Calcasieu County
Established in 1840, Calcasieu Parish is located in the southwestern part of the state along the Gulf Coast. The parish spans roughly 1,064.1 square miles and has a population of about 210,770, with Lake Charles serving as its parish seat and largest city. Calcasieu Parish is known for its petrochemical industry and its role as a major economic hub in the region.
The Calcasieu Parish court system reflects Louisiana's civil law framework, influenced by French and Spanish legal traditions, which set it apart from the common law jurisdiction in other U.S. states. It comprises the District, City, Justice of the Peace, and Mayor's Courts.
The 14th Judicial District Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, such as felony crimes, property disputes, family law issues, and probate matters. It has specialized divisions based on case type. The City Courts, including Lake Charles and Sulphur City Courts, handle less serious criminal cases that do not require jury trials nor are punishable by hard labor. They also oversee certain civil disputes, misdemeanors, ordinances, and traffic violations. Calcasieu Parish Justice of the Peace Courts focus on small claims and preliminary hearings for certain criminal offenses. On the other hand, traffic and local ordinance violations fall under the jurisdiction of the Calcasieu Parish Mayor's Courts. In addition, the courts may impose fines, probation, and imprisonment.
Court records in Calcasieu Parish are generated from court filings, motions, judicial rulings, minutes, orders, and transcripts of court hearings. They include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Family Records
- Probate records
These records are managed by the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court and made accessible to the public under the Public Records Law of Louisiana to promote transparency and accountability in the judicial system. However, certain records such as personal identifiers, records of victims of crime, health, and adoption records may be redacted due to privacy concerns or to protect sensitive information. Court records can be obtained online by conducting a name-based search. On the other hand, record seekers can search docket details online by docket type and date. They can also visit the Clerk of Court's main office for court records and docket information at:
1000 Ryan Street
Lake Charles
LA 70601
Phone: (337) 437-3550
