Court records in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, are maintained by the Clerk of Court for the 14th Judicial District Court. CalcasieuParishCourt.org can help you find publicly available court record information. You can also access records through the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court's website, the clerk's online search services portal, and by visiting or contacting the clerk's office directly. Additional government resources at the state and federal level provide supplemental record access.
Calcasieu Parish Court System Overview
Calcasieu Parish is served by the 14th Judicial District Court of Louisiana. This district covers Calcasieu Parish exclusively. The 14th JDC is a court of general jurisdiction, meaning it handles criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and probate matters. The Clerk of Court, currently H. Lynn Jones II, serves as the custodian of all court records filed in the district. Louisiana's judicial branch includes 43 district courts statewide, and the 14th JDC is one of the busier courts in southwest Louisiana. Appeals from the 14th JDC go to the Third Circuit Court of Appeal.
Courts Serving Calcasieu Parish
Several courts at the state and federal level serve Calcasieu Parish residents:
14th Judicial District Court (State District Court)
Lake Charles City Court
Sulphur City Court
DeQuincy City Court
U.S. District Court — Western District of Louisiana (Lake Charles Division)
Calcasieu Parish falls within the Western District of Louisiana. Federal bankruptcy cases for this area are also handled through the Western District.
What Types of Cases Calcasieu Parish Courts Hear
Courts serving Calcasieu Parish handle a wide range of case types. The 14th Judicial District Court has general jurisdiction over most matters, while city courts handle lesser offenses and smaller civil disputes within their municipal boundaries.
- Felony criminal cases
- Misdemeanor criminal cases
- Traffic violations and infractions
- Civil litigation (contract disputes, personal injury, property matters)
- Small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders
- Probate — successions (estates), guardianships, interdictions (conservatorships)
- Juvenile delinquency and child-in-need-of-care proceedings
- Adoptions
- DUI/DWI cases
District Court Cases in Calcasieu Parish
The 14th Judicial District Court hears all felony criminal prosecutions in Calcasieu Parish, from arraignment through trial and sentencing. Civil cases with no dollar-amount limitation are filed here, including tort claims, contract disputes, and property matters. The district court also handles appeals from city courts within the parish. Cases are assigned to one of several divisions, each presided over by an elected district judge. Post-conviction relief motions and habeas corpus petitions are also filed in this court. Criminal cases typically begin when the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney files a bill of information or obtains a grand jury indictment.
Magistrate Court Cases in Calcasieu Parish
Louisiana does not use a separate "magistrate court" system in the same way some other states do. In Calcasieu Parish, the city courts — Lake Charles City Court, Sulphur City Court, and DeQuincy City Court — handle many of the functions that magistrate courts perform elsewhere:
- Misdemeanor criminal cases occurring within city limits
- Traffic violations
- DUI/DWI arraignments and cases
- Civil cases up to $50,000 (for Lake Charles City Court, the largest city court in the parish)
- Small claims up to $5,000
- Evictions and landlord-tenant disputes
Felony preliminary appearances and bond hearings in Calcasieu Parish are typically handled by duty judges or commissioners within the 14th JDC. Jurisdictional dollar limits for city courts vary; check with the specific city court for its current civil limits.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Calcasieu Parish
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protective orders, and termination of parental rights are all heard by the 14th Judicial District Court. Louisiana is a community property state, so property division in divorce follows specific statutory rules. Certified copies of divorce records can be obtained from the Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce was granted.
Probate (Successions)
Louisiana uses the term "succession" rather than "probate." The 14th JDC handles all succession proceedings, interdictions (the Louisiana equivalent of guardianship/conservatorship), and trust matters for Calcasieu Parish. Succession filings are recorded through the Civil Records Department of the Clerk of Court.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency cases and child-in-need-of-care (CINC) proceedings are heard in the juvenile division of the 14th JDC. Juvenile court records are confidential under Louisiana law and are not available to the general public. Adoption records are also sealed.
How Cases Move Through the Calcasieu Parish Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest or the filing of a bill of information or grand jury indictment by the District Attorney. Civil cases start when a plaintiff files a petition with the Clerk of Court. Family law matters begin with a petition (e.g., petition for divorce, custody, or protection order).
- Assignment to Judge: Cases are allotted to a division of the 14th JDC. Each division is presided over by an elected district judge.
- Initial Hearings: In criminal cases, the defendant is arraigned and enters a plea. In civil cases, a scheduling conference or rule date is typically set.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Discovery, motions, and plea negotiations (criminal) or settlement discussions (civil) take place. Pre-trial conferences may be held.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to a jury or bench trial, or are resolved through a guilty plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases may involve sentencing, probation, or appeals. Civil cases may require enforcement of judgments or appeals to the Third Circuit Court of Appeal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Calcasieu Parish
The 14th Judicial District Court is administered by its judges, with an administrative judge overseeing court operations. The Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court's office handles record-keeping, filings, and public access to court documents.
Public Access to Records
Under Louisiana's Public Records Act (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.), most court records are generally open to the public. Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed records, expunged records, and certain adoption files. The Clerk of Court's Criminal Records Department handles expungement inquiries and can explain which records have been removed from public view.
Attending Hearings
Court proceedings at the 14th JDC are generally open to the public. Visitors should check the court docket for scheduling. Contact the Clerk of Court's office for information about any remote hearing options that may be available for specific case types.
Contact
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Calcasieu Parish
- Online Court Record Search: The Clerk of Court offers an eSearch portal where registered users can look up criminal records, purchase document images, and search case indexes. For civil records, the clerk directs users to the Clerk Connect system via the Online Search Services page.
- Court Dockets: Current court dockets are posted on the Calcasieu Clerk of Court website.
- Civil Records: The Civil Records Department maintains filings for lawsuits, successions, conveyances, mortgages, and other civil matters.
- Criminal Records: The Criminal Records Department maintains criminal case files and handles record expungement requests for the 14th JDC.
- Background Checks: The Louisiana State Police offers an Internet Background Check system for statewide criminal history searches, available for a fee pursuant to La. R.S. 15:587.
- Inmate Information: The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office inmate roster provides current jail booking information. For individuals in state custody, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections offender search is available online.
- Corrections Public Records: Written public records requests to the Louisiana Department of Corrections can be submitted through the DPSC public information office.
- Property Records: The Calcasieu Parish GIS interactive property map allows users to search property data, which can be useful alongside court records involving real estate disputes or liens.
- Parish Information: The State of Louisiana's Calcasieu Parish page provides links to local government contacts, vital records, and other parish-level resources.