HLS 24RS-524 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 3
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
JUDGES: Provides for the continuation of the Judicial Structure Task Force as established
by House Resolution No. 30 of the 2022 Regular Session
1 A RESOLUTION
2To continue and reestablish the Judicial Structure Task Force created by House Resolution
3 No. 30 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
4 WHEREAS, the Judicial Structure Task Force was created in the 2022 Regular
5Session pursuant to House Resolution No. 30 to study the caseload data and the number of
6judges of each appellate court and district court in Louisiana, to determine changes necessary
7to the existing structure of the judiciary, and to provide the most efficient use of judicial
8resources; and
9 WHEREAS, House Concurrent Resolution No. 143 of the 2011 Regular Session of
10the Louisiana Legislature requested the supreme court to study the structure of the judiciary;
11and
12 WHEREAS, the task force has met twelve times since its inception to determine the
13efficient methodology and approach for the district courts weighted caseload study; and
14 WHEREAS, the National Center for State Courts developed a work point study to
15assess the workload of district and appellate courts throughout the state; and
16 WHEREAS, an updated work point study is needed to accurately assess the structure
17and workload of the judiciary; and
18 WHEREAS, the release of the detailed 2020 federal decennial census data on August
1912, 2021, revealed serious population losses in some parts of the state and tremendous
20population growth in other parts of the state; and
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HR NO. 3
1 WHEREAS, as population shifts from some areas of this state to others, it would be
2prudent to examine the caseload data from each court in the state of Louisiana to determine
3if the judicial resources are being used in the most efficient manner possible; and
4 WHEREAS, population and demographic changes in the state of Louisiana provide
5a reassessment opportunity to determine if reallocation of judicial resources may be needed;
6and
7 WHEREAS, it is utmost importance to consider the case filing data, case weights,
8court structure and finance, and the use of support personnel in order to establish proper
9funding and distribution of such funds to the courts; and
10 WHEREAS, the legislature will be unable to appropriate such funds as are necessary
11for the judicial system without receiving proper and sufficient data to support such an
12appropriation; and
13 WHEREAS, it is also necessary to study the territorial boundaries and the
14jurisdictional limits of each court.
15 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
16Legislature of Louisiana does hereby continue the Judicial Structure Task Force to study the
17caseload data and the number of judges of each appellate court and district court in
18Louisiana, and to determine the changes necessary to the existing structure of the judiciary
19and the most efficient use of judicial resources.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
21following members:
22 (1) Three members of the House Committee on Appropriations appointed by the
23speaker of the House of Representatives.
24 (2) Three members of the House Committee on Judiciary appointed by the speaker
25of the House of Representatives.
26 (3) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
27House of Representatives.
28 (4) The chief justice of the Supreme Court, or his designee.
29 (5) The chair of the Louisiana Conference of Court of Appeals Judges, or his
30designee.
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1 (6) Two judges, at least one of whom serves in a judicial district composed of two
2or more parishes, who are members of the Louisiana District Judges Association selected
3by the president of the association.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that for purposes of this study, the task force shall
5have all powers otherwise provided by law and by rules of the House of Representatives, as
6well as all powers inherent in legislative committees, and that the legislative members shall
7receive the per diem and mileage authorized by law and in accordance with the rules of the
8member's house of the legislature.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a member of the House of Representatives on
10the task force designated by the speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve as the
11chairman of the task force and that the members of the task force shall select any other
12officers it deems necessary from among its members at the first meeting of task force.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the task force shall cause notice
14of each meeting of the task force to be provided to the speaker of the House of
15Representatives, the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, and the chairman
16of the House Committee on Judiciary.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
18of Louisiana further directs the task force to solicit input, information, data,
19recommendations, and advice from the following persons, agencies, and organizations in
20connection with the study directed by this Resolution:
21 (1) The Louisiana Supreme Court.
22 (2) The Louisiana District Judges Association.
23 (3) The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association.
24 (4) The Louisiana District Attorneys Association.
25 (5) The office of the state public defender.
26 (6) The Louisiana State Bar Association.
27 (7) The Louisiana Association for Justice.
28 (8) The National Center for State Courts.
29 (9) Louisiana Association of Business & Industry.
30 (10) Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
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HR NO. 3
1 (11) Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel.
2 (12) Any persons, agencies, entities, or stakeholders that the joint committee deems
3necessary to fulfill its purposes.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may seek staff assistance and
5advice from the office of the judicial administrator for the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of
7its findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Appropriations and the House
8Committee on Judiciary not later than February 1, 2025, and that such recommendations
9shall include the following:
10 (1) An updated work point study from the National Center for State Courts.
11 (2) Data from the National Center for State Courts on district court work flow.
12 (3) The caseload data of each appellate court and district court in Louisiana.
13 (4) The number of judges in each appellate court and district court in Louisiana.
14 (5) A determination of any necessary changes to the existing structure of the
15judiciary.
16 (6) A determination of the most efficient use of judicial resources.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
18chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, the chairman of the House Committee
19on Judiciary, the chief justice of the supreme court, the chair of the Louisiana Conference
20of Court of Appeals Judges, and the president of the Louisiana District Judges Association.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that one print copy and one electronic copy of any
22report produced pursuant to this Resolution shall be submitted to the David R. Poynter
23Legislative 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 3 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Zeringue
Continues and reestablishes 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, 2025.
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HR NO. 3
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original
bill:
1. Remove the member of the Senate and the judge appointed by the president of
the Senate from the composition of the task force.
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