Judges may create specialized court divisions, but some special procedures and limits apply for violent-crimes, homicide, and human-trafficking sections.
§587.4. District courts; specialized divisions or sections; subject matter A. Respecting seniority and the requirement that all cases be assigned randomly within multi-judge divisions or sections, the judges of any judicial district court, by rule adopted by a majority vote of the judges sitting en banc, may designate a certain division or section of the court as a specialized division or section having criminal, civil, drug court, driving while intoxicated court, human trafficking court, mental health court, misdemeanor, traffic, juvenile, violent crimes or homicides, reentry court, or other specialized subject matter jurisdiction. B.(1) If a special division or section of court is designated as a violent crimes or homicide section, the court may provide the district attorney's office the opportunity to request an expedited docket to facilitate the hearing of cases involving homicides and crimes of violence that are committed with a dangerous weapon to ensure and secure the accuracy of testimony of witnesses and as a deterrence and prevention for crimes of violence and homicides. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or court rule to the contrary, the following components shall be complied with if a court designates a division or section of court as a violent crimes or homicide division or section and grants the district attorney's request for expedited status: (a) If the district attorney requests an expedited docket, the trial court shall schedule the case for trial no later than ninety days after time has elapsed for discovery. (b) Continuances should be granted only for good cause and shall be for the shortest time practicable. C.(1) If a special division or section of court is designated as a human trafficking section, the presiding judge may be trained in issues of human trafficking and the support services available to victims. (2) All cases where a person is charged or indicted pursuant to R.S. 14:46.2, 46.3, 81.1, 81.2, 81.3, 82, 82.1, 83, 83.1, 83.2, 83.3, 83.4, 84, 85, 86, 89, 89.1, 89.2, 104, 105, 281, or 282 shall be transferred to the human trafficking section of the court. (3) If it is determined that a case involves a victim in need of services upon evaluation by the judge, and after a contradictory hearing, the following may apply: (a) The victim may be mandated to attend the appropriate support services for victims of human trafficking if available. (b) The victim shall, with consent of the district attorney, have the opportunity to be considered for a non-criminal disposition or dismissal of the case upon satisfactory compliance with mandated support services. D. No rule adopted by the court may designate any division or section, without its consent, as a specialized division or section for a longer period than three years. Acts 2009, No. 215, §1, eff. June 30, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 270, §1, eff. May 25, 2012; Acts 2014, No. 554, §1; Acts 2017, No. 131, §1.