Ruston City Court

Ruston City Court cases in Lincoln County, Ruston, LA

Ruston City Court is a city (municipal-level) court of limited jurisdiction in Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, and violations of municipal and state laws occurring within its statutorily defined territorial limits. On the civil side, it hears limited civil matters within the monetary limits set by Louisiana law, including small claims, contract disputes, and landlord-tenant evictions. The court also conducts initial appearances, arraignments, and preliminary examinations in felony matters before transfer to the appropriate district court. It does not adjudicate felony trials or most family law proceedings (e.g., divorce, custody, adoptions), which are handled by the district court.

Ruston City Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Ruston City Court

Ruston City Court serves the public by providing a local forum for lower-level criminal, traffic, and limited civil matters. Core functions include:
- Criminal/traffic: misdemeanor offenses, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations; arraignments, pretrial conferences, bench trials, sentencing, and warrants.
- Civil: small claims and other civil suits within statutory limits (e.g., contract disputes, property damage, landlord-tenant/evictions, and garnishments).
- Protective orders: accepts and hears applications for protective/restraining orders when authorized by law; otherwise refers parties to the district court.
- Case filings and records: accepts pleadings, dockets cases, schedules hearings, maintains records, and provides copies/certifications.
- Payments and compliance: processes fines/fees and manages compliance reviews and payment plans.
- Court operations: issues subpoenas/summonses, posts dockets/calendars, and offers standardized forms and procedural information to self-represented litigants.
- Jury services: no jury trials; juror services are handled by the district court.