Vernon County
Vernon Parish was established in 1871 and named after George Washington's former home, Mount Vernon. The parish is Louisiana's largest county by land, covering a land area of approximately 1,327 square miles. As of 2022, Vernon Parish is home to 48,452 residents, and its parish seat is the City of Leesville.
Vernon Parish has four trial courts, including the District, City, Justice of The Peace, and Mayor's Courts. The District Court in Vernon Parish is also Louisiana's 30th Judicial District Court. It hears appeals from lower courts and presides over all civil and criminal trials that are not exclusive to other courts in the parish. The City Court in Vernon County deals with misdemeanors, ordinance & traffic violations, and civil disputes where the amount involved is $20,000 or less. Small claims for up to $3,000 and landlord-tenant disputes are also within the jurisdiction of Vernon Parish's City Court.
Vernon County has eight Justices of The Peace Courts. These courts resolve civil cases of not more than $5,000. They also conduct felony and misdemeanor preliminary hearings to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial in higher courts. Meanwhile, the Mayor's Courts typically adjudicate municipal ordinance violations, such as jaywalking, noise complaints, and parking infractions.
Vernon Parish public court records are official records created by the Vernon Parish Clerk of Court during legal proceedings. These records contain information about court dockets, case filings, motions, judgments, and trial transcripts. According to the Louisiana Public Records Act, the public should have access to the following court documents in Vernon Parish:
- Criminal court records
- Real estate records
- Family law records
- Civil records
Confidential court records containing juvenile, adoption, sensitive victim and witness information, and mental health documents are exempted from the state law. This means that only record owners, their legal representatives, and other authorized individuals can obtain copies of confidential court records in Vernon County. To obtain public court records, interested persons should complete and submit the Copy Request Form via mail to:
Vernon Parish Clerk of Court
P.O. Box 40
Leesville, LA 71496
Phone: (337) 238-1384
Vernon County court records are also accessible online through the Louisiana eClerks tool. Users can search for records by case number, party name, or hearing date.
