Bill > HB164

This bill expands the authority of a commissioner in the Fifteenth Judicial District Court, granting them powers similar to a district judge across criminal, civil, domestic relations, and family law matters. The commissioner can now administer oaths, take depositions, issue search and arrest warrants, fix bail, and preside over certain hearings and trials, with specific provisions for how these matters are handled depending on whether parties consent to the commissioner's adjudication. In cases where consent is not given, the commissioner will make recommendations to a district judge, who will then make the final decision. The bill also clarifies that these expanded powers do not diminish the jurisdiction of the elected district judges and outlines specific duties related to criminal proceedings like arraignments (though not accepting guilty pleas for felonies), traffic offenses, probable cause reviews, and protective orders, as well as civil matters including marriage ceremonies and jury qualification. Importantly, the commissioner retains the power to punish for contempt of court, as defined by state law.

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https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26rs&b=HB164&sbi=y