La. R. Sup. Ct. 10
SUPREME COURT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Performance Standard 1.1 - Opportunity for Multi-Judge Review
The Supreme Court of Louisiana, in the exercise of its mandatory, discretionary, or original jurisdiction, should provide a reasonable opportunity for a multi-judge review of decisions made by lower tribunals.
Performance Standard 1.2 - Developing, Clarifying, and Unifying the Law
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should clarify harmonize, and develop the law, and should strive to maintain uniformity in the jurisprudence.
Performance Standard 1.3 - Extraordinary Functions
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should determine expeditiously those petitions and/or applications for which no other adequate or speedy remedy exists; i.e. mandamus, habeas corpus, quo warranto, and election proceedings, and should consider expeditiously those writ applications for which expedited consideration, or a stay, is requested.
Performance Standard 2.1 - Quality of the Judicial Process
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should ensure adequate consideration of each case and make decisions based on legally relevant factors, thereby affording every litigant the full benefit of the judicial process.
Performance Standard 2.2 - Clarity of Decisions
Decisions of the Supreme Court of Louisiana should be clear, and full opinions should address the dispositive issue(s), state the holding, and articulate the reasons for the decisions in each case.
Performance Standard 2.3 - Timeliness
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should resolve cases expeditiously.
Performance Standard 3.1 - Accessibility
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should be procedurally, economically, and physically accessible to the public and to attorneys.
Performance Standard 3.2 - Public Access to Decisions
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should facilitate public access to its decisions.
Performance Standard 3.3 - Public Education and Information
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should inform the public of its operations and activities.
Performance Standard 3.4 - Regulation of the Bench and Bar
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should ensure the highest professional conduct of both the bench and the bar.
Performance Standard 4.1 - Resources
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should seek and obtain sufficient resources from the legislative and executive branches to fulfill its responsibilities.
Performance Standard 4.2 - Case Management, Efficiency, and Productivity
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should manage its caseload effectively and use available resources efficiently and productively.
Performance Standard 4.3 - Assistance to Trial and Appellate Courts
The Supreme Court of Louisiana should develop methods for improving aspects of trial and appellate court performance that affect the judicial process.
Performance Standard 4.4 - Personnel Practices and Decisions
The Supreme Court of Louisiana uses fair employment practices.
LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Performance Standard 1.1 - Opportunity for Multi-Judge Review
Louisiana courts of appeal, exercising mandatory or discretionary jurisdiction, should provide a reasonable opportunity for a multi-judge review of decisions made by lower tribunals.
Performance Standard 1.2 - Developing, Clarifying, and Unifying the Law
Louisiana courts of appeal should develop, clarify, and unify the law.
Performance Standard 1.3 - Error Correction
Louisiana courts of appeal should provide review sufficient to address errors made by lower tribunals.
Performance Standard 1.4 - Extraordinary Functions of Appellate Court Systems
Louisiana courts of appeal should determine expeditiously those petitions and/or applications for which no other adequate or speedy remedy exists; i.e. mandamus, habeas corpus, quo warranto, and election proceedings, and should consider expeditiously those writ applications filed pursuant to the court's supervisory jurisdiction in which expedited consideration, or a stay, is requested.
Performance Standard 2.1 - Quality of the Judicial Process
Louisiana courts of appeal should ensure adequate consideration of each case and make decisions based on legally relevant factors, thereby affording every litigant the full benefit of the judicial process.
Performance Standard 2.2 - Clarity of Decisions
Louisiana court of appeal decisions should be clear and full opinions should address the dispositive issues, state the holding, and articulate the reasons for the decision in each case.
Performance Standard 2.3 - Designation of Decisions for Publication
Louisiana courts of appeal should publish those written decisions that develop, clarify, or unify the law.
Performance Standard 2.4 - Timeliness
Louisiana courts of appeal should resolve cases expeditiously.
Performance Standard 3.1 - Accessibility
Louisiana courts of appeal should be procedurally, economically, and physically accessible to the public and to attorneys.
Performance Standard 3.2 - Public Access to Decisions
Louisiana courts of appeal should facilitate public access to their decisions.
Performance Standard 3.3 - Public Education and Information
Louisiana courts of appeal should inform the public of their operations and activities.
Performance Standard 3.4 - Regulation of the Bench and Bar
Louisiana courts of appeal should ensure the highest professional conduct of both the bench and the bar.
Performance Standard 4.1 - Resources
Louisiana courts of appeal should seek and obtain sufficient resources from the legislative and executive branches to fulfill their responsibilities.
Performance Standard 4.2 - Case Management, Efficiency, and Productivity
Louisiana courts of appeal should manage their caseload effectively and use available resources efficiently and productively.
Performance Standard 4.3 - Assistance to Trial Courts
Louisiana courts of appeal should develop methods for improving aspects of trial court performance that affect the appellate judicial process.
Performance Standard 4.4 - Personnel Practices and Decisions
Louisiana courts of appeal use fair employment practices.
DISTRICT COURT STANDARDS 1
1 While many of these standards may be applicable to Juvenile and Family Courts, some of the standards will need to bemodified in consideration of the special needs and functions of these specialized jurisdiction courts.
Standard 1.1 Public Proceedings
The court conducts openly its judicial proceedings that are public by law or custom.
Standard 1.2 Safety, Accessibility, and Convenience
The court encourages responsible parties to make court facilities safe, accessible and convenient.
Standard 1.3 Effective Participation
All who appear before the court are given reasonable opportunities to participate effectively without undue hardship or inconvenience.
Standard 1.4 Courtesy, Responsiveness, and Respect
Judges and other trial court personnel are courteous and responsive to the public and accord respect to all with whom they come into contact.
Standard 1.5 Affordable Costs of Access
The court encourages all responsible public bodies and public officers to make the costs of access to the trial court's proceedings and records - whether measured in terms of money, time, or the procedures that must be followed - reasonable, fair, and affordable.
Standard 2.1 Case Processing
The trial court encourages timely case management and processing.
Standard 2.2 Required Reports and Requests for Information
The trial court promptly provides required reports and responds to requests for information.
Standard 2.3 Prompt Implementation of Law and Procedure
The trial court promptly implements changes in the law and procedure.
Standard 3.1 Fair and Reliable Judicial Process
Trial court procedures faithfully adhere to laws, procedural rules, and established policies.
Standard 3.2 Juries
The jury venire is representative of the jurisdiction from which it is drawn.
Standard 3.3 Court Decisions and Actions
Trial courts give individual attention to cases, deciding them without undue disparity among like cases and upon legally relevant factors.
Standard 3.4 Clarity
Decisions of the trial court address clearly the issues presented to it and, where appropriate, specify how compliance can be achieved.
Standard 3.5 Responsibility for Enforcement
The trial court takes appropriate responsibility for the enforcement of its orders.
Standard 3.6 Production and Preservation of Records
Records of all relevant court decisions and actions are accurate and properly preserved.
Standard 4.1 Independence and Comity
The trial court maintains its constitutional independence and observes the principle of cooperation with other branches of government.
Standard 4.2 Accountability for Public Resources
The trial court responsibly seeks, uses, and accounts for its public resources.
Standard 4.3 Personnel Practices and Decisions
The trial court uses fair employment practices.
Standard 4.4 Public Education
The trial court informs the community of its structure, function, and programs.
Standard 4.5 Response to Change
The trial court recognizes new conditions or emergent events and adjusts its operations as necessary.
Standard 5.1 Accessibility
The trial court and the justice it renders are perceived by the public as accessible.
Standard 5.2 Fair, Impartial, and Expeditious Court Functions
The trial court functions fairly, impartially, and expeditiously in order that the public has trust and confidence in the integrity of the decisions of the court.
Standard 5.3 Judicial Independence and Accountability
The trial court is perceived to be independent, cooperative with other components of government, and accountable.
La. R. Sup. Ct. 10