La. Stat. tit. 16 § 9
The district judges shall appoint a competent attorney to represent the state in civil matters pending before their courts, when, from any cause, the district attorney is recused, necessarily absent, or sick. The compensation for services rendered shall not exceed the fees now allowed by law to district attorneys for similar services and the compensation shall come out of fees which would otherwise go to the district attorney for these services.
If a district judge is not able, for any cause, to appoint a competent attorney as above provided he shall certify this fact in writing to the attorney-general who shall designate and appoint a district attorney of another district to prosecute all cases, matters, and proceedings for the state.
La. R.S. § 16:9