Lasc.org
Title
The Louisiana Supreme Court
Description
The judicial system of Louisiana has its roots in the colonial governments established by France and Spain. Prior to 1712, there was nothing more than the personal rule of explorers. In that year, a French charter was granted creating a Superior Council with both executive and judicial powers. In 1716, the Council was reorganized and its judicial function was as a court of last resort for all civil and criminal cases, without cost to litigants. The Senior Councilor was president of both the Council and the general trial court for the territory. Subsequently, when the Western Company became the grantee of the charter, it was authorized to appoint and remove trial court judges.
There were various modifications to the judicial system as the territory grew and as control over it changed. The most significant occurred in 1769 when control over the territory passed to Spain. The Superior Council was replaced by the Cabildo, composed of executive judicial officers called regidors and alcaldes. The alcaldes were the judges of general jurisdiction in New Orleans and were selected by the regidors, who obtained their offices by purchase. In minor cases, the judgments of the alcalde were final while appeals were heard by a three judge court composed of two regidors and the trial alcalde. Outside of New Orleans, each parish had ecclesiastical judges and military judges, aided by syndics (a magistrate or assistant at law) with the military judges exercising general trial powers. In all case, final authority was held by the Governor-Intendant.
With minor changes, this judicial structure lasted until 1802 when Spain ceded Louisiana to France. The French abolished the Cabildo but had not set up a new judicial system when, in 1803, the territory became part the United States.
Languages
English
Contact
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- New Orleans LA
- US 70130-8102
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- +1.5043102462
Additional Information
Related Domains
External Links
- Alexa: Lasc.org
