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    Louisiana DUI Courts: Where Your Case Is Heard

    Which Louisiana court hears a first-offense DWI case, what happens at each stage, and the ZIP codes and counties each courthouse covers.

    How Louisiana DWI courts are organised

    A DWI charge in Louisiana is prosecuted in the District Court (parish) that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.

    First-offense misdemeanor DWI is heard in a Louisiana city, parish or district court depending on the parish, while felony DWI — a third or fourth offense, or a case involving injury or death — is heard in district court. Misdemeanor appeals from courts without a jury go to the district court; felony appeals go to the Louisiana Courts of Appeal and then the Louisiana Supreme Court.

    The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at lasc.org. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.

    Louisiana judiciary — court directory

    Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.

    LA driver-licensing agency

    The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.

    What happens at each stage in Louisiana

    A DWI case in Louisiana is heard in the District Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 15 days of arrest.

    1. 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DWI under La. R.S. 14:98 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Louisiana's implied-consent section, La. R.S. 32:666. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
    2. 2Licence action — request a hearing within 15 days — OMV issues an administrative suspension or revocation for DWI under La. R.S. 32:414 and related statutes. You have 15 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Louisiana Department of Public Safety, Office of Motor Vehicles; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
    3. 3Arraignment in the District Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the District Court. First-offense misdemeanor DWI is heard in a Louisiana city, parish or district court depending on the parish, while felony DWI — a third or fourth offense, or a case involving injury or death — is heard in district court.
    4. 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Louisiana files electronically through individual clerk of court systems rather than one statewide portal.
    5. 5Diversion or treatment disposition — Several parishes run pretrial diversion, and specialised DWI Court dockets handle repeat offenders.
    6. 6Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DWI conviction carries a fine of $300–$1,000, jail exposure up to 6 months, a licence suspension of 3 months. Prior offenses within 10 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense carries a fine, possible jail, and a licence suspension.
    7. 7Reinstatement — Ignition interlock installation is a condition of reinstatement for alcohol-related offenses. Louisiana requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.

    Filing and case handling in Louisiana

    • Louisiana files electronically through individual clerk of court systems rather than one statewide portal.
    • Many city and municipal courts are courts of record for DWI purposes.
    • Several parishes run pretrial diversion, and specialised DWI Court dockets handle repeat offenders.
    • The Office of Motor Vehicles handles licence suspension separately from the criminal case.

    Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.

    Louisiana ZIP codes covered

    These Louisiana ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.

    Counties and cities using these Louisiana resources

    Other Louisiana official resources

    Louisiana Driver Licensing After a DUI: Hearings, Reinstatement & SR-22Louisiana DUI Statutes: The Code Sections That Control Your Case

    Frequently asked questions

    Which court handles a first DWI charge in Louisiana?
    First-offense DWI cases in Louisiana are heard in the District Court (parish) for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
    Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Louisiana?
    No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the LA driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 15 days of arrest.