When a judge’s office becomes vacant, the supreme court must notify the governor quickly, and the governor and secretary of state must take steps to set, publish, and notify officials about a special election.
SUBPART D. OFFICE OF JUDGE §621. Vacancy in office of judge A.(1) Within twenty-four hours after having knowledge of a vacancy in the office of a judge, including a vacancy by reason of a newly created judgeship, the supreme court shall give written notice to the governor that the vacancy exists, the date on which it occurred, and the cause thereof. (2) If more than twelve months of the term remain unexpired, then within ten days after being notified of the vacancy, the governor shall determine the dates on which the special elections to fill the vacancy shall be held and the dates of the qualifying period and shall issue his proclamation ordering a special election and specifying the dates on which the primary and general elections will be held and the dates of the qualifying period for the election. However, if the deadline for issuing the proclamation falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, then the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday shall be deemed to be the final day for issuing such proclamation. (3) The governor shall call any special election to fill a newly created judgeship or a vacancy in an existing judgeship in accordance with the dates for elections set forth in R.S. 18:402, if such dates can be utilized to fill a newly created judgeship or fill a vacancy in an existing judgeship within the period of time prescribed in Article V, Section 22(B) of the Louisiana Constitution. In selecting the dates for such special elections, the governor shall first choose a gubernatorial or congressional election date; if no such date is available during the constitutionally prescribed time period, the governor shall then select another election date, as provided for in R.S. 18:402. B. Immediately after issuance of the proclamation, the secretary of state shall publish the proclamation in the official journal of each parish in which the election is to be held. Within twenty-four hours after its issuance, the governor shall send a copy of the proclamation to the secretary of state. Within twenty-four hours after he receives the copy, the secretary of state shall notify all election officials having any duty to perform in connection with a special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election supervisors for the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred. Added by Acts 1978, No. 38, §1, eff. May 31, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 792, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 778, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 152, §1, eff. as per Section 2, see note; Acts 1986, No. 669, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2022, No. 274, §1, eff. June 3, 2022.