Opinion ID: 1671266
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Re-argument before the Fourth Circuit

Text: American Deposit argues that it is entitled to re-argument in this case, in which the court of appeal reversed the city court judgment by a 2-1 margin, before a five-judge panel of the court of appeal. In reference to the courts of appeal, the Louisiana Constitution states: JUDGMENTS. A majority of the judges sitting in a case must concur to render judgment. However, in civil matters only, when a judgment of a district court is to be modified or reversed and one judge dissents, the case shall be reargued before a panel of at least five judges prior to rendition of judgment, and a majority must concur to render judgment. La. Const. Art. V, § 8(B). By its very terms, this provision is limited to district court judgments which are modified or reversed. Lee Hargrave, The Judiciary Article of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, 37 La. L.Rev. 765, 808 (1977). Therefore, by implication, this provision does not apply to city court judgments. The case at bar originated in the First City Court of the City of New Orleans. Consequently, the constitution does not require re-argument following reversal by the court of appeal in this case. We turn now to the merits of the case.