§5. Supreme Court; Jurisdiction; Rule-Making Power; Assignment of Judges
Section 5.(A) Supervisory Jurisdiction; Rule-Making Power; Assignment of Judges.
The supreme court has general supervisory jurisdiction over all other courts. It may establish
procedural and administrative rules not in conflict with law and may assign a sitting or
retired judge to any court. The supreme court shall have sole authority to provide by rule for
appointments of attorneys as temporary or ad hoc judges of city, municipal, traffic, parish,
juvenile, or family courts.
NOTE: Paragraph (B) eff. until ratification of the const. amend. proposed by Acts 2024, 3rd
Ex. Sess., No. 2.
(B) Original Jurisdiction. The supreme court has exclusive original jurisdiction of
disciplinary proceedings against a member of the bar.
NOTE: Paragraph (B) eff. upon ratification of the const. amend. proposed by Acts 2024, 3rd
Ex. Sess., No. 2.
(B) Original Jurisdiction. The supreme court has exclusive original jurisdiction of
disciplinary proceedings against a member of the bar and any lawyer specially admitted by
a court of this state for a particular proceeding, as well as any lawyer not admitted in this
state who practices law or renders or offers to render any legal services in this state.
(C) Scope of Review. Except as otherwise provided by this constitution, the
jurisdiction of the supreme court in civil cases extends to both law and facts. In criminal
matters, its appellate jurisdiction extends only to questions of law.
(D) Appellate Jurisdiction. In addition to other appeals provided by this constitution,
a case shall be appealable to the supreme court if (1) a law or ordinance has been declared
unconstitutional or (2) the defendant has been convicted of a capital offense and a penalty
of death actually has been imposed.
(E) Additional Jurisdiction until July 1, 1982. In addition to the provisions of
Section 5(D) and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5(D), or Sections 10(A)(3) and
10(C), the supreme court shall have exclusive appellate jurisdiction to decide criminal
appeals where the defendant has been convicted of a felony or a fine exceeding five hundred
dollars or imprisonment exceeding six months actually has been imposed, but only when an
order of appeal has been entered prior to July 1, 1982 and shall have exclusive supervisory
jurisdiction of all criminal writ applications filed prior to July 1, 1982 and of all criminal writ
applications relating to convictions and sentences imposed prior to July 1, 1982.
(F) Appellate Jurisdiction; Civil Cases; Extent. Subject to the provisions in
Paragraph (C), the supreme court has appellate jurisdiction over all issues involved in a civil
action properly before it.
Amended by Acts 1980, No. 843, §1, approved Nov. 4, 1980, eff. July 1, 1982; Acts
1987, No. 945, §1, approved Nov. 21, 1987, eff. Dec. 24, 1987; Acts 2024, 3rd Ex. Sess.,
No. 2, §1, See Act.