In Louisiana, landlords often have a choice of where to file an eviction case. Evictions can be handled in District Courts, but most are filed in Justice of the Peace Courts instead. These courts are smaller and more informal, with fewer rules and safeguards than traditional courts and looser standards for evidence. Unlike sworn judges in traditional courts, Justices of the Peace don’t need legal experience or a law degree to be elected to the position. A few states have similar systems for evictions, but Louisiana is the only state that allows justices to add to their own salaries and supplement court operating costs using eviction fees. 

A recent lawsuit, filed in February of 2025, alleges that this system is unconstitutional, and they may have precedent: Mississippi used to allow something similar, but a federal court struck down the practice in 1981 as a violation of due process rights (these rights make sure the government follows fair legal procedures). The Southern Poverty Law Center, who represents a tenant evicted through this system, says these rules create a clear incentive for justices to rule in favor of landlords and bring more eviction cases, putting renters at a disadvantage. Tenants facing eviction in Justice of the Peace Courts also have fewer due process protections and rights to appeal than those facing eviction in District Courts; the lawsuit alleges that these differences are a violation of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, which says that everyone is entitled to equal protection under the law. While this lawsuit is still being decided, the case highlights the power these local officials hold over renters and in their communities.

Sources: Bolts Magazine; LA Illuminator; the Southern Poverty Law Center; the National Constitution Center on due process rights; the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Term limits: none (age limits apply); terms are six years

Eligibility: to run for District Court Judge, you must be eligible to vote in Louisiana, under 70 years old, have been admitted to practice law in Louisiana for at least 8 years, and must have lived in the district you want to represent for at least 1 year. 

District Courts are Louisiana’s courts of general jurisdiction. Unless a case has some special circumstances that mean it has to go to a specific court (for example, if the parish has a Juvenile Court and the case involves minors), it will go to a District Court first. District Court Judges hear all kinds of cases, both civil and criminal, including serious felonies. Most District Courts have multiple judges – the exact number depends on how many cases are filed in your area. Find your District Court district here.

Sources: the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Qualifications of Candidates guide; the Louisiana Constitution; the Louisiana State Bar Association

Term limits: none; terms are six years

Eligibility: to run for Justice of the Peace, you must be eligible to vote in Louisiana, a resident of the ward and district you want to represent, and be able to read and write in English. Unlike other judges, Justices of the Peace don’t need legal training or experience, but they do need a high school diploma or equivalent. The law also specifies that they must be of “good moral character.”

There are over 400 Justice of the Peace Courts in Louisiana – they are established everywhere in the state except areas that have City Courts. Justices of the Peace are elected by ward and district (find yours here). These courts handle small or low-level civil cases only, nothing large enough to need a jury trial. Justices of the Peace don’t need legal training or experience; they’re not sworn judges, and many are part-time. Their responsibilities are:

• Small claims cases
  Usually when the value of what’s at stake is less than $5,000
• Property issues
  Including disputes over titles, landlord-tenant disputes and evictions – this is the area where JPs have the most power. They can collect fees associated with evictions, and tenants have no right to appeal evictions that occur in JP courts; instead they’d need to seek a new trial. 
• Marriages
  Justices of the Peace can perform marriages, but can’t oversee any family law-related cases
• Limited judicial powers, but more informal court rules
  Justices of the Peace can take testimony, summon witnesses, and admit evidence. Evidence rules are more relaxed in Justice of the Peace Courts – almost anything relevant can be included, even hearsay, as long as the justice decides it’s reliable. There are also fewer due process protections and rights to appeal outcomes from these courts. This means justices have a lot of discretion.

Sources: the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Qualifications of Candidates guide; Louisiana Revised Statutes; Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure; the Louisiana State Bar Association

Term limits: none (age limits apply); terms are six years in most cities, but four years in Baton Rouge

Eligibility: to run for City Judge, you must be eligible to vote in Louisiana, under 70 years old, have been admitted to practice law in Louisiana for at least 5 years, and must have lived in the area you want to represent for at least 2 years. 

There are 48 City Courts in Louisiana, located in larger cities like Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and New Orleans (which has two). These areas have larger populations and higher caseloads, so City Courts take on lower-level cases to take some pressure off the area’s other courts. City Judges see a variety of cases:

• Smaller civil cases
  Usually involving $15,000-50,000, but limits vary by city – some City Courts deal with small claims cases as well, or have lower dollar limits. In Orleans, City Courts deal with small claims (up to $5,000) and other civil cases up to $25,000
• Evictions and landlord-tenant disputes
• Lower-level criminal cases
  Usually misdemeanors, except in Orleans – Orleans City Courts don’t deal with criminal cases
• Juvenile cases
  Unless the area has a separate Juvenile Court

Sources: the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Qualifications of Candidates guide; Louisiana Revised Statutes; the Louisiana State Bar Association; Orleans City Courts

Term limits: none (age limits apply); terms are six years

Eligibility: to run for Civil District Court Judge, you must be eligible to vote in Louisiana, under 70 years old, have been admitted to practice law in Louisiana for at least 8 years, and must have lived in the district you want to represent for at least 1 year. 

Orleans parish has more cases to deal with than courts in the rest of the state, so it divides its District Court system into Civil and Criminal sections. Civil District Court Judges hear civil and domestic cases only:

• Civil cases
  Including cases where one person sues another for damages, employment cases, and cases where any amount of money is disputed
• Small claims appeals
  Reviewing cases where smaller amounts are in dispute (usually under $100), and one side has challenged the outcome
• Domestic matters
  Including divorces, custody disputes, and disagreements over wills and inheritance

Sources: the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Qualifications of Candidates guide; the Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 13, Section 1136 and 1137; the Louisiana State Bar Association

Term limits: none (age limits apply); terms are six years

Eligibility: to run for Criminal District Court Judge, you must be eligible to vote in Louisiana, under 70 years old, have been admitted to practice law in Louisiana for at least 8 years, and must have lived in the district you want to represent for at least 1 year.

Orleans parish has more cases to deal with than courts in the rest of the state, so it divides its District Court system into Civil and Criminal sections. The Orleans Criminal District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all criminal cases in the parish (except violations of traffic rules and municipal ordinances, which are handled by a separate court). This means a Criminal District Court Judge hears all kinds of criminal cases, from lower-level misdemeanors to serious felonies.

Sources: the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Qualifications of Candidates guide; Louisiana Revised Statutes; Orleans Criminal District Court

Term limits: none (age limits apply); terms are eight years

Eligibility: to run for Municipal and Traffic Court Judge, you must be eligible to vote in Louisiana, at least 30 years old (but under 70), have been admitted to practice law in Louisiana for at least 8 years, and must have lived in Orleans parish for at least 2 years. Once elected, judges can’t keep working as an attorney or have a financial stake in a law firm.

Orleans parish has a Municipal and Traffic Court with seven elected judges. These judges hear two types of cases:

• Violations of city ordinances
  These are local laws that regulate things like noise restrictions and littering
• Traffic violations
  Except for Camera Safety and Parking tickets – these go through a separate city agency

Sources: the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Qualifications of Candidates guide; Louisiana Revised Statutes; Municipal & Traffic Court of New Orleans

Term limits: none (age limits apply); terms are eight years in Orleans and six years in other parishes

Eligibility: to run for Juvenile Court Judge, you must be eligible to vote in Louisiana, under 70 years old, have been admitted to practice law in Louisiana for at least 8 years, and must have lived in the area you want to represent for at least 1 year.

A few parishes have dedicated Juvenile Courts, which handle cases involving children – they’re similar to Family Courts in other areas. A Juvenile Court Judge hears cases involving juvenile delinquency, adoptions, and sometimes other cases where the defendant is under 17. In some parishes, a Juvenile Court Judge will also handle cases of adults who are charged with contributing to juvenile delinquency, which is a crime in Louisiana. In East Baton Rouge, there’s a separate Family Court that handles adoptions and other family issues.

Sources: the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Qualifications of Candidates guide; Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:1599, 13:1621, and 14:92; the Louisiana State Bar Association

Term limits: none (age limits apply); terms are six years

Eligibility: to run for Parish Court Judge, you must be eligible to vote in Louisiana, under 70 years old, have been admitted to practice law in Louisiana for at least 8 years, and must have lived in the area you want to represent for at least 1 year. 

Ascension and Jefferson parishes have Parish Courts, which operate similarly to City Courts in other areas. Jefferson parish has two, one for each side of the Mississippi River. Parish Court Judges handle a variety of types of cases:

• Smaller civil cases, where lower amounts of money are at stake
• Evictions and landlord-tenant disputes
• Lower-level criminal cases
  Usually misdemeanors
• Traffic violations
• Juvenile cases, in Ascension parish only (Jefferson has a separate Juvenile Court)

Sources: the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Qualifications of Candidates guide;  the Louisiana State Bar Association; Ascension Parish Court; Office of the Jefferson Parish District Attorney

Term limits: none (age limits apply); terms are six years

Eligibility: to run for Family Court Judge, you must be eligible to vote in Louisiana, under 70 years old, have been admitted to practice law in Louisiana for at least 8 years, and must have lived in the area you want to represent for at least 1 year.

East Baton Rouge parish has a dedicated Family Court. Family Court Judges hear cases related to family issues, including:

• Divorces and annulments
  And related issues like community property division, spousal and child support, visitation, and custody issues
• Paternity cases
• Adoptions
• Domestic violence cases

Sources: the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Qualifications of Candidates guide; Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 13, sections 1401 and 1403; the Louisiana State Bar Association; East Baton Rouge Family Court