
to
354,017
60,165
20.47%
-3
3
0 Election Section1 71,126 18,517 6,772 53,509354,017 204,093 67,159 279,820 38,2865,15514,22651,792170,361 47,371
20.091% 5.231% 1.913% 15.115%100.000% 57.651% 18.971%100.000% 18.509%60.882% 5.084% 1.842% 13.682% 16.929%
Election Section2 30,103 695 418 5,00541,708 5,487 6,340 30,802 3,39929953322,1404,431 4,252
72.176% 1.666% 1.002% 12.000%100.000% 13.156% 15.201%100.000% 71.878%14.385% 1.730% 0.971% 11.035% 13.804%
Election Section3 24,988 3,812 496 4,40545,056 11,355 5,558 34,032 3,1323812,93318,2439,343 3,861
55.460% 8.461% 1.101% 9.777%100.000% 25.202% 12.336%100.000% 53.605%27.454% 8.618% 1.120% 9.203% 11.345%
Plan: HLS 24RS-302 (Lyons)
Total Population
Total
Population VAP Total
Total
Hispanic
Total
Other
Total
American
Indian
Total
Asian
Total
White
Total
Black VAP WhiteVAP BlackVAP Asian
VAP
American
IndianVAP Other
VAP
Hispanic
Total
Grand Total 126,217 23,024 7,686 62,919440,781 220,935 79,057 344,654 44,8175,83517,69292,175184,135 55,484
28.635% 5.223% 1.744% 14.274%100.000% 50.124% 17.936%100.000% 13.003%1.693%5.133%26.744%53.426% 16.098% Election Section1 32,357 28,340 63,978 74,565203,338 142,641 64,795
15.913% 13.937% 31.464% 36.670%72.667% 70.150% 31.866%
Election Section2 19,262 1,936 16,228 1,69824,247 3,049 6,321
79.441% 7.984% 66.928% 7.003%78.719% 12.575% 26.069%
Election Section3 14,583 4,019 14,082 4,29825,848 7,246 7,468
56.418% 15.549% 54.480% 16.628%75.952% 28.033% 28.892%
Plan: HLS 24RS-302 (Lyons)
Voter Registration
Reg Total
Dec 2023
Reg Other
Total
Dec 2023
Reg Rep
Total
Dec 2023
Reg Dem
Total
Dec 2023
Reg Other
Dec 2023
Reg White
Dec 2023
Reg Black
Dec 2023
Grand Total 66,202 34,295 94,288 80,561253,433 152,936 78,584 Election Section1
*Jefferson 71,126 18,517 6,772 53,509354,017 204,093 279,820 170,361 203,33838,2865,15514,22651,792 32,357142,641 28,340
Election Section1 71,126 18,517 6,772 53,509354,017 204,093 279,820 170,361 203,33838,2865,15514,22651,792 142,641 32,357 28,340
20.091% 5.231% 1.913% 15.115%100.000% 57.651% 100.000% 60.882% 72.667%13.682%1.842%5.084%18.509% 70.150% 15.913% 13.937%
Election Section2
*Jefferson 30,103 695 418 5,00541,708 5,487 30,802 4,431 24,2473,39929953322,140 19,2623,049 1,936
Election Section2 30,103 695 418 5,00541,708 5,487 30,802 4,431 24,2473,39929953322,140 3,049 19,262 1,936
72.176% 1.666% 1.002% 12.000%100.000% 13.156% 100.000% 14.385% 78.719%11.035%0.971%1.730%71.878% 12.575% 79.441% 7.984%
Election Section3
*Jefferson 24,988 3,812 496 4,40545,056 11,355 34,032 9,343 25,8483,1323812,93318,243 14,5837,246 4,019
Election Section3 24,988 3,812 496 4,40545,056 11,355 34,032 9,343 25,8483,1323812,93318,243 7,246 14,583 4,019
55.460% 8.461% 1.101% 9.777%100.000% 25.202% 100.000% 27.454% 75.952%9.203%1.120%8.618%53.605% 28.033% 56.418% 15.549%
Plan: HLS 24RS-302 (Lyons)
Splits
Total
Population VAP WhiteVAP Total
Total
Other
Total
American
Indian
Total
Asian
Total
White
Total
Black VAP BlackVAP Asian
VAP
American
IndianVAP Other
Reg Total
Dec 2023
Reg White
Dec 2023
Reg Black
Dec 2023
Reg Other
Dec 2023 Lafourche
Plaquemines
Terrebonne
St. Bernard
Jefferson
St. Charles
Orleans
St. James
St. John
Assumption
Ascension
51
1-3
8-2
63
248
53
10-8
73
58
9-1
4-2
9-2
8-1
65
57
1-2
7-2
10-6
5
10-4
1-1
13
4-1
14
68
1-1
10-1
4-6
7-1
3-3
10-2
55
11
72
1-1
2
11-1
2-5
4-5
5-5
9
9-45
59
6-5
6-4
7-2
50
7
247
199
6-2
8-1
67
7-4
1-3
10-11
1-1
11-2
2-2
5-1
2
64
9-2
15
18
151
7-1
6-2
52
17
16
71
156
55
9-1
1-2
6-4
4-4
100
5-2
60
8
1-2
2-1
41
6-3
1-3
11-3
9-32
2-1
14
9-45A
10-13
10-10
27
56
1
53
5-4
42
74
1-2
19
21
3-2
1-GI
188
6-1
7-3
2-3
5-1A
83
1-L
6-1
33
3-1
2-6
246
2-4
3-7
197A
150
1-2
12
15-19A
3-2
2-2
3-1
16
12
4-3
4-1
2-2
52
37
5-1
22
6-1
10-9
170
10-3
10-15
15
7-5
3-6
9-41B
203
2-3
3-5
8
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1
!
2
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3
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal - District 1 Jefferson
St. Charles
Orleans
Plaquemines
St. Bernard
Lafourche
4-2
1-1
2-5
5-5
199
151
156
6-4
9-32
2-1
41
4-4
1-2
9-45
188
50
5-1A 6-1
8-1
33
2-6
2-4
197A
150
246
15-19A
53
3-1
1-3
12
5-1
22
4-1
1-2
6-2
170
194B
15
7-5
13
157A
203
152
125B
2-3
42
26-K
5-16
52
5-1
14
171
31
6-6
7-6
30
43
212
20
153
11
9-41B
2-1
6-2
7-4
9-28
9-44P
124
155
3-3
3-1
9-41C
8-1
9
136
184
3
5-4
9-41
7-2
3-1
32
7-3
23-K
42A
1-W
216C
58
211
131
24
225
196
1
3-8
6-1A
51
9-42
9-1
31-K
9-6
8-30
9-44M
217
24
214B
9-42C
1-1
189
6-W
34
17
57
198
7-H
132
73
126
3-2
215
105
182
23
60
44
5
2-7
15-15
28
29
234
13-1
14-10
25-K
71
15-18E
3-K
4-2
10
46
9-8
7
45
185A
2
201
2-G
204
68
1-6
9-31D
9-10
25
192
191
2-K
210
27
230
26
103
9-33
44
5-3
52
4-9
187
8-H
15-14G
237
9-H
226
15-19C
7-G
1-L
1-K
33-K
4-K
1-G
21
13
18
11-G
195
22
134
2-1
82
172
84
21
7-KB
30
11
31
190
24-K
72
9-9
4
238A
8
12-4
38
5-K
59
236
123
17-17
185B
66
33
154
78
34
56
9-44I
7-W
181
98
43
10-G
14-K
179A
23
17-K
7-37A
5-W
69
95
7-40
228
54
15-13A
29-K
55
20-K
227
248
10-K
1-2
15-18D
4-11
194A
229
85
9-7
205
8-K
202
7-KA
9-43C
32
75
67
54
8-12
35-K
10-3
7-19
10
39
15-15A
9-5
9-28C
173
65
4-14
19-K
7-30
86
115
7-23
9-44
94
70
104
183
4-15
12-K
5-18
80
9-394-23
17-1
46
8-9
45
2-2
87
106
9-25
127
15-8
7-35
4-22
20
4-18
19
175
180
8-26
128
7-17
200
7-8
15-6
9-30
3-H
93
7-37
79
15
7-33
81
15-13
4-21
174
4-20
9-43B
15-3
22-K
108
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1
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2
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3
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal - District 1