La. R. Sup. Ct. 2

As amended through October 31, 2024

Rule 2 - Cases Under Advisement; Reports from Circuit Courts of Appeal

Rule 13:4207.1 (applicable to La. R.S. 13:4207).

(a) When Submitted. A case or other matter shall be considered as fully submitted for decision to the trial judge, and should be decided, immediately upon the conclusion of trial or hearing, and judgment signed expeditiously thereafter.

In an exceptional case when the record has been left open upon the conclusion of trial or hearing for the filing of testimony by deposition and/or documents, such depositions and/or documents shall be filed within fifteen days and the case or matter shall be considered as fully submitted, and should be decided, immediately after such filing or the lapse of fifteen days, whichever occurs sooner.

If the court, in an exceptional case, orders post-trial or post-hearing briefs, or orders the transcript prepared, plaintiff shall be allowed a maximum of twenty days within which to file a brief, defendant shall be allowed a maximum of twenty (lays from the filing or lapse of time for filing plaintiff's brief (whichever occurs sooner) within which to file a brief. If the defendant timely files a brief, plaintiff shall be allowed a maximum of ten days to file a rebuttal brief. When briefs are so ordered, the case or matter shall be considered fully submitted on the day following the day of the latest timely filing of a brief or, at the latest, the day following the last day for filing of briefs. The judge may extend the time for filing a brief for a reasonable period not to exceed the original time granted.

If a transcript of the evidence, in an exceptional case, is deemed essential and is ordered by the court, it shall be filed within thirty days following the conclusion of trial or hearing. When necessary, for good cause shown, one extension may be granted by the judge not to exceed an additional fifteen days for filing of the transcript.

(b) Reports. Each judge of a district, juvenile, family, parish, city municipal or traffic court shall report to this court, through the office of Judicial Administrator, on or before the tenth day of each month, all cases which have been fully submitted and under advisement for longer than thirty days, together with an explanation of the reasons for any delay and an expected date of decision.

(c) Reports from Circuit Courts of Appeal. Each writing judge of a circuit court of appeal shall report to this Court, through the Office of the Judicial Administrator, on or before the tenth day of each month, all appeals in which ninety (90) days have elapsed since oral argument or submission to a panel, together with an explanation of the reasons for the delay and an expected date of decision. For purposes of this rule, if a pending matter is re-submitted to a panel with additional judges or a replacement judge, the date clock is reset to the new submission/argument date. Reports submitted pursuant to this Section 2(c) shall be confidential in light of the requirements of Canon 3A(6) of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

La. R. Sup. Ct. 2

Amended effective 6/23/2009.