RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
HB 926 2024 Regular Session Lyons
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 compose the fifth
circuit. Further provides that the parish of Jefferson comprises 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 comprises 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 comprises the
third district of the fifth circuit.
Present law provides that the fifth circuit is composed of eight judges. Provides that six
judges shall be elected from the first district of the fifth circuit.
Present law divides the first district of the fifth circuit into two election sections and five
judges to election section one and one judge to election section two.
Proposed law would have instead divided the first district into three election sections. Would
have assigned four judges to election section one, one judge to election section two, and one
judge to election section three.
Proposed law would have provided 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 would have been filled by election from election section three and
such judgeship assigned to election section three for election purposes thereafter. However,
if no election had occurred or was 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 would have been held in election section three of the first district and such
division assigned to election section three for election purposes thereafter.
(Proposed to amend R.S. 13:312(5)(b)(i) and 312.1(E)(2))
VETO MESSAGE:
"Please be advised that I have vetoed House Bill 926 of the 2024 Regular Session.
This bill creates a new election district for the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal,
dividing Jefferson Parish into three election sections. Notably, this bill does not provide a
stated purposeor legislative intent for the creation of this new district.
I believe such a piecemeal approach to redistricting courts of appeals is unnecessary at
this time. Rather, I support SR 142 of the 2024 Regular Session, in which the Louisiana
State Senate noted that, "it is also necessary to study the territorial boundaries and the
jurisdictional limits of each court." I believe such a study is necessary before new
appellate districts are drawn.
For these reasons, House Bill 926 will not become law."