Our first week of the new normal at the Caddo Parish Courthouse, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, has come to what I would deem a successful end. However, there was a limited court schedule this week, so there will be significantly more hearings conducted and defendants and attorneys coming to the courthouse next week.
Remember that there is a temperature check conducted at the courthouse entrance, and please remember that masks are now required to be worn inside the courthouse. The Clerk of Court’s office at the courthouse is now open at their normal time, 8:30 am-4:45 pm, and masks are required to be worn inside their office as well.
At the request of the judges, and for the first time at Caddo Parish District Court, there will be a staggered schedule of court times. Instead of, as is traditionally done in Louisiana courts, setting all of the day’s matters for a morning time or “docket”, usually at 9:30 am, and then if needed, an afternoon docket at 1:30 pm, and having all defendants and attorneys wait in the courtroom for their case to be called during one of these times, each criminal court judge will now see approximately ten defendants per hour beginning at the specified time that is stated on the notice. So defendants and attorneys, please look at your notice for court and report to your specified courtroom at the time specified for you. If you do not show up for your specified time, you will be put at the end of the docket.
If you have a fever or are ill, please notify your attorney prior to coming to the Caddo Parish Courthouse. If you have a fever or are ill and do not have an attorney, please contact our office at (318)226-6826 with your name and case.
At juvenile court, in-court trials and court hearings via zoom technology continue to be held. All entering the juvenile courthouse are given a temperature check by the sheriff deputies at the entrance. All inside the juvenile courthouse are required to wear masks. If you or your child has received a subpoena to a juvenile court case, please abide by your subpoena or you may contact our juvenile DA office at (318)429-7647 to see if you may testify via video technology. If you or your child has a court hearing at juvenile court and either of you has a fever or are ill, please also contact our juvenile DA office (318)429-7647 with your name and case.
Be safe, and have a great Memorial Day weekend. Please remember to take the time to honor the men and women who have died while serving in the United States military.
James E. Stewart
Caddo Parish District Attorney