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RS 13:1875

§1875. Compensation of city judges; particular courts

The judges of the following city courts shall receive the salaries provided in this Section:

(1) The judge of the City Court of Abbeville shall receive an annual salary of forty-eight hundred dollars, payable monthly on his own warrant, one half of which shall be paid by the city of Abbeville, and one half by the parish of Vermilion. In addition, he shall receive the same fees as are payable to justices of the peace in all civil cases in which the amount involved does not exceed one hundred dollars, exclusive of interest, and the same fees as are payable to clerks of district courts in all other civil cases. He shall receive no fees in criminal matters, including peace bond cases.

(2) The judges of the city court of Baton Rouge shall each receive an annual salary to be determined by the city council of the city of Baton Rouge from time to time and fixed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the plan of government for the parish of East Baton Rouge and the city of Baton Rouge. Such salaries shall not be decreased during their term of office and shall be fixed at not less than ten thousand dollars per annum payable monthly.

(3) The judge of the City Court of Bunkie shall receive an annual salary of forty-two hundred dollars, payable monthly on his own warrant, one half to be paid by the city of Bunkie and one half by the parish of Avoyelles. In addition, he shall receive the same fees as are payable to justices of the peace in civil cases in which the amount involved does not exceed one hundred dollars, exclusive of interest, and the same fees as are payable to clerks of district courts in all other civil cases. He shall receive no fees in criminal matters, including peace bond cases.

(4) In addition to the compensation and fees payable to the judge of the City Court of Lafayette under the provisions of R.S. 13:1874, he shall receive as a part of the emoluments of his office for attending sessions of the city court the same fees as are allowed to a clerk of a district court under the provisions of R.S. 13:846, to be paid on his own warrant in the proportions of two-thirds by the city of Lafayette and one-third by the parish of Lafayette; and, in addition, as juvenile judge of the city of Lafayette, he shall receive an annual salary of one thousand eight hundred dollars, payable monthly on his own warrant by the city of Lafayette.

(5)(a) The judge who presides over Division "A" of the City Court of Lake Charles shall receive a minimum annual salary of seven thousand five hundred dollars payable monthly on his own warrant, one-half by the city of Lake Charles and one-half by the parish of Calcasieu. In addition, he shall receive, in civil cases, all of the same fees as are payable to the clerk of the district court for the parish of Calcasieu. He shall receive no fees in criminal matters, including peace bond cases. The city of Lake Charles and the parish of Calcasieu, or either of them, may pay such additional salary as they may from time to time deem proper; provided that the total salary of the judge shall not exceed that of a district court judge as established by law. The compensation of the judge incumbent on the effective date of this Paragraph shall not be reduced during the term for which he has been elected. Compensation shall include all civil fees as now received by the incumbent judge and such civil fees shall not be paid to the judge of Division "B" during the term of office of the incumbent judge.

(b) The judge who presides over Division "B" of the City Court of Lake Charles shall receive a minimum annual salary of seven thousand five hundred dollars payable monthly on his own warrant by the city of Lake Charles. In addition, beginning at the expiration of the initial term of office of the first person elected to preside over Division "B" he shall receive, in civil cases, the same fees as are payable to the clerk of the district court for the parish of Calcasieu; provided, however, that during said initial term of office he shall not receive any such fees. He shall receive no fees in criminal matters, including peace bond cases. The city of Lake Charles may pay such additional salary as it may from time to time deem proper; provided that the total salary of the judge shall not exceed that of a district court judge as established by law.

(6) The judge of the City Court of Morgan City shall receive a salary of thirty-six thousand dollars per annum, payable monthly on his own warrant, one-half to be paid by the parish council of the parish of St. Mary and one-half to be paid by the municipal corporation of the mayor and councilmen of Morgan City. In addition he shall receive, in civil cases, the same fees as clerks of district courts. He shall receive no fees in criminal matters, including peace bond cases.

(7)(a) The judges of the City Court of Shreveport shall receive the same salary and expenses as provided for district court judges, payable monthly on their respective warrants. The state shall pay that portion of the salary specified by R.S. 13:1874(E). The city of Shreveport shall pay the remaining portion of the salary and expenses in an amount sufficient to equal the salary and expenses of the district court judges.

(b) In addition to the salary specified by R.S. 13:1874(E) to be paid by the state of Louisiana to the judges of the City Court of Shreveport, the state shall pay to such judges an annual salary of six thousand eight hundred eleven dollars. In addition to the salary paid such judges by the state, they shall be paid an annual salary of twelve thousand dollars payable monthly on their respective warrants by the city of Shreveport, and the governing authority of the city of Shreveport shall pay such additional salary as they deem proper.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the judges of the City Court of Shreveport shall not engage in the practice of law, except any judge may serve as the attorney member on a medical review panel pursuant to R.S. 40:1231.8 or 1237.2.

(8) The judge of the City Court of Sulphur shall receive an annual salary of not less than six thousand dollars payable on his own warrant, one half by the city of Sulphur and one half by the parish of Calcasieu. In addition, he shall receive in civil cases the same fees as are payable to the clerk of the district court for the parish of Calcasieu. He shall receive no fees in criminal matters, including peace bond cases. The city of Sulphur and the parish of Calcasieu, or either of them, may pay to the city judge any additional salary they may deem proper.

(9)(a) The judge of the city court of West Monroe shall receive a minimum salary of one thousand five hundred thirty dollars per month payable on his own warrant, not less than one thousand two hundred thirty dollars payable by the city of West Monroe and not less than three hundred dollars by the parish of Ouachita.

(b) In addition, he shall receive in civil cases the same fees as clerks of the district courts.

(d) The city of West Monroe, the parish of Ouachita or either of them may pay to the city judge such additional salary as it may deem proper without further legislative authority.

(10)(a) In lieu of the salary specified by R.S. 13:1874(E) to be paid by the state of Louisiana to the judges of the City Court of Monroe, the state shall pay to such judges an annual salary of twenty-three thousand seven hundred seventy-seven dollars.

(b) In addition to the salary paid such judges by the state, they shall be paid one thousand eighty dollars monthly by the city of Monroe, and four hundred thirty-two dollars monthly by the parish of Ouachita. The judges shall receive no fees whatever in civil matters. Civil fees shall be assessed litigants in civil matters for the services of the judge in accordance with the civil fee bill of clerks of district courts, and all of such civil fees shall be deposited monthly by the clerk of the City Court of Monroe in the general fund of the city of Monroe. Criminal and peace bond matters shall be without fees. For performing the marriage ceremony a fee may be assessed the principals as additional compensation for the judge. The city of Monroe and the parish of Ouachita, or either of them, may increase the monthly salary of the judges payable by them without further legislative authority.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, the judges of the City Court of Monroe are prohibited from engaging in the practice of law, except any judge may serve as the attorney member of a medical review panel pursuant to R.S. 40:1231.8 or 1237.2.

(11) The judge of the City Court of New Iberia shall receive an annual salary of twelve thousand dollars payable monthly on his own warrant by the city of New Iberia, and the governing authority of the city may pay him such additional salary as it deems proper. In addition to his salary or salaries, he shall also receive the same fees as are payable to justices of the peace in all civil cases where the amount involved does not exceed one hundred dollars, exclusive of interest, and the same fees as are payable to clerks of district courts in all other civil cases. He shall not receive any fees in criminal matters, including peace bond cases.

(12)(a) In addition to the salary paid the judge of the city court of Alexandria by the state in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 13:1874(E), the judge shall be paid by the city of Alexandria and the parish of Rapides, in equal proportions, an amount sufficient to make the total annual salary of the judge an amount equal to one thousand dollars less than the salary paid to the judges of the Ninth Judicial District Court. The governing authority of the city of Alexandria and of the parish of Rapides, or either of them, may increase the salary of the city judge payable by each without further legislative authority; however, the total salary of the judge from all sources shall not exceed that of the district judges of the Ninth Judicial District Court.

(b) The judge shall receive no fees in civil matters. Civil fees shall be assessed against litigants in civil matters for the judge's services in accordance with the civil fee bill of the clerks of the district courts, except that criminal and peace bond matters shall be without fees.

NOTE: Subparagraph (12)(c) eff. until Jan. 1, 2024. See Acts 2023, No. 121.

(c) One-half of civil fees assessed and collected shall be transmitted, on a monthly basis, by the clerk of the city court for deposit to the general fund of the city of Alexandria and one-half thereof shall be transmitted for deposit to the general fund of the Rapides Parish Police Jury.

NOTE: Subparagraph (12)(c) eff. Jan. 1, 2024, and eff. until Jan. 1, 2026. See Acts 2023, No. 121.

(c) One-half of civil fees assessed and collected shall be used for the operational expenses of the City Court of Alexandria and one-half thereof shall be transmitted for deposit to the general fund of the Rapides Parish Police Jury.

NOTE: Subparagraph (12)(c) eff. Jan. 1, 2026. See Acts 2023, No. 121.

(d) For performing a marriage ceremony, a fee may be assessed the principals as additional compensation for the judge.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, the judge of the City Court of Alexandria is prohibited from engaging in the practice of law, except the judge may serve as the attorney member of a medical review panel pursuant to R.S. 40:1231.8 or 1237.2.

(13) Notwithstanding any other statute or provision of law to the contrary, particularly R.S. 13:1874(B), the judge of the City Court of East St. Tammany shall receive a minimum annual salary of twelve thousand nine hundred twenty-nine dollars payable monthly on his own warrant by the city of Slidell, and a minimum annual salary of three thousand six hundred dollars payable monthly on his own warrant by the parish of St. Tammany. The state shall pay the salary specified by R.S. 13:1874(E). In addition, he shall also receive the same fees as are payable to justices of the peace in all civil cases where the amount involved does not exceed one hundred dollars, exclusive of interest, and the same fees as are payable to clerks of district courts in all other civil cases. He shall not receive any fees in criminal matters, including peace bond cases. The city of Slidell and the parish of St. Tammany, or either of them, may pay such additional salary as they may from time to time deem proper.

(14) Any judge of the City Court of Houma is prohibited from engaging in the practice of law.

Acts 1960, No. 32, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1961; Amended by Acts 1960, No. 22, §1; Acts 1960, No. 513, §1; Acts 1963, No. 70, §1; Acts 1964, No. 206, §1; Acts 1966, No. 156, §1; Acts 1967, No. 111, §1; Acts 1968, No. 392, §1; Acts 1970, No. 57, §1; Acts 1973, No. 108, §1; Acts 1974, No. 365, §1; Acts 1975, No. 742, §2, eff. July 1, 1975; Acts 1975, No. 825, §2, eff. July 1, 1975; Acts 1977, No. 393, §2, eff. July 1, 1978; Acts 1977, No. 616, §2; Acts 1978, No. 107, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1979; Acts 1978, No. 640, §1; Acts 1979, No. 236, §2, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1979, No. 662, §1; Acts 1979, No. 742, §1; Acts 1980, No. 169, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1980; Acts 1981, No. 636, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 589, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1983. Acts 1984, No. 704, §1; Acts 1990, No. 8, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1990, No. 271, §1, eff. July 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 471, §1, eff. July 18, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 53, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 144, §1; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 66, §1; Acts 2006, No. 286, §1; Acts 2020, No. 205, §1, eff. June 11, 2020; Acts 2022, No. 162, §1; Acts 2023, No. 121, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2024; Acts 2023, No. 121, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.