Orleans Parish is different from the rest of the state.
In all other parishes, elected judges handle civil and criminal cases.
In New Orleans, we have two courts, with full staffs. One does civil cases, one does criminal cases.
There are thirteen judges at criminal court, and 14 at civil court.
A proposed bill in the legislature could change that.
If lawmakers do what the governor wants during the 2026 legislative session, the civil and criminal courts will be combined, forcing all these district court judges — 27 total in New Orleans — to run for just 13 seats and handle both civil and criminal cases.
The lawmaker who wrote the bill to shrink the court system in New Orleans is Baton Rouge-based Republican state Rep. Dixon McMakin.
He says it’s all about the money.
“This governor and this Legislature have been all about efficiency and effectiveness, and if you’re a separated like this — we don’t think it’s appropriate anymore,” said McMakin.
Judges’ salaries in Louisiana are set by the state.
District court judges, like the ones at civil and criminal courts, make just over $175,000 a year.
Going from 27 to 13 would save the state millions.
“The bill tries to put New Orleans in line with every other district court in the state,” said McMakin.
Judges in larger parishes, like East Baton Rouge and Jefferson, handle both civil and criminal cases.
EBR has 15 district court judges. JP has 16.
New Orleans is the outlier with two separate courts, and the governor also says change has to happen.
“The system is broken, and ladies and gentleman, it’s time for you to right-size it,” said Gov. Jeff Landry.
But some New Orleans lawmakers say combining the courts is too much, too fast.
“It’s probably for the judge to shave some judges here and there and streamline the system, but I don’t think what they want to do is possible on the timeline they are submitting,” said state Rep. Mandie Landry.
And this measure would not require voter approval. If the Legislature passes it and the governor signs it into law, the courts in New Orleans will be changed.
This idea to combine civil and criminal courts is not new; it was hatched after Hurricane Katrina in 2006, but failed at the legislative level.
In fact, the city used to have two sheriffs — one for criminal court and one for civil court.
Those jobs were consolidated into one office 20 years ago, and voters now elect one sheriff.
McMakin says it’s time to shrink the size of courts and says a recent study shows that New Orleans has too many judges.
“This decision was based off data, not throwing something against the wall and hope it sticks,” said McMakin.
“Atomic is right, and to try and do this so quickly is beyond belief,” said Mandie Landry, who is also a practicing attorney.
The bill also calls for the juvenile court to be abolished in New Orleans and for juvenile matters to be handled by adult court judges.
New Orleans has four juvenile court judges — the most of any parish in the state.
READ MORE:Proposed bill could drastically reduce the number of judges in New Orleans. Here’s why
