Louisiana Senate Bill SB163

Louisiana 2021 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/1/21
• Refer: 4/1/21
• Refer: 4/12/21
• Report Pass: 4/19/21
• Engrossed: 4/28/21
• Refer: 4/29/21
• Refer: 5/18/21
• Refer: 5/19/21
• Report Pass: 5/24/21

Caption

Constitutional Amendment to increase the composition of the Louisiana Supreme Court from six to eight associate justices. (2/3 - CA13s1(A)) (RE1 INCREASE GF EX See Note)

Summary

Senate Bill 163 proposes a significant amendment to the composition of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Currently, the court consists of a chief justice and six associate justices; SB163 aims to increase this number to eight associate justices, thereby enhancing the court's capacity to render judgments with a requirement that five justices must concur to make a decision. The proposed change is set to take effect on January 1, 2025, pending approval from voters in a statewide election. This bill also emphasizes that the supreme court districts should be based on population, ensuring fairness and equitable representation in judicial matters across the state. The sentiment surrounding SB163 is mostly positive among proponents who argue that it enhances judicial representation and accessibility for citizens. Supporters believe that increasing the number of justices will alleviate workloads, allowing for more thorough consideration of cases, and that population-based districting will provide equal representation for all areas of Louisiana. This perspective is rooted in the desire to modernize the judiciary in a way that reflects the state's demographic changes. However, the bill does face some contention. Critics express concern that increasing the court's size may lead to increased costs for the state and potentially more politicized judicial appointments. Furthermore, some argue that the transition to population-based districts could disrupt the current balance of political power within the judicial system. There are worries that such restructuring might favor certain geographic regions over others, thus undermining judicial impartiality. In summary, SB163 represents a significant step towards reforming the Louisiana Supreme Court by promoting a structure that is meant to be more representative of the state's population distribution. Its passage would signal a major shift in how the judiciary operates within Louisiana, but it will also require careful consideration of the implications that arise from both increased judicial capacity and the reallocation of district representation.