Title III - District Court Rules - Louisiana Supreme Court

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<style>h4 { text-align: center; } p { text-align: justify; } .indt { margin-left: 30px; } .cite { font-size: smaller; font-style: italic; } div.comment { width: 70%; margin-left: 60px; } div.comment h4 { text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1em; } </style> <h4>TITLE III</h4><h4>RULES FOR CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IN DISTRICT COURTS</h4><p style="text-align:center;"><em>Includes Amendments through May 14, 2020.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Chapter 14 Allotment of Cases</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Rule 14.0 Allotment of Cases<br />Rule 14.1 Allotment - Defendant With More than One Felony Case<br />Rule 14.2 Motions Before Allotment<br />Rule 14.3 Transfer of Allotted Case<br />Rule 14.4 Transfer When a Bond Reduction or Preliminary Hearing is Pending</p></div><p><strong>Chapter 15 Assignment of Cases and Preliminary Motions</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Rule 15.0 Assignment of Cases, Filing of Motions, Pre-Trial and Status Conferences<br />Rule 15.1 Appointment of Counsel<br />Rule 15.2 Filing and Service of Motions<br />Rule 15.3 Audio-Visual Appearances by Defendant [Repealed]	
</p></div><p><strong>Chapter 16 Recording of Proceedings</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Rule 16.0 Record of Proceedings<br />Rule 16.1 Court Reporter</p></div><p><strong>Chapter 17 Appeals from Courts of Limited Jurisdiction to District Court</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Rule 17.0 Transcript of Proceedings<br />Rule 17.1 Matters Considered on Appeal<br />Rule 17.2 Lodging of Appeal<br />Rule 17.3 Briefs<br />Rule 17.4 Allotment of Case<br />Rule 17.5 Minute Entry</p></div><p><strong>Chapter 18 Arraignment and Pleas</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Rule 18.0 Waiver of Formal Arraignment<br />Rule 18.1 Appearance by Audio-Visual Transmission</p></div><p><strong>Chapter 19 Simultaneous Peremptory Challenges</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Rule 19.0 Simultaneous Peremptory Challenges</p></div><p><strong>Chapter 20 Withdrawal as Counsel of Record</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Rule 20.0 Withdrawal of Counsel</p></div><p><strong>Chapter 21 Notice to State of Post Conviction Relief Proceedings</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Rule 21.0 Clerk Shall Notice State of Post Conviction Relief Proceedings<br /></p></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>CHAPTER 14 ALLOTMENT OF CASES</strong></p><p><strong>Rule 14.0 Allotment of Cases</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>(a) The clerk of court shall randomly allot all criminal cases, unless an exception is established by law or these Rules. The method of random allotment established by each district court, or by each parish within a district, where applicable, is described in&nbsp;<a href="/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX14.0A.pdf">Appendix 14.0A</a>. The method of randomly allotting traffic offenses prosecuted under Title 32 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, wildlife offenses prosecuted under Title 56 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, and appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction, is described in&nbsp;<a href="/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX14.0B.pdf">Appendix 14.0B</a>.</p><p>(b) In districts having a designated drug fast track court, except drug courts established pursuant to R.S. 13:5301, et seq.<em>,</em>&nbsp;all drug cases shall be allotted to the drug court. If the drug court has more than one division, the clerk shall randomly allot drug cases to the divisions of the drug court by the method described in&nbsp;<a href="/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX14.0A.pdf">Appendix 14.0A</a>.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010<em>; amended April 20, 2010, effective June 1, 2010</em>.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 14.1 Allotment - Defendant With More Than One Felony Case</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>(a) Unless a different method is set forth in&nbsp;<a href="/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX14.1.pdf">Appendix 14.1</a>, if a defendant has a felony case pending and previously allotted, any new felony arrest for that defendant shall be allotted to the division to which the pending felony was allotted. This "felonies-following-felonies" rule also applies to any pending felony arrests for a co-defendant with a new arrest and billed as a co-defendant.</p><p>(b) For purposes of this Rule, a felony case remains pending until any of the following events has occurred:</p><div class="indt"><p>(1) a bill of information or indictment is filed or amended, reducing the case to a misdemeanor;</p><p>(2) the District Attorney's Office enters a nolle prosequi in a case; or</p><p>(3) there is an adjudication of guilty by plea or trial.</p></div></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010<em>; amended April 20, 2010, effective June 1, 2010</em>.</em></p><p><strong>Rule 14.2 Motions Before Allotment</strong></p><br /><div class="indt"><p>When a motion for a preliminary examination, a motion to suppress evidence, a motion to fix or reduce bail, or any other petition or motion, including a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, is filed before the filing of an indictment or bill of information, the petition or motion shall be assigned a docket number and shall be allotted in the manner established by Rule 14.0(a), unless the case has previously been assigned a docket number and allotted.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 14.3 Transfer of Allotted Case</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Any case that has been allotted may be transferred from one division to another division for good cause, or by written consent of all parties, including the state, the defense, and the court.Consent transfers shall be by written order signed by both the transferring judge and the receiving judge.</p><p>If all parties do not consent, a show cause hearing shall be held, and the burden to show cause will be upon the moving party. The hearing shall be before a judge ad hoc, selected in the manner set forth for motions to recuse under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 675.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 14.4 Transfer When a Bond Reduction or Preliminary Hearing Is Pending</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>If, after the filing and fixing of a date and time for a bond reduction or preliminary hearing, it is discovered that the case has been improperly or inappropriately allotted and the case is to be transferred to another division, the division transferring the case shall transfer it, but only after the designated date and time of the bond reduction or preliminary examination hearing. This Rule does not prevent a judge from transferring pending motions to the proper division when a motion is improperly or inappropriately scheduled for hearing by a division for the purposes of forum shopping or when the receiving division agrees or desires to hear the motions.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>CHAPTER 15 ASSIGNMENT OF CASES AND PRELIMINARY MOTIONS</strong></p><p><strong>Rule 15.0 Assignment of Cases; Filing of Motions; Pre-Trial and Status Conferences</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>The method of scheduling pre‑trial and status conferences, and handling other pre-trial matters in criminal cases, shall be determined by each district court as set forth in&nbsp;<a href="/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX15.0.pdf">Appendix 15.0</a>.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002; amended November 3, 2004, effective January 1, 2005</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010<em>; amended April 20, 2010, effective June 1, 2010</em>.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 15.1&nbsp;<strong>Appointment of Counsel</strong></strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Each district court shall set forth a method for appointing counsel for indigent defendants. The method established by each district is described in&nbsp;<a href="/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX15.1.pdf">Appendix 15.1</a>&nbsp;to these Rules.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Formerly Rule 15.2, adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002; amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010; amended April 20, 2010, effective June 1, 2010. Renumbered Rule 15.1 and amended October 7, 2015, effective January 1, 2016.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 15.2&nbsp;<strong>Filing and Service of Motions</strong></strong></p><div class="indt"><p>All motions, ex parte or otherwise, shall be filed with the clerk of court and served on all opposing parties, except as otherwise provided by law. Service on the district attorney shall be accomplished by hand delivery or by mailing a copy to the district attorney, unless the court has adopted an alternate method of service as listed in&nbsp;<a href="/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX15.2.pdf">Appendix 15.2</a>.<br /></p><p>An indigent defendant may file ex parte motions with the allotted judge as allowed by law. Notice shall be provided to the State. The State may file an opposition to the hearing being held ex parte or to the substance of the motion. </p></div><p class="cite">Formerly Rule 15.1, adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002; amended November 3, 2004, effective January 1, 2005; amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010; amended April 20, 2010, effective June 1, 2010. Renumbered Rule 15.2 and amended October 7, 2015, effective January 1, 2016.</p><div class="comment"><h4>Comment</h4><p>See&nbsp;<em>State v. Touchet</em>, 93-2839 (La. 9/6/94); 642 So.2d 1213 and La. Code &nbsp;Crim. Proc. art. 739.</p></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 15.3 Audio-Visual Appearances by Defendant [Repealed]</strong></p><div class="comment"><h4>Historical and Statutory Notes </h4><p><em>Former Rule 15.3 (&ldquo;Audio-Visual Appearances by Defendant&rdquo;) was repealed and replaced with Rule 3.5 on May 14, 2020. The contents of former Appendix 15.3, which accompanied former Rule 15.3, may now be found in Appendix 3.5.</em></p></div><p class="cite">&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>CHAPTER 16 RECORDING OF PROCEEDINGS</strong></p><p><strong>Rule 16.0 Record of Proceedings</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>In all felony cases, and in misdemeanor cases requiring the recording of testimony, the court shall provide a method for making a verbatim record of all proceedings in open court.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 16.1 Court Reporter</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Upon request of counsel, the court reporter shall take all testimony and evidentiary hearings in misdemeanor cases.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>CHAPTER 17 APPEALS FROM COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION TO DISTRICT COURT</strong></p><p><strong>Rule 17.0 Transcript of Proceedings</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>A transcript, rather than a tape recording, of the proceedings in a court of limited jurisdiction shall be supplied to the district court on appeal.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 17.1 Matters Considered on Appeal</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>The following matters and no others shall be considered on appeal:</p><div class="indt"><p>(1) An error designated in the assignment of errors included in the record lodged with the court; or</p><p>(2) An error that is discoverable by a mere inspection of the pleadings and proceedings and without inspection of the evidence.</p></div></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 17.2 Lodging of Appeal</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>When the appeal has been lodged, the clerk of the district court shall notify the appellant or his or her counsel that the appellate record has been lodged with the court and that briefs or memoranda shall be filed within twenty days thereafter.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 17.3 Briefs</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>The appellant shall submit a brief or memorandum to the district court within twenty days of the lodging of the appeal. The prosecuting attorney of the court from which the appeal is taken shall have ten days thereafter to submit an answering brief or memorandum. The court, at its option, may decide the case on the briefs submitted or &nbsp;may set the matter for oral argument. If the appellant fails to timely file a brief, there shall be no oral argument and the assignments of error shall be considered abandoned.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 17.4 Allotment of Case</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>When lodged, the appeal shall be allotted according to the district court&rsquo;s method of random allotment.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 17.5 Minute Entry</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>Within fifteen days after the reviewing court renders judgment, the clerk of the reviewing court will mail a certified copy of the minute entry reflecting the reviewing court's judgment to:</p><div class="indt"><p>(1) the judge and the clerk of the court of limited jurisdiction; and</p><p>(2) the parties or their counsel of record.</p></div></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002; amended June 2, 2003, effective July 1, 2003.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>CHAPTER 18 ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEAS</strong></p><p><strong>Rule 18.0 Waiver of Formal Arraignment and Pleas</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>A defendant in a non‑capital felony case may waive formal arraignment and enter a plea of not guilty without appearing in person. The motion shall be in writing and shall comply substantially with the form in&nbsp;<a href="/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX18.0.pdf">Appendix 18.0</a>.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002; amended June 2, 2003, effective July 1, 2003</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010<em>; amended April 20, 2010, effective June 1, 2010</em>.</em></p><div class="comment"><h4>Comment</h4><div class="indt"><div class="indt"><p><em>See</em>&nbsp;La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 553.</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Rule 18.1 Appearance by Audio-Visual Transmission</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>The court may authorize an incarcerated defendant in a non‑capital case to appear for arraignment and enter a plea by way of simultaneous transmission through audio‑visual electronic equipment.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002.</em></p><div class="comment"><h4>Comment</h4><div class="indt"><div class="indt"><p><em>See</em>&nbsp;La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 551.</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>CHAPTER 19 SIMULTANEOUS PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES</strong></p><p><strong>Rule 19.0 Simultaneous Peremptory Challenges</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>As authorized by La. Code &nbsp;Crim. Proc. art. 788, a system of simultaneous exercise of peremptory challenges is hereby adopted for those district courts shown in&nbsp;<a href="/rules/dist.ct/COURTRULESAPPENDIX19.0.pdf">Appendix 19.0</a>. At the conclusion of the examination of prospective jurors as provided in La. Code &nbsp;Crim. Proc. art. 786, those prospective jurors who have not been excused for cause shall be tendered to the State and the defendant(s) for simultaneous exercise of peremptory challenges in writing. State and defense challenges of the same prospective juror(s) will be considered an exercise of a challenge by both the State and the defense.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010<em>; amended April 20, 2010, effective June 1, 2010</em>.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>CHAPTER 20 WITHDRAWAL AS COUNSEL OF RECORD</strong></p><p><strong>Rule 20.0 Withdrawal of Counsel</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>All motions by defense counsel to be relieved as counsel of record shall be heard contradictorily with the accused and the State present. Ex parte motions to withdraw shall only be heard for good cause shown. </p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002; amended November 3, 2004, effective January 1, 2005</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>CHAPTER 21 POST-CONVICTION RELIEF PROCEEDINGS</strong></p><p><strong>Rule 21.0 Clerk Shall Give Notice to State of Post-Conviction Relief Proceedings</strong></p><div class="indt"><p>On an application for post-conviction relief, the clerk shall give notice to all parties upon the entry of an order, ruling, or judgment. The clerk shall also give notice to the State of any order to respond to a defendant's application for post-conviction relief, and of any ruling rendered after any motion has been taken under advisement by the court.</p></div><p class="cite"><em>Adopted April 1, 2002, effective April 1, 2002</em><em>;&nbsp;amended November 20, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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