§621.21. Twenty-First Judicial District

A. The Twenty-First Judicial District Court shall have nine judges.

B.(1) The judgeship comprising Division H shall be abolished effective midnight, December 31, 2014.

(2) There is hereby created a new judgeship effective January 1, 2015. This judge and his successors shall preside over Division J, which is hereby created for purposes of nomination, election, and subject matter. The subject matter jurisdiction of Division J is limited, under the provisions of Article V, Section 15(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to family and juvenile matters as provided by law. For purposes of this Subsection, "family matters" shall include all actions arising under Titles V and VII of Book I and Title VI of Book III of the Louisiana Civil Code, adoptions arising under the Louisiana Civil Code and the Louisiana Children's Code, actions involving protection from family violence pursuant to R.S. 46:2131 et seq., and actions for enforcement, collection of support, and paternity pursuant to R.S. 46:236.5. The jurisdiction or term of office of any other judge of the district shall not be affected or reduced by the creation of this judgeship.

(3) For the purposes of this Subsection, a vacancy shall be created by death, resignation, retirement, or any other reason.

C.(1) The judgeship comprising Division G shall be abolished effective midnight, December 31, 2014.

(2) There is hereby created a new judgeship effective January 1, 2015. The judge and his successors shall preside over Division K, which is hereby created for purposes of nomination, election, and subject matter. The subject matter jurisdiction of Division K is limited, under the provisions of Article V, Section 15(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to family and juvenile matters as provided by law. For purposes of this Subsection, "family matters" shall include all actions arising under Titles V and VII of Book I and Title VI of Book III of the Louisiana Civil Code, adoptions arising under the Louisiana Civil Code and the Louisiana Children's Code, actions involving protection from family violence pursuant to R.S. 46:2131 et seq., and actions for enforcement, collection of support, and paternity pursuant to R.S. 46:236.5. The jurisdiction or term of office of any other judge of the district shall not be affected or reduced by the creation of this judgeship.

D.(1) Should a vacancy occur prior to December 31, 2014, in Division G or H, the judges of the Twenty-First Judicial District may, by en banc order, assign and transfer all family matters as provided by law to either or both divisions wherein there is a vacancy, through December 31, 2014.

(2) For the purposes of this Subsection, a vacancy shall be created by death, resignation, retirement, or any other reason.

E. The judges and their successors created by this Section shall be elected at large and shall have jurisdiction throughout the district. The judges shall be elected for a six-year term at the congressional election held in 2014 and every sixth year thereafter.

F. The judges and their successors created by this Section shall receive the same compensation and expense allowances, payable from the same sources and in the same manner, as are provided for other judges of the Twenty-First Judicial District.

Acts 1984, No. 56, §4(A), eff. June 8, 1984; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 12, §1, eff. April 24, 1998; Acts 2007, No. 3, §1, eff. June 8, 2007; Acts 2011, No. 340, §1, eff. June 29, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 102, §1, eff. June 5, 2013.

NOTE: See Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 12, §2.