Courts must charge a $2.50 filing cost on initial civil filings, and certain convicted persons must be assessed an extra $2.50 special court cost.
§86. Judicial College; education account; sources of funds A. In addition to any other filing fee or cost imposed or authorized by law, the clerk of the supreme court and each city, parish, juvenile, family, district, and appellate court shall impose and collect from each party liable for court costs the additional sum of two dollars and fifty cents for the initial filing in all civil matters. B. In addition to the costs provided for in Subsection A of this Section, a person convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor, or violating an ordinance of any local government, including a traffic felony, traffic misdemeanor, or a local traffic violation, shall be assessed an additional two dollars and fifty cents as a special court cost. These costs shall be imposed by all courts, including mayor's courts and magistrate courts. C. All funds collected pursuant to this Section shall be deposited into a special account and transmitted monthly to the Louisiana Supreme Court in the manner and form specified by the supreme court provided that one-third of the total collected shall be used solely to defray the costs associated with the general growth and program improvement strategies of the Judicial College, and the remainder shall be used pursuant to the court's direction to defray the costs associated with coordinated efforts between the Judicial College and the Judiciary Commission for improved education concerning judicial ethics and best practices of the court or for other expenses of the Judiciary Commission related to the education, investigation, or enforcement of judicial ethics. The supreme court shall conduct an annual audit of the books and accounts relating to the funds collected pursuant to this Section and shall file the audit with the legislative auditor where it shall be available for public inspection. Acts 2016, No. 131, §1; Acts 2025, No. 299, §1.