§1878. Declaration of candidates for office; determination of chief judge

A. Where a city court is composed of more than two divisions, a candidate for nomination and election to the office of judge of the city court, at the time of filing his declaration as a candidate, shall designate the division of the court for which he is a candidate. The judge oldest in point of continuous service shall be the chief judge, except that when they have served continuously the same length of time, the judge oldest in years shall be the chief judge.

B.(1) Where a city court is composed of two divisions, a candidate for nomination and election to the office of judge of the city court, at the time of filing his declaration as a candidate, shall designate the division of the court for which he is a candidate.

(2) The city court shall have a chief judge.

(a) If not selected by agreement, the chief judge shall be the judge having the longest continuous service as a judge of that city court or, if both are equal in such service, then the judge having the longest continuous service as a judge regardless of the court. In the event both judges are new or have equal continuous service as a judge, then the chief judge shall be the judge having the most years as a licensed attorney in the state of Louisiana or, if both have the same number of years, the judge oldest in age.

(b) The chief judge shall preside over meetings en banc, appoint committees, certify all documents on behalf of the court en banc, prepare the agenda for en banc meetings, represent the court in ceremonial functions, oversee all financial planning and reporting, perform duties as delegated by the court en banc, and exercise supervision of administrative functions including but not limited to the appointment of the clerk of court, deputy clerks of court, and court reporters.

(c) The chief judge shall remain in such position until his resignation or retirement. The court en banc may designate a procedure by local rule for the other judge of the city court to act as temporary chief judge if the chief judge is unable to perform his duties due to physical or medical incapacity.

Acts 1960, No. 32, §3; eff. Jan. 1, 1961; Acts 2018, No. 520, §1.