TITLE VII

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

Art. 291.  Authority to conduct preliminary examinations

The following magistrates, throughout their several territorial jurisdictions, shall have authority to conduct preliminary examinations of persons accused of felonies, with authority to bail or discharge, as follows:

(1)  District courts having criminal jurisdiction, in all cases;

(2)  City or parish courts having criminal jurisdiction, in cases not capital; and

(3)  Justices of the peace in cases not capital or necessarily punishable at hard labor.