Louisiana Court Records Search

Louisiana Court Records & Case Lookup

The Louisiana Judicial Branch handles about a million new cases annually. Criminal cases make up approximately 19% of the state's caseload, with about 199,000 cases filed every year. Similarly, about 195,000 civil cases and 72,000 domestic relations cases are filed annually. Over 50 percent of the Louisiana court system's caseload comprises traffic violations, while juvenile matters make up a very small percentage (less than three percent, or approximately 24,500 cases).

Per the state's Public Records Law (LA Revised Statutes Title 44), members of the public have the right to inspect and copy or obtain copies of any court record in Louisiana, with a few exemptions. Examples of court records that are exempt from public disclosure include adoption records, confidential settlements, juvenile records, mental health records, and any other record sealed by court order. Access to these exempt records is generally restricted to specific authorized parties.

Louisiana court records are primarily maintained at the parish level by Clerks of Court. Each parish's Clerk of Court serves as the official custodian of records of cases filed in their jurisdiction and requests for access to these records can be made directly to their offices. The state's Clerks of Court Association also provides a centralized platform that can be used to access court records online. In the same vein, some individual parishes also offer online access to court records generated within their respective jurisdictions.

State of Louisiana Court System

Louisiana's judicial branch is an extensive court system that consists of over 100 courts divided into two levels – the appellate level and the trial level.

The trial level comprises District, Family, Juvenile, City, and Parish Courts. Cases in the state are initiated in these courts and are typically heard before a judge, with or without a jury. Proceedings in the trial courts generally involve the introduction of evidence and witness testimonies before a judgment or verdict is issued. Most cases filed in Louisiana are resolved in a trial court and don't proceed to the appellate level.

The appellate level of the Louisiana Judicial Branch comprises a Supreme Court and five Courts of Appeal. Unlike the trial courts, appellate courts do not accept evidence or testimonies. Instead, they review the decisions of lower courts to establish if the law was interpreted and applied correctly. Most cases from the trial courts are appealed to a Court of Appeal, except for matters that are appealable directly to the Supreme Court, such as cases where the death penalty has been imposed or where a law/ordinance has been declared unconstitutional. The Louisiana Supreme Court is the state's highest court and ultimate authority on all legal disputes and interpretations of state law.

Louisiana Trial Courts

The Louisiana court system's trial level features two primary types of courts – trial courts of general jurisdiction and trial courts of limited jurisdiction. General jurisdiction courts have the authority to handle all types of criminal and civil matters. On the other hand, limited jurisdiction courts, like the City and Parish Courts, typically handle specific, and often less complex, types of cases.

Louisiana District Courts

The District Courts are Louisiana's trial courts of general jurisdiction. These courts have original jurisdiction over all criminal and civil matters but typically handle issues outside the scope of the other courts in their localities. These include felonies, probate matters, tort and property-related cases, domestic relations, and juvenile issues. Trials in the District Courts are usually heard by a judge and jury.

The Louisiana District Courts may also hear appeals from the City, Parish, and Mayor's Courts on matters involving local ordinances.

Louisiana Family and Juvenile Courts

Louisiana has four Juvenile Courts located in Orleans, Caddo, Jefferson, and East Baton Rouge Parishes; East Baton Rouge Parish also has a Family Court. The Juvenile Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all matters involving minors (under the age of 17) occurring in their respective jurisdictions, excluding certain felony offenses committed by 15-16-year-olds, such as aggravated rape and first-degree murder. Similarly, the East Baton Rouge Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all family law and domestic relations-related matters that occur in the parish.

Louisiana City Courts

Louisiana's City Courts are limited jurisdiction courts that handle civil cases where the amount in controversy is not more than $50,000, misdemeanors, local ordinance violations, and traffic cases.

Louisiana Parish Courts

The Parish Courts have similar jurisdiction to the City Courts; the key difference between them is that they are staffed by full-time judges. There are currently three Parish Courts in Louisiana – two in Jefferson and one in Ascension. These courts typically handle civil matters of up to $20,000 and criminal cases punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or a combination of fines and imprisonment.

Louisiana Justice of the Peace Courts

The Justice of the Peace Courts are limited jurisdiction courts that typically handle minor, non-felony criminal matters, particularly traffic and other violations, and civil matters of up to $5,000. However, these courts are not authorized to hear cases involving real estate titles, the right to public office, suites against public bodies, and divorce proceedings. Justice of the Peace Courts are generally only located in wards where a City Court doesn't exist.

Louisiana Mayor's Courts

Mayor's Courts are municipal-level limited jurisdiction courts established under Louisiana Revised Statutes 33:441 that handle ordinance and traffic violations in their respective municipalities. There are currently over 250 Mayor's Courts across the state.

What are the Specialty Courts in Louisiana?

The Drug and Specialty Courts in Louisiana are specialized court programs that focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment by offering supervised treatment programs as an alternative to traditional incarceration. These courts' primary objective is to address the root cause of criminal behavior and reduce recidivism by promoting long-term behavioral change among participants.

Louisiana currently has over 70 Drug and Specialty Courts, including:

• Adult Drug Courts
• Juvenile Drug Courts
• Family Preservation/Intervention Courts
• Reentry Courts
• Behavioral Health/Co-occurring Courts
• Sobriety/DWI Courts
• Veterans Courts

Louisiana State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

The key difference between a state court record and a federal court record in Louisiana is the source of the record in question. State court records are generated from cases in any of the courts in the Louisiana Judicial Branch and cover a broad range of matters, from felony trials to divorce and probate proceedings. On the other hand, federal court records detail cases involving federal crimes, civil disputes between parties from different states that exceed $75,000, bankruptcy filings, and cases about the U.S. Constitution. Louisiana is home to three federal trial courts:

• The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
• The United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
• The United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Additionally, appeals from these courts are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which is headquartered in New Orleans, and also covers Texas and Mississippi.

Louisiana state court records are maintained by and can be accessed through the Clerk of Court's office in the parish where the case was filed. Some state court records can also be online via the eClerks LA maintained by the Louisiana Clerks' Remote Access Authority (LCRAA). Similarly, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts maintains a Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) database on behalf of the federal judiciary; this platform can be used to access federal court records online.

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in Louisiana?

The Louisiana Public Records Law grants members of the public the right to inspect and/or obtain copies of state court records. However, this law also exempts some records from public disclosure; these exempt records are either restricted to specific authorized parties or certain information that they contain is redacted before the record is issued to the requester.

Here are examples of public and confidential court records in Louisiana:

How To Seal or Expunge Louisiana Court Records

Articles 971 to 986 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure outline the eligibility criteria and requirements for getting records expunged in the state. Unlike most other states where expungement involves the complete erasure of a record, in Louisiana, the expungement process only "seals" the record. As such, while the record is removed from public access, it is not destroyed and may still be viewed by certain government agencies.

Expungements are typically available in situations where a person was charged with a crime but did not get convicted, usually because the charges were dismissed or they were acquitted. Individuals who have been convicted of a crime may also get their records expunged if they have completed the imposed sentence and a mandatory waiting period has elapsed. Note that these individuals must remain crime-free during the waiting period. The record must also be eligible for expungement – some offenses that do not qualify for this process include:

• Sex crimes
• Stalking
• Violent offenses
• Crimes involving minors

How To Seal Court Records in Louisiana

While Louisiana only offers expungements as an option for clearing records, the process for doing this is similar to record sealing in other states and involves filing a motion to restrict public access to the record in question. As such, records that are expunged in Louisiana are considered sealed.

Note that expunged records in Louisiana may still be accessed by law enforcement, prosecution offices, and other criminal justice agencies, as well as certain licensing boards and any interested party with a valid court order.

How To Expunge Court Records in Louisiana

Individuals who wish to expunge their records in Louisiana may do so by taking the following steps:

• Gather Necessary Paperwork. This generally includes getting details like the case number, date of the arrest or conviction, agencies involved, and other pertinent details relating to the record. This information can be obtained from the clerk's office at the court that handled the case.

• Determine Eligibility. This is perhaps the most important step when looking to expunge court records in Louisiana. Certain offenses, particularly violent offenses, sex crimes, and offenses against minors are generally deemed ineligible for expungement. Likewise, expungements may only be initiated after a certain period has elapsed. This is usually five years for misdemeanors and DUI-related offenses, and 10 years for felonies. The person must also remain crime-free during the waiting period.

  On the other hand, there is no mandatory waiting period for non-convictions, and these records can be expunged at any time after the disposition.

• File a Motion to Expunge with the Appropriate Court. Once necessary information has been gathered and eligibility determined, the next step is filing a Motion to Expunge at the court that handled the case. The necessary forms for filing this motion can be obtained from the Clerk of Court's office. Filing fees are usually waived for cases that end in an acquittal or dismissal.

Once the motion has been properly filed, the court will serve a notice to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information as well as the arresting agency and district attorney's office involved in the case. These parties are allowed to object to the motion; if any of them do, the court will schedule a "contradictory hearing", where they will state their reasons for the objection.

However, if none of the notified agencies object to the motion and/or if the court grants the motion for expungement, it will issue an order and judgment to this effect. A copy of this order will also be sent to all relevant agencies, directing them to remove the record from their public databases.

How Do You Access State of Louisiana Court Records?

Louisiana court records can generally be accessed by contacting the Clerk of Court"s office at the courthouse where the case was handled. These records may also be accessed online through state-approved platforms.

Online Access to Louisiana Court Records

Most parishes in Louisiana offer online platforms through which interested parties can access records of cases filed and handled in their respective jurisdictions. The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association also provides an eClerks LA platform that can be used to conduct statewide searches for civil, family, and probate records, as well as certain criminal records. However, individuals who wish to use this platform must create a free account to fully access its features. Certain services may also require a subscription fee.

In-Person Access to State of Louisiana Court Records

Louisiana court records are managed locally by the Clerk of Court in the parish where the case was filed. Interested parties can view and obtain copies of these records by visiting the appropriate Clerk of Court's office and making a formal request. Be aware that this procedure may involve completing a request form and paying a search/copy fee.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records

Requests for judicial administrative records in Louisiana can be directed to the state's Office of the Judicial Administrator at:

When making the request, it is advisable to provide as much information as possible to enable the record custodian to quickly identify the required records.

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Louisiana

Older court records may be accessed by visiting the Clerk of Court's Office at the specific court that handled the case. In situations where the record is no longer available at this office, it is likely to have been archived with the Louisiana State Archives and may be accessed by contacting this agency. Certain court records from 1813 to 1920 may also be available at the Earl K. Long Library (at the University of New Orleans).