§15.  Courts; Retention; Jurisdiction; Judicial District Changes; Terms

Section 15.(A)  Court Retention; Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction.  The district, family, juvenile, parish, city, and magistrate courts existing on the effective date of this constitution are retained.  Subject to the limitations in Sections 16 and 21 of this Article, the legislature by law may abolish or merge trial courts of limited or specialized jurisdiction.  The legislature by law may establish trial courts of limited jurisdiction with parishwide territorial jurisdiction and subject matter jurisdiction which shall be uniform throughout the state.  Effective January 1, 2007, the legislature by law may establish new judgeships for district courts and establish the new divisions with limited or specialized jurisdiction within the territorial jurisdiction of the district court and subject matter jurisdiction over family or juvenile matters as provided by law.  The office of city marshal is continued until the city court he serves is abolished.

(B)  Judicial Districts.  The judicial districts existing on the effective date of this constitution are retained.  Subject to the limitations in Section 21 of this Article, the legislature by law may establish, divide, or merge judicial districts with approval in a referendum in each district and parish affected.

(C)  Term.  The term of a district, parish, or city court judge shall be six years.

(D)  Number of Judges.  The legislature may change the number of judges in any judicial district by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house.

Acts 2006, No. 862, §1, approved Nov. 7, 2006, eff. Jan. 1, 2007.