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JP-C Duties and Requirements

DUTIES

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE:
• Are elected to serve six year terms as the judicial authority of a ward or district.
• Have jurisdiction in civil matters when the amount in dispute does not exceed $5,000.
• Do not have jurisdiction when a title to real estate is involved, when the state or any political subdivision is a defendant, or in successions or probate matters.
• Can perform marriage ceremonies

CONSTABLES:
• Are elected to serve six year terms and carry out the orders of the Justice of the Peace Court.
• Serve citations ordered by the justice of the peace courts.
• Act as the enforcement officer of evictions and garnishments ordered by the JP court.

For more details about the duties of justices of the peace and constables, please reference the Justice Court Manual, the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website, and the Louisiana State Legislature’s website.


REQUIREMENTS

JP-C Training: Once elected, a justice of the peace or constable must attend the first available training course conducted by the Attorney General’s Office, then once every other year thereafter. If not in compliance, the justice of the peace or constable will not receive state and parish pay (LA R.S. 13:2589, 49:251.1).

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
• Justices of the peace must submit a yearly finance report to the Legislative Auditor. Please see the Legislative Auditor's website for more information, www.lla.state.la.us.

CONSTABLES
• All constables must submit an annual ethics disclosure report. Please see the Louisiana Board of Ethics' website for more information, www.ethics.state.la.us.
• Constables are required to submit a yearly finance report to the Legislative Auditor. Please see the Legislative Auditor’s website for more information, www.lla.state.la.us.