LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ISSUES AN EMERGENCY ORDER SUSPENDING CRIMINAL MATTERS IN 21 PARISHES
New Orleans − Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that considering the state of emergency declared statewide by Governor John Bel Edwards as a result of then-Tropical Storm Laura on August 21, 2020 in Executive Proclamation Number 108 JBE 2020 and the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Laura has caused in the state, the Louisiana Supreme Court has issued an emergency Order suspending deadlines in criminal matters in 21 parishes: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Bienville, Calcasieu, Cameron, Claiborne, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides,
Sabine, Union, Vermilion, Vernon, and Winn.
The Order reads as follows:
1. Emergency suspension of time limitations. All time periods, limitations, and delays pertaining to the initiation, continuation, prosecution, defense, appeal, and post-conviction relief of any prosecution of any state or municipal criminal, juvenile, wildlife, or traffic matter within the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Bienville, Calcasieu, Cameron, Claiborne, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, Union, Vermilion, Vernon and Winn are hereby suspended for a period of 30 days commencing from August 21, 2020.
2. Prior Order. Part 2 of the Order of this Court dated September 2, 2020 suspending time limitations in Calcasieu Parish for ninety (90) days commencing on September 2, 2020 is hereby rescinded in accordance with Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 955D and replaced with the time limitation specified above. All other provisions of the September 2, 2020 Order remain in effect.
For more information visit lasc.org or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator
Trina S. Vincent at tvincent@lasc.org or (504) 310-2590.
