Frequently Asked Questions

Public

Q: What are the courtroom rules covering appearances in the courtroom?

A: All cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off. No hats, caps, tank tops, shorts, or sunglasses are allowed. Men’s shirttails must be worn inside. No food, beverages, or gum chewing is allowed inside the courtroom.

Q: If I am called as a witness in a case, where do I go and what should I bring with me?

A: You should bring your subpoena with you and report to the Courtroom on the second floor at the appointed time listed on your subpoena. If your subpoena also requests that you bring any documents or other evidence, you should bring those items as well. 

Q: If I have a lawsuit pending in court, may I talk to the judge about it alone?

A: No. A judge cannot discuss your case without the other party or the other party’s attorney present. If you have a lawyer representing you in the case, all communication to the judge should be made through your lawyer

Q: If I want a copy of the transcript of a hearing or a trial, how can I get it and how much does it cost? 

A: You can obtain a full transcript of any hearing or trial that you were involved with by contacting the judge’s court reporter. The cost of the transcript is $2.50 per page and an estimated deposit must be paid upfront. If you want to obtain the court minutes of a particular court proceeding (which is a summary of what occurred), you should contact the clerk of court’s office for more information.

Q: Who do I call in order to have bail set in a criminal matter?

A: The judge is responsible for setting the amount of bail. 

Q: Where do I go to post or pay the bail in a criminal matter? 

A: The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office or the Natchitoches City Police Office is the proper place to go to pay a bond in a criminal matter, depending on which agency made the arrest.

Q: Can I receive legal advice from the judge?

A: No. Judges cannot give legal advice to anyone that is or may be before the Court. Consult an attorney if you need help with a legal matter.

Q: If I am ordered to appear in Court on a criminal matter, but have an emergency on the date of my court appearance, what should I do? 

A: If you have been ordered to appear in a criminal matter, it is extremely important that you appear as scheduled. A bench warrant for your arrest may be issued for failure to appear. While absences are generally unexcused regardless of the reason, if you determine that you will not be able to make the appearance as required, you should immediately call the Natchitoches Parish District Attorney’s Office. If you are subpoenaed to testify in a civil cases, you should immediately call the attorney that subpoenaed you in the case and let them know of the emergency. 

Attorneys

Q: Should I send a courtesy copy of briefs to the judge’s office in addition to the copy submitted in the clerk’s office? 

A: Yes. Sometimes, briefs filed in the Clerk’s Office never reach the Judge’s Chambers or are significantly delayed. It is highly recommended and appreciated that attorneys send a second courtesy copy of every brief directly to the presiding judge.

Q: Do I need to get the judge’s approval for a settlement involving a minor?

A: Yes. If you are involved in a case where a minor will receive proceeds from a settlement, please contact the Judge’s office to set up a status conference on the issue. Also, be prepared to send a copy of the settlement documents to the presiding judge for his/her review. 

Q: Do I need to file all exhibits and depositions to be used at trial with the judge beforehand, and if so, how early should I submit them?

A:Yes. In order for the Judge to be fully prepared for trial, all exhibits and depositions intended to be introduced at trial should be filed as early as possible and preferably before the pre-trial conference, but in no case later than the date set forth in the pre-trial order. 

Q: If there is an issue in litigation that could be easily resolved by way of a status conference, should I call the Judge’s office to arrange it?

A: Yes. The Court is amenable to using status conferences as a way to discuss disputes not directly pertaining to the merits. If you want to set a status conference, you may prepare a motion and order to set a status conference and file it with the Court. The Court will then arrange the date and time for the conference. 

Q: If I have an issue regarding Court procedure and am not sure how to proceed, how can I go about seeking assistance?

A: While the presiding judge cannot communicate directly with a party individually, it is acceptable to call the Judge’s law clerk. If the law clerk cannot provide sufficient assistance, a status conference can be arranged. 

Q: Should motions in limine be filed to resolve evidentiary issues before trial?

A: Yes. The Court likes to resolve as many preliminary evidentiary issues as possible before trial. If an evidentiary issue is anticipated and a party seeks to exclude certain evidence, a motion in limine should be filed. 

Q: When is motion hour and which division handles motion hour throughout the month?

A: Motion hour is every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 A.M. Division “A” handles motion hour from the 1st-15th of every month, while Division “B” handles motion hour from the 16th through the end of the month.