§621.21. Twenty-First Judicial District

            A. The Twenty-First Judicial District Court shall have ten judges.

            B.(1) The judgeship comprising Division H shall be abolished effective midnight, December 31, 2014.

            (2) There is hereby created a new judgeship effective January 1, 2015. This judge and his successors shall preside over Division J, which is hereby created for purposes of nomination, election, and subject matter. The subject matter jurisdiction of Division J is limited, under the provisions of Article V, Section 15(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to family and juvenile matters as provided by law. For purposes of this Subsection, "family matters" shall include all actions arising under Titles V and VII of Book I and Title VI of Book III of the Louisiana Civil Code, adoptions arising under the Louisiana Civil Code and the Louisiana Children's Code, actions involving protection from family violence pursuant to R.S. 46:2131 et seq., and actions for enforcement, collection of support, and paternity pursuant to R.S. 46:236.5. The jurisdiction or term of office of any other judge of the district shall not be affected or reduced by the creation of this judgeship.

            (3) For the purposes of this Subsection, a vacancy shall be created by death, resignation, retirement, or any other reason.

            C.(1) The judgeship comprising Division G shall be abolished effective midnight, December 31, 2014.

            (2) There is hereby created a new judgeship effective January 1, 2015. The judge and his successors shall preside over Division K, which is hereby created for purposes of nomination, election, and subject matter. The subject matter jurisdiction of Division K is limited, under the provisions of Article V, Section 15(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to family and juvenile matters as provided by law. For purposes of this Subsection, "family matters" shall include all actions arising under Titles V and VII of Book I and Title VI of Book III of the Louisiana Civil Code, adoptions arising under the Louisiana Civil Code and the Louisiana Children's Code, actions involving protection from family violence pursuant to R.S. 46:2131 et seq., and actions for enforcement, collection of support, and paternity pursuant to R.S. 46:236.5. The jurisdiction or term of office of any other judge of the district shall not be affected or reduced by the creation of this judgeship.

            (3)(a) There is hereby recognized an additional district judgeship for the Twenty-First Judicial District for the parishes of Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa. The additional judge herein provided for and his successors shall preside over Division I, which is hereby recognized for purposes of nomination and election only. The additional judge and his successors shall be elected at large and shall have jurisdiction throughout the district. The subject matter jurisdiction of Division I is limited, under the provisions of Article V, Section 15(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to juvenile matters, as provided by law, including cases arising under the Children's Code, and under R.S. 46:236.1.1 et seq. The additional judge and his successors shall receive the same compensation and expense allowances, payable from the same sources and in the same manner, as are now or may hereafter be provided for other judges of the district.

            (b) The individual to be elected to the additional judgeship created by this Paragraph for the Twenty-First Judicial District shall be elected as provided by Article V, Section 22 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and shall serve a term which shall begin on January 1, 2009, and which shall expire at the same time as is provided by law for the other judges of the court. Thereafter, the successors to the judge provided for in this Paragraph for the Twenty-First Judicial District shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner and shall serve the same term as is now or may be provided hereafter for other judges of the court.

            (c) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not reduce the term of office of any judge of the Twenty-First Judicial District Court.

            D.(1) Should a vacancy occur prior to December 31, 2014, in Division G or H, the judges of the Twenty-First Judicial District may, by en banc order, assign and transfer all family matters as provided by law to either or both divisions wherein there is a vacancy, through December 31, 2014.

            (2) For the purposes of this Subsection, a vacancy shall be created by death, resignation, retirement, or any other reason.

            E. The judges and their successors created by this Section shall be elected at large and shall have jurisdiction throughout the district. The judges shall be elected for a six-year term at the congressional election held in 2014 and every sixth year thereafter.

            F. The judges and their successors created by this Section shall receive the same compensation and expense allowances, payable from the same sources and in the same manner, as are provided for other judges of the Twenty-First Judicial District.

            Acts 1984, No. 56, §4(A), eff. June 8, 1984; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 12, §1, eff. April 24, 1998; Acts 2007, No. 3, §1, eff. June 8, 2007; Acts 2011, No. 340, §1, eff. June 29, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 102, §1, eff. June 5, 2013; Acts 2021, No. 189, §1; Acts 2024, No. 496, §1.

            NOTE: See Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 12, §2.