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In
addition to Police Jurors, there are several other elected officials in
the parishes. These officials and their duties are described below.
The State of Louisiana is divided into 40 judicial districts, each
composed of at least one parish and served by at least one District
Judge. The number of District Judges in a judicial district is set by
the State Legislature. The District Court has jurisdiction in civil and
criminal matters and felony cases, as well as other instances requiring
a decision of the Court.
A District Judge must have been admitted to the practice of
law in Louisiana for at least five years prior to election and have been
domiciled in the respective district the two years before the election.
He is not permitted to practice law after taking office. The term of a
District Judge is six years.
Each judicial district elects a District Attorney who shall have
charge of criminal prosecutions in the district and serve as the
representative of the State before the Grand Jury. He employs assistants
as the law provides and other necessary personnel.
The
District Attorney must have been admitted to the
practice of law in Louisiana for at least five years prior to election
and have been domiciled in the respective district for the two years
before the election. The term of the District Attorney is six years.
A Sheriff is elected in each parish and is the chief law
enforcement officer. Along with others, he is responsible for enforcing
state laws and parish ordinances. The Sheriff supervises the operation
of the parish jail and the keeping of prisoners. He transports persons
committed to state institutions and is empowered to carry out other
court orders. The Sheriff employs deputies and other personnel necessary
to perform the duties and responsibilities of his office.
The Sheriff also serves in most parishes as ex-officio tax
collector for ad valorem (property) taxes. As tax collector, he conducts
the sale of property for nonpayment of taxes. The Sheriff must be a
qualified elector of the Parish, and his term of office is four years.
A clerk of the district court (Clerk of Court) is elected
in each parish. The Clerk keeps the records of the Court and serves as
recorder of conveyances, mortgages, and other official documents. In
addition, many orders involved in the judicial process are issued
through the Clerk of Court's office. The Clerk of Court must be a
qualified elector of the Parish and his term of office is four years.
A Tax Assessor is elected in each parish and is responsible
for determining the fair market value of all taxable property within the
parish, except public services (such as public utilities) which is
handled by the Louisiana Tax Commission. Criteria for determining the
values are established by law and must be uniformly applied throughout
the State. These values, known as tax assessments, are used in arriving
at the amount of taxes to be paid on a piece of property. The Tax
Assessor must be a qualified elector of the Parish and his term of
office is four years.
A Coroner is elected in each parish and is responsible for
investigating all cases of alleged sex-related crimes and deaths that
occur under specified circumstances. Generally, these circumstances are
cases of suspicious, unexpected, or violent deaths, and deaths without a
physician in recent attendance.
The Coroner orders and/or performs autopsies when he considers them
necessary. Under procedures established by law, a coroner may order the
commitment of persons for mental examinations and treatment. The Coroner
must be a qualified elector of the Parish and a licensed physician,
except in parishes where no licensed physician will accept the post. He
serves a term of four years.
The Registrar of Voters is appointed by the parish governing
authority and is responsible for the registration of voters in the
Parish and for the administration and enforcement of the laws and the
rules and regulations of the State Commissioner of Elections relating to
the registration of such voters. He also conducts absentee voting. The
Registrar of Voters must be a qualified elector and a resident of the
Parish.
Some parishes have justices of the peace, and if so, the
Justice of
the Peace is elected for terms of six years, except in Rapides Parish
which has four-year terms. The Justice of the Peace may perform marriage
ceremonies and has concurrent jurisdiction with the District Court in
cases that do not exceed $l,200, except when real estate, political
subdivisions, or probate matters are involved. He must be a qualified
elector, be of good moral character, and be able to read and write
English correctly.
In parishes with justices of the peace, a constable is also elected
to carry out the orders of the Justice of the Peace Court and to assist
in enforcement of the law. The Constable must be a qualified elector, be
of good moral character, and able to read and write the English
language. His term is the same as the Justice of the Peace.
Each parish has a Parish School Board which is the governing
body of the Parish School System. Each School Board determines the
number of schools to be opened, their location, and the number of
teachers employed. School Boards have their own financing through
taxation, state assistance, etc., and have the responsibility to insure
that all provisions of the state school laws are complied with.
A member of a School Board must be a qualified elector at least 18
years old, a resident of the State for the preceding two years and
actually domiciled in his respective district for one year prior to
seeking election. He must be able to read and write the English
language. The term of a school board member is four years.
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