From one to 16 judges serve on each district court depending on the district's population. The state's four largest parishes, East Baton Rouge, Caddo, Jefferson, and Orleans each have juvenile courts that are not part of the district court. These juvenile courts hear cases of juvenile delinquency, abandonment, neglect, custody, adoption and other problems involving children. Juvenile law provides special procedures for determining the guilt or innocence and detention of a person under age 17 who is accused of committing a crime. East Baton Rouge Parish has a separate family court.
Family court handles divorce, separation, and other family problems.
When a parish has a family or juvenile court, relevant cases must first be heard there rather than in any other court. The criminal jurisdiction of city courts covers only misdemeanor trials. These are offenses not punishable by imprisonment at hard labor and include violations of city or parish laws. There are only three parish courts, two in Jefferson Parish and one in Ascension Parish. Approximately 250 Mayor's courts operate within towns and villages with populations less than 5,000.