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1.  Court Closed - December 24, 25, and 26, 2025 

   Court Closed - December 31, 2025 and January 1-2, 2026

2. Electronic Filing Required Starting January 1, 2026.

Pursuant to the amendments to La. C.Cr.P. art. 14.1 and La. C.C.P. art. 253 by Acts 2025, No. 352, §§ 1-2:  Effective January 1, 2026, the Louisiana Court of Appeal, First Circuit, will no longer accept filings submitted by attorneys via U.S. mail or commercial shipping service, such as FedEx or UPS.  Filings on behalf of attorneys must be submitted either electronically or over the counter at the courthouse.

3.  FILING FEE INCREASE effective January 1, 2026:

Pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 13, Sections 10.3, 35, and 86, the Court collects certain fees for filings, the Judges’ Supplemental Compensation Fund, and the Louisiana Judicial College.  Effective January 1, 2026, the following new fee amounts are in effect: 

• For filing a civil record of appeal …………….. $334.00
• For filing a civil writ application ……………... $184.00
• For filing a rehearing application ................ $109.50

4. FOR ALL state, parish, municipal electronic filings - use Option 15 for all electronic filings (effective August 1, 2025).

Pursuant to LSA-13:4521(B), the collection of filing fees and "court costs" is deferred and shall not be collected at the time of filing. 

The First Circuit is one of the 5 state appellate courts created by the Louisiana Constitution

 Louisiana Constitution, Article V.

§8. Courts of Appeal; Circuits; Panels; Judgments; Terms

 Section 8. (A) Circuits; Panels. The state shall be divided into at least four circuits, with one court of appeal in each. Each court shall sit in panels of at least three judges selected according to rules adopted by the court. …

§9. Courts of Appeal; Circuits and Districts

  Section 9. Each circuit shall be divided into at least three districts, and at least one judge shall be elected from each.  The circuits and districts and the number of judges as elected in each circuit on the effective date of this constitution are retained, subject to change by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature.