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LA SB197

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/26/2026

Primary Sponsor

John Morris

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Reduces the total number of judges on Louisiana's Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal (New Orleans) from 12 to 8

  • Decreases first district judges from 8 to 5, and at-large judges from 2 to 1; second and third district seats remain unchanged at 1 each

  • Eliminates Divisions F, G, and H of the first district and one at-large seat currently held by Chief Judge Roland Belsome (term expires December 31, 2031)

  • Current judges may serve their full remaining terms; reductions occur through attrition with no further elections held for eliminated positions

  • Effective August 1, 2026; requires two-thirds legislative vote for passage

Legislative Description

Reduces number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. (2/3-CA5s9) (8/1/26)

COURTS

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.

3/9/2026

Committee Referrals

Judiciary A2/26/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available