Louisiana Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, wants to set up a statewide business court in Louisiana. (Getty Images)
In a legislative session devoted mostly to tax policy, Louisiana lawmakers are taking steps to empower themselves to set up new state courts outside of the traditional judicial system.
Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, has proposed a state constitutional amendment that would give legislators the authority to create specialized courts statewide with a two-thirds vote of lawmakers in the state House and Senate. Under the current constitution, lawmakers can only set up subject-matter courts, such as a drug or veterans court program, on a parishwide basis.
Morris constitutional amendment needs two-thirds support in each legislative chamber and then approval from voters statewide before it can become law. If legislators sign off on it this month, it will appear on the March 29 or Nov. 15 ballot next year.
The lawmaker said Senate Bill 1 will allow legislators can move forward with forming a special statewide court to handle business disputes, though he has offered few details about what that system would look like. Establishing a business court would take another round of legislation in 2025 or beyond, even if his amendment is approved.