SLS 24RS-4032 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 142
BY SENATOR HARRIS
JUDGES. Reestablishes the Judicial Structure Task Force to study the funding and
workload of judicial district and circuit courts.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To reestablish the Judicial Structure Task Force created by House Resolution No. 30 of the
3 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
4 WHEREAS, the Judicial Structure Task Force was created by House Resolution No.
5 30 of the 2022 Regular Session to study the caseload data and the number of judges of each
6 appellate court and district court in Louisiana, to determine changes necessary to the existing
7 structure of the judiciary, and to provide the most efficient use of judicial resources; and
8 WHEREAS, House Concurrent Resolution No. 143 of the 2011 Regular Session of
9 the Legislature of Louisiana requested the supreme court to study the structure of the
10 judiciary; and
11 WHEREAS, the task force has met twelve times since its inception to determine the
12 efficient methodology and approach for the district courts weighted caseload study; and
13 WHEREAS, the National Center for State Courts developed a work point study to
14 assess the workload of district and appellate courts throughout the state; and
15 WHEREAS, an updated work point study is needed to accurately assess the structure
16 and workload of the judiciary; and
17 WHEREAS, the release of the detailed 2020 federal decennial census data on August
18 12, 2021, revealed serious population losses in some parts of the state and tremendous
Page 1 of 5 SR NO. 142
SLS 24RS-4032 ORIGINAL
1 population growth in other parts of the state; and
2 WHEREAS, as population shifts from some areas of this state to others, it would be
3 prudent to examine the caseload data from each court in the state of Louisiana to determine
4 if the judicial resources are being used in the most efficient manner possible; and
5 WHEREAS, population and demographic changes in the state of Louisiana provide
6 a reassessment opportunity to determine if reallocation of judicial resources may be needed;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, it is of utmost importance to consider the case filing data, case weights,
9 court structure and finance, and the use of support personnel in order to establish proper
10 funding and distribution of such funds to the courts; and
11 WHEREAS, the legislature will be unable to appropriate such funds as are necessary
12 for the judicial system without receiving proper and sufficient data to support such an
13 appropriation; and
14 WHEREAS, it is also necessary to study the territorial boundaries and the
15 jurisdictional limits of each court.
16 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
17 does hereby continue the Judicial Structure Task Force to study the funding and workload
18 of judicial districts and circuits, and to propose recommendations with specific proposals for
19 legislation, by written report to the Senate and to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research
20 Library as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772, no later than February 1, 2025.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force's study include consideration of
22 the caseload data and the number of judges of each appellate court and district court in
23 Louisiana and provide the most efficient use of judicial resources.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
25 following members:
26 (1) Three members of the House Committee on Appropriations appointed by the
27 speaker of the House of Representatives.
28 (2) Three members of the House Committee on Judiciary appointed by the speaker
29 of the House of Representatives.
30 (3) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
Page 2 of 5 SR NO. 142
SLS 24RS-4032 ORIGINAL
1 House of Representatives.
2 (4) The chief justice of the Supreme Court, or his designee.
3 (5) The chair of the Louisiana Conference of Court of Appeals Judges, or his
4 designee.
5 (6) Two judges, at least one of whom serves in a judicial district composed of two
6 or more parishes, who are members of the Louisiana District Judges Association selected
7 by the president of the association.
8 (7) One judge who is a member of the Louisiana Judicial Council of the National Bar
9 Association.
10 (8) Four members of the Senate and one judge appointed by the president of the
11 Senate.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall have all powers otherwise
13 provided by law and by rules of the Senate, as well as all powers inherent in legislative
14 committees, and that the legislative members shall receive the per diem and mileage
15 authorized by law and in accordance with the rules of the member's house of the legislature.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a member of the Senate on the task force
17 designated by the president of the Senate shall serve as the chairman of the task force and
18 that the members of the task force shall select any other officers it deems necessary from
19 among its members at the first meeting of the task force.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the task force shall cause notice
21 of each meeting of the task force to be provided to the president of the Senate and the
22 chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana directs
24 the task force to solicit input, information, data, recommendations, and advice from the
25 following persons, agencies, and organizations in connection with the study directed by this
26 Resolution:
27 (1)Louisiana Supreme Court.
28 (2)Louisiana District Judges Association.
29 (3)Louisiana Clerks of Court Association.
30 (4)Louisiana District Attorneys Association.
Page 3 of 5 SR NO. 142
SLS 24RS-4032 ORIGINAL
1 (5)Office of the state public defender.
2 (6)Louisiana State Bar Association.
3 (7)Louisiana Association for Justice.
4 (8)National Center for State Courts.
5 (9)Louisiana Association of Business & Industry.
6 (10)Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
7 (11)Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel.
8 (12)Any persons, agencies, entities, or stakeholders that the joint committee
9 deems necessary to fulfill its purposes.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may seek staff assistance and
11 advice from the office of the judicial administrator for the Louisiana Supreme Court.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of
13 its findings and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Finance not later than
14 February 1, 2025, and that such recommendations shall include the following:
15 (1)An updated work point study from the National Center for State Courts.
16 (2)Data from the National Center for State Courts on district court work flow.
17 (3)The caseload data of each appellate court and district court in Louisiana.
18 (4)The number of judges in each appellate court and district court in Louisiana.
19 (5)A determination of any necessary changes to the existing structure of the
20 judiciary.
21 (6)A determination of the most efficient use of judicial resources.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
23 chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, the president of the Senate, the chief justice
24 of the Louisiana Supreme Court, the chair of the Louisiana Conference of Court of Appeals
25 Judges, and the president of the Louisiana District Judges Association.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that one print copy and one electronic copy of any
27 report produced pursuant to this Resolution shall be submitted to the David R. Poynter
28 Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:772.
Page 4 of 5 SR NO. 142
SLS 24RS-4032 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Hanna Gettys.
DIGEST
SR 142 Original 2024 Regular Session Harris
Reestablishes the Judicial Structure Task Force to study the funding and workload of judicial
district and circuit courts.
Page 5 of 5