Louisiana courts have the power to administer the laws of the state as laid down in the Constitution and to solve all matters that involve legal issues. The judicial power of the state's administration lies with the various courts in the state. These include the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Louisiana Court of Appeals, the parish courts, the district courts, the justice of the peace courts, the family courts, juvenile courts, and the circuit courts.
The Louisiana Supreme Court is the highest adjudicating body in the state and is at the top of the Louisiana court system. The entire district has been divided into seven different Supreme Court districts. However, these are not to be confused with the district courts of Louisiana. One judge from each of these seven districts is chosen to be a part of the judicial bench at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has the power to review the decision passed by the any of the lower courts. It is also vested with the power to make the appointments of the judges and attorneys of the family courts, municipal courts, juvenile courts and the parish courts. The Supreme Court alone has the power to take disciplinary action against state bar association members. The senior most judge of the Louisiana state court occupies the position of the chief justice of the state and is the chief administrative official state judiciary.
Next in position to the state Supreme Court is the Louisiana Court of Appeals. There is one court of appeal meant for each of the five circuit courts in the state. The circuits are further divided into three districts. The court of appeals can exercise its jurisdiction over cases that are forwarded from the juvenile and the family courts, criminal cases and civil cases. They generally do not hear new cases. The court of appeal can seek the help of the Louisiana Supreme Court over a certain legal issue.
There are a total of forty judicial districts in Louisiana. Each of these districts comprises of a parish. The district courts preside over criminal and civil cases. It has original jurisdiction over felonies and cases that involve property matters. Such civil matters are not filed in the district courts and these also include probate matters, political and civil rights and issues of succession.
The Louisiana Juvenile courts decide over cases that involve minors who have been accused of crimes like armed robbery, murder, drug peddling, kidnapping and rape. Apart from the courts, there are other offices that form a part of the judicial system. These include the parish courts, the magistrate courts, the Mayor's courts, the Justice of the Peace Courts and the City Courts.
Louisiana Court Opinions and Louisiana Court Records have been made accessible to the public through various state maintained websites. One of the most trusted sources of information as far as the Louisiana court records are concerned is PACER or the Public Access to Court Electronic Records. PACER features all information relating to different court cases, right from the day that they are filed. Each little legal proceeding finds a place in the court records. It includes a comprehensive list from which one can trace the parties involved in a legal battle, the attorneys, and the judges. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts maintains the PACER system. This means that all you need to search relevant court case details is a computer and an Internet connection. There is no need to visit the court records office in person for a document search.
