Art. 954 Jury pool; emergency sessions

When a court needs to hold an emergency session in another parish or district (called the "host jurisdiction"), this rule explains how to get jurors for that session. The district attorney has to formally ask the court for permission and give reasons why pulling jurors from the host location makes sense for the case. Both sides get a chance to argue about this request at a hearing before the judge decides.

If the judge agrees to the request, the clerk's office in the host jurisdiction handles the actual work of calling in jurors. However, the original court (the one holding the emergency session) still has to pay for everything related to those jurors. This includes the cost of summoning them and any other juror-related expenses.

In simple terms, this rule sets up a system so courts can still hold trials during emergencies, even if they need to borrow jurors from a different area. It makes sure someone (the district attorney) has to justify why this is needed, and it makes clear which court is financially responsible for the jurors brought in this way.