Commissioners must meet district-judge qualifications, cannot practice law, and cannot hold other incompatible work; the state and local authorities must provide quarters, pay certain expenses, and commission staff hiring needs prior judicial approval.
§712. Commissioners; qualifications; salary and benefits; restrictions on employment; quarters; supplies; equipment; employees A. A commissioner shall possess the same qualifications for office as the qualifications of a district judge. However, there shall be no requirement of prior residency within the state or district as a prerequisite to office. B. The salary of the commissioners in Section A and Section B, in addition to any supplements or emoluments otherwise provided by law, shall be ninety percent of the state-funded portion of the salary paid to a district judge per annum, such salary and related benefits to be payable in the same manner and from the same sources as the salary and benefits of a district judge. The salary of the commissioners in Section C and Section D, in addition to any supplements or emoluments otherwise provided by law, shall be ninety percent of the state-funded portion of the salary paid to a district judge per annum, such salary and related benefits to be payable from funds available to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. Commissioners shall be members of the State Employees' Retirement System. C. A commissioner shall not engage in the practice of law and may not engage in any other business, occupation, or employment inconsistent with the expeditious, proper, and impartial performance of their duties as judicial officers. Any question regarding the propriety of other business, occupation, or employment by a commissioner shall be determined by a majority of the elected judges of the district court. D. Quarters necessary for the conduct of the office of commissioner shall be provided by the governing authority of the parish of East Baton Rouge, or otherwise provided from funds available to the judges of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. The state shall provide appropriate quarters for the hearing of matters at state penal institutions and shall pay vouchered travel expenses of the commissioners and their staff incurred in connection with hearings at state penal institutions. E. Equipment, supplies, and the salaries and related benefits of employees of the offices of commissioner of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court shall be payable by the state or out of funds available to the judges of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. State funds for such purpose shall be appropriated to the Judicial Expense Fund for the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. All employees of the office of commissioner shall be hired only upon the prior approval of employment by the elected judges of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court pursuant to adopted rules or the specific order of the court, shall be in the unclassified service of the state, and shall be members of the State Employees' Retirement System. Added by Acts 1979, No. 62, §1, eff. June 22, 1979. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 169, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1980; Acts 1981, No. 636, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1986, No. 931, §1; Acts 1987, No. 599, §1; Acts 1990, No. 271, §1, eff. July 1, 1990; Acts 2001, No. 428, §1; Acts 2023, No. 229, §1. {{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1990, NO. 271, §2, FOR PAY RAISE IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS.}}