Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:851 – Criminal matters; additional costs for clerk of court’s office in the Fortieth Judicial District Court
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:851
- Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
A. In all criminal cases, including traffic offenses, of which the Fortieth Judicial District Court has jurisdiction, there shall be assessed as additional costs against every defendant who is convicted after trial or who pleads guilty or forfeits bond, the sum of ten dollars. These costs shall be in addition to all other fines, costs, or forfeitures lawfully imposed and shall be transmitted to the clerk of court in St. John the Baptist Parish for further disposition in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
B. The clerk of court shall place all sums collected or received pursuant to this Section into an account to be expended by the clerk of court for the support of the clerk of courts branch office on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The clerk of court shall cause to be conducted annually an audit of the account and the books and accounts relating thereto and shall file the audit with the office of the legislative auditor where it shall be available for public inspection.
C. The Fortieth Judicial District Court shall not assess the additional costs authorized by this Section until the local governing authority of St. John the Baptist Parish enacts an ordinance approving the assessment of these additional costs.
Acts 2003, No. 584, §1.