Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit

Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit. It is one of five intermediate appellate courts in the Louisiana state judiciary, serving the northern and western regions of the state. The court hears appeals from district courts and certain state agencies, operating under the authority of the Louisiana Constitution. Its primary seat is in Shreveport, with jurisdiction over twenty parishes.

History

The court's origins trace to the Louisiana Constitution of 1879, which reorganized the state's judiciary and created the Circuit Courts of Appeal. Initially, the Second Circuit covered a vast area of northwest Louisiana. Its early docket was dominated by cases arising from the timber industry and disputes over agricultural lands. A significant evolution occurred with the adoption of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, which restructured the appellate system and solidified the court's modern jurisdiction and composition. Throughout the 20th century, the court's caseload expanded with the growth of industries like oil and gas in the Ark-La-Tex region and the establishment of Barksdale Air Force Base.

Jurisdiction and composition

The court exercises appellate jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters appealed from the district courts within its twenty-parish territory, which includes Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish, and Ouachita Parish. It also reviews decisions from certain administrative bodies, such as the Workers' Compensation and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. The bench is composed of nine judges, who are elected from three election districts for ten-year terms. The judges elect one of their members to serve as Chief Judge, a position currently held by Jeff Cox. Panels of three judges, drawn by lot, typically hear and decide cases.

Notable cases

The court has issued rulings on significant state legal issues. In *State v. Skipper*, it grappled with evidentiary standards related to DNA evidence in a high-profile criminal appeal. The civil case *Coleman v. Denmon* involved complex questions of premises liability and set precedent for landowner duties. In *City of Shreveport v. Chanse Air, LLC*, the court interpreted municipal zoning authority and its intersection with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Another notable decision, *Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality v. d-Mon Corp.*, clarified enforcement powers under the Louisiana Environmental Quality Act.

Judges

The current judges, as of 2023, include Chief Judge Jeff Cox, along with Judges Felicia Toney Williams, Shonda D. Stone, Marcus L. Hunter, Craig O. Marcotte, James M. Stephens, Daniel E. Broussard III, Jay B. McCallum, and Jeffrey J. Victory. Judges are elected in partisan elections from the First Election District, Second Election District, and Third Election District. Former judges of note include the late Henry A. Politz, who later served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and Joe Bleich, who served as Chief Judge.

Courthouse

The court is headquartered in the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Second Circuit Courthouse located at 430 Fannin Street in downtown Shreveport. The building is a notable example of Modernist civic architecture and also houses the court's Clerk of Court and the Louisiana Second Circuit Judicial Library. The court periodically holds sessions in other locations within its circuit, such as Monroe and Ruston, to improve public access.

Category:Louisiana state courts Category:Appellate courts in the United States Category:Shreveport, Louisiana Category:1879 establishments in Louisiana