Bossier County
Bossier Parish was established in 1843 as part of the Shreveport-Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area. The parish is located in northwestern Louisiana, spanning approximately 839.6 square miles. It was named after Pierre Evariste John Baptist Bossier, a 19th-century Louisiana State senator, and had a population of about 128,877 people as of 2022. The parish seat is Benton, with Bossier City as its largest city.
Bossier Parish court system consists of a 26th Judicial District Court, City Courts, Justice of the Peace Courts, and Mayor's Courts. The Bossier Parish District Court, located in Benton, is the highest trial court in the parish with general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, including delinquency, abuse, mental health, adoption proceedings, child custody, divorce, and other family law matters. It has exclusive jurisdiction over felony crimes and most cases involving property. The District Court is divided into several specialized divisions based on case type. They include Civil, Criminal, Family, Juvenile, and Domestic Relations Courts. The City Court, located in Bossier City and other municipalities within the parish, has limited jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases, such as misdemeanors, city ordinances, juvenile matters, and traffic infractions. They generally handle crimes that do not require a grand jury trial. Their civil jurisdiction includes claims where there is a limit on the amount of money or property value in disputes. The Justice of the Peace Courts primarily handles preliminary hearings for most criminal cases, ordinance violations, and non-felony criminal cases. The Mayor's Courts located in various towns within Bossier Parish handle traffic and municipal ordinance violations. They also have civil jurisdiction over monetary claims.
Bossier Parish court records contain information on various court proceedings such as motions, pleading, dockets, judgments, summonses, and exhibits generated in the parish's courts. These records serve as precedents for future cases. The Clerk of Court in Bossier Parish is responsible for maintaining court records and making them accessible to interested individuals. They include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Traffic Records
- Probate Records
- Family Records
Louisiana's Public Records Law allows individuals to access non-confidential court records. The general public can access non-confidential court records at the courthouse where the cases were heard. However, certain records are confidential and may be sealed by court orders or state laws. Individuals may access records online using the Bossier Parish Clerk Connect Portal or visit the Clerk of Court's Office to request copies for a fee at:
204 Burt Blvd
Benton, LA 71006
Phone: (318) 965-2336
