The Louisiana Supreme Court congratulates Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson as she retires on December 31, 2020, marking the culmination of over three decades as a distinguished jurist and a 26-year career on the state’s highest court.

The Louisiana Supreme Court announced that the Louisiana Supreme Court Museum will be officially named the Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Supreme Court Museum, in tribute to Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, who will retire on December 31, 2020, after over three decades as a Louisiana judge and then justice.

In honor of National Adoption Day, Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 1:00pm Orleans Parish Juvenile Court will finalize two adoptions and celebrate all adoptions finalized since last year’s Adoption Day.

Louisiana Supreme Court offices and the Supreme Court Clerk of Court’s Office will be closed Thursday, October 29, 2020

Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced the creation of the first-ever statewide Language Access Plan (LAP) for Louisiana’s courts. By a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in partnership with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), the Louisiana Supreme Court has committed to work with lower courts in the Louisiana judiciary to phase-in a language access program that will provide free language assistance services including but not limited to providing court interpreters to some 120,000 limited English proficient (LEP) individuals in all state court proceedings and operations.

The Louisiana Supreme Court announced that it has appointed retired Justice Edward Joseph Bleich as judge pro tempore of the Court of Appeal, Second Circuit, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Second Circuit Court of Appeal Chief Judge Felicia Toney Williams, effective October 1, 2020.

The Louisiana Supreme Court announced the creation of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission. The Commission, which will be a standing commission of the Court, will consist of judges from throughout the state from various levels of the judiciary who will be charged with identifying technology needs, establishing goals for implementation, devising best practices, and suggesting necessary rule changes and steps towards implementation of articulated technology goals for the judiciary.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has appointed Shreveport attorney/mediator, Don Weir, Jr., as Judge Pro Tempore of Shreveport City Court, for the period from September 16, 2020 through December 31, 2020, or until the vacancy which currently exists in that court is filled.

The Supreme Court of Louisiana, Office of the Judicial Administrator (“Court”) invites qualified individuals, public institutions, or private entities licensed in the field of clinical social work and clinical certified forensic counseling to provide research consultant and training assistance services to the Division of Children and Families-Families in Need of Services-Assistance Program. Sealed proposals with be accepted until 4:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday, September 18, 2020.

The Supreme Court of Louisiana, Office of the Judicial Administrator (“Court”) invites qualified individuals, public institutions, or private entities licensed in the field of clinical social work to provide consultant and training assistance services to the Division of Children and Families-Families in Need of Services-Assistance Program. Sealed proposals with be accepted until 4:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday, September 18, 2020.

Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Bar Admissions, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued an Order announcing modifications to the method of administering the August 24, 2020 and October 10, 2020 Louisiana Bar Exam due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson served as a featured panelist on a National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) webinar, “Bridging the Justice Gap in a Pandemic,” on July 22, 2020. The webinar served as a resource for judges on building strategies that prioritize access to justice with a commitment to safety in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Angela White-Bazile, Executive Counsel for Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, received the Hidden Figure Award from the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division during the Virtual Achievement Awards Champagne Reception on July 23, 2020.

The Louisiana Supreme Court issued an Order permitting certain “Qualified Candidates” for admission to the Louisiana State Bar to be admitted to practice without the requirement of sitting for and passing the bar examination in 2020, provided all other usual requirements for admission are met. In addition, Qualified Candidates must complete 25 hours of continuing legal education and the Louisiana State Bar Association’s “Transition Into Practice” mentoring program by December 31, 2021.

After consultation, evaluation and advice from the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions and the Deans of the Louisiana Law Schools, it has been determined that administering the Louisiana State Bar Examination on July 27 would be imprudent for health and safety reasons related to the COVID-19 virus.

The Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions jointly announce the addition of an option to take the July, 2020 and October, 2020 bar examination online.

The Louisiana Supreme Court announced the launch of a new and improved website with expanded digital technology for a more user-friendly experience across a range of devices such as laptops, desktops as well as mobile devices. The website, www.lasc.org, is used by the Court to share information of interest to Louisiana citizens. The new website also now includes a searchable page containing judicial financial disclosure statements.

The Louisiana Supreme Court and courts statewide are utilizing technology during this challenging time to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state while maintaining access to Louisiana courts. This has been a joint effort of the Supreme Court’s Information Technology (IT) department and the Louisiana District Judges Association, requiring strong, committed and compassionate leadership, and a dedicated staff of qualified professionals who are astute in their respective fields.

The year 2019 was one of highs and lows for Honorable Bernadette D’Souza, Judge, Orleans Civil District Court. She had a career-high when she took the Oath of Office to become president of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) in Los Angeles on October 19, 2019. She was honored when District of Columbia Court of Appeals Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, who administered the Oath, read a congratulatory letter expressing sentiments from longtime NAWJ member, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.

At a meeting of its general membership during the Fall Judges Conference, the Louisiana City Judges Association elected new officers for the 2019-20 term.

Proposed Supreme Court Rule Regarding Distribution of Partial Payments of Fines, Costs, and Fees