Louisiana Court Rules (2026)
We publish 13 Louisiana rule sets totaling 4045 rules. Louisiana procedure is largely legislative rather than court-promulgated, so coverage centres on the Codes of Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure and Evidence and the Children's Code, whose provisions are cited as articles. The court-promulgated sets are the Rules of the Supreme Court, the Rules for Louisiana District Courts governing every district, family and juvenile court in the state, and the Uniform Rules of the Courts of Appeal — one set for all five circuits — together with the rules on lawyer and judicial discipline, bar admission, judicial conduct, continuing legal education and the Rules of Professional Conduct. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules.
Louisiana Court Rules & Rules of Practice
How this jurisdiction's courts and rules are organized, written for lawyers new to it: the court system, every ruleset a litigator touches, and how a case actually moves. Last verified September 24, 2026. For informational purposes only.
- Court System Overview
- The Ruleset Map
- Civil Litigation Mechanics
- Criminal Practice Mechanics
- Evidence
- Appellate Mechanics
- Rules of Professional Conduct
- Attorney Discipline & Enforcement
- Newcomer Orientation Notes
- Sources & Verification
Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure
The Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure governs civil actions in the state courts, covering jurisdiction and venue, pleadings and motions, parties, discovery, trial, judgments, appeals, and the special proceedings including executory process, possessory and petitory actions, and successions.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseLouisiana Children's Code
The Louisiana Children's Code governs proceedings involving children in the state courts, covering the legal status of children, delinquency, child in need of care, families in need of services, adoption, child support, and the termination of parental rights.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseLouisiana Code of Criminal Procedure
The Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure governs criminal prosecutions in the state courts, covering arrest and preliminary examination, bail, the institution of prosecution, motions and pleas, jury selection, trial, verdict, sentencing, appeals, and post-conviction relief.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseRules for Louisiana District Courts
The Rules for Louisiana District Courts, 204 rules in six Titles — one uniform set governing practice in every district court, family court and juvenile court in the state. Title I covers proceedings generally: construction and application of the rules, dates of court, judges and facsimile transmissions, court personnel, courtroom use and security, courtroom decorum and the conduct of attorneys, record management and fees. Title II governs civil proceedings, from pleadings and filing through discovery, alternative dispute resolution and special masters, exceptions and motions, and trials. Title III governs criminal proceedings: allotment and assignment of cases, preliminary motions, recording of proceedings, appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction, withdrawal as counsel and post-conviction relief. Title IV governs family law proceedings, including hearing officer conferences and proceedings under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. Title V governs juvenile proceedings, and Title VI governs litigation filed by inmates. Rules are cited as La. Dist. Ct. R. 9.5. The per-district Appendices, which each judicial district maintains for itself, are not included.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseRules of the Louisiana Supreme Court
The Rules of the Supreme Court of Louisiana governing practice before the Court and the administration of the state courts. Coverage runs from general filing and confidentiality requirements, fees, preparation of records, briefs, motions, assignment for oral argument and rehearings, through writ applications under Rule X, certified questions from the courts of appeal and from federal courts, substitution of parties, exhibits and the roll of attorneys. Administrative rules cover the Judicial Council and the Judiciary Commission, jury service and the general venire, capital sentence review, legislative continuances, financial disclosure by judges and by candidates for judicial office, recusal, electronic filing, and the general administrative rules for all Louisiana courts in Part G. Rules are cited as La. Sup. Ct. R. X, and a rule's sections are cited as Rule X, Section 5.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseLouisiana Code of Evidence
The Louisiana Code of Evidence governs the admissibility of evidence in the state courts, covering relevance, privileges, witnesses, opinion and expert testimony, hearsay and its exceptions, authentication, and the contents of writings and recordings.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseLouisiana Rules of Professional Conduct
The Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct govern the professional obligations of every lawyer admitted in Louisiana: competence and diligence, confidentiality of information, conflicts of interest, fees, safekeeping property and the IOLTA rules, the duties of a lawyer as advocate and as counselor, responsibilities within a firm, advertising and solicitation, and the reporting of professional misconduct. Published by the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, to which the Supreme Court of Louisiana points from its own court-rules page.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseLouisiana Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement
Supreme Court Rule XIX, the Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, together with its four appendices. Coverage runs from the authority of the Court and the structure of the Attorney Disciplinary Board and its hearing committees, through the grounds for discipline, types of sanctions, disability inactive status, and the whole course of a proceeding: the duties of disciplinary counsel, screening and investigation, formal charges, answers, discovery, hearings, the board's review, and briefing and argument in the Supreme Court. Further sections cover reciprocal discipline, discipline following criminal conviction, interim suspension for threat of harm, reinstatement and readmission, appointment of counsel to protect clients, the client assistance fund, confidentiality, immunity, subpoena powers, and the disciplinary duties of a lawyer. The appendices carry the procedural rules for the Disciplinary Board, for hearing committees and for probation monitors, and the guidelines on conduct which might warrant permanent disbarment.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseUniform Rules of Louisiana Courts of Appeal
The Uniform Rules of Louisiana Courts of Appeal, 40 rules in five parts — one set governing practice in all five circuits. Coverage runs from the court itself, its sessions and panels and the scope of review, through the practice: preparation and transmission of the record, fees and docketing, motions and pleadings, dismissal and abandonment, assignment on the calendar, the form and contents of briefs, oral argument, decisions, notice of judgment and rehearing. Separate parts govern the special appeals — administrative and election cases — writ applications, including the notice of intention, the time to file, stays and the contents of an application, and expedited procedures in certain cases involving minors. Rules are cited as La. Unif. R. Ct. App. 2-12.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseLouisiana Rules for Judicial Disciplinary Enforcement
Supreme Court Rule XXIII, governing the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana, together with the Rules of the Judiciary Commission itself. Coverage runs from the Commission's authorization, membership and powers through the complaint process: the form of complaints and self-reported misconduct, screening, preliminary inquiries and investigations, the filing of charges, answers, hearings and the taking of evidence, the Commission's recommendation to the Supreme Court, and proceedings in the Court. Further provisions cover involuntary retirement for disability, interim disqualification, confidentiality and public access, immunity, and the standards of proof. The Commission's own rules govern its sessions, attendance and quorum, subpoenas and production of evidence, the conduct of hearings, voting and polls, communications with the media, recusal and disqualification, and its budget.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseLouisiana Rules for Admission to the Bar
Supreme Court Rule XVII, governing admission to the Bar of the State of Louisiana. Coverage runs from the Committee on Bar Admissions and its duties, the requisites for admission and the application process, character and fitness, equivalency determinations, the written examination and re-examination, and review of a failure to meet the requirements. Further sections govern reciprocity, review of Part I of the state bar examination, pro hac vice admission, limited admission for in-house counsel, temporary admission of military spouse attorneys, and procedures for certain non-citizens. Separate parts set the bar admission fees, the transition rules, and the transitional rules for the in-house counsel rule.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseLouisiana Code of Judicial Conduct
The Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct, adopted by the Supreme Court and binding on every judge in the state. Its seven canons require a judge to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary; to avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities; to perform the duties of office impartially and diligently, which covers adjudicative and administrative responsibilities, disciplinary responsibilities and disqualification; to engage in quasi-judicial activities only so far as they do not cast doubt on impartiality; to regulate extra-judicial activities to minimise conflict with judicial duties; to report compensation received for such activities; and to refrain from political activity inappropriate to judicial office. The Court's commentary is included where it publishes it.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseLouisiana Rules for Continuing Legal Education
Supreme Court Rule XXX, the Rules for Continuing Legal Education. Coverage runs from the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Committee and its powers, through the scope of the requirement and the exemptions from it, the annual hours required and how they may be earned, the accreditation of activities and the computation of credit, the annual report each member must file, the consequences of noncompliance and the sanctions available, and the fees and expenses of administering the programme.
Updated 2026 Edition
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