East Baton Rouge voters have officially changed local justice. In the midterm elections held on November 3, 2026, the parish transitioned to a new system where Justices of the Peace now serve jurisdiction parish-wide rather than having previous blackout zones where they had no jurisdiction and residents had to go to city court.
Of the six elected positions, four were decided in the November 3 midterm elections, with Mark Miley of District 3 elected outright. The races for Districts 4, 5, and 6 are heading to runoffs featuring prominent political figures, including state representative C. Denise Marcelle against Taneshia Flowers in District 4, St. George councilman Andrew Murrell against Franchesca Rich Brandon in District 5, and Councilwoman Jen Racca against retired state appeals court judge Toni Higginbotham in District 6.
Courts Share Jurisdiction over Small Claims Cases
Under the previous system, residents in blackout zones had to rely on city court for small claims issues. City courts and the 19th Judicial District Court still maintain concurrent jurisdiction over small claims cases, allowing issues to be filed in any of the three courts. Justices of the peace do not preside over criminal cases, though they can issue criminal warrants if they take a class from the Attorney General.
These judicial officials head municipal small claims courts for lawsuits under $5,000, most commonly dealing with evictions, and are well known for issuing marriage licenses. However, they cannot cover claims involving title to immovable property such as a house, lawsuits against a municipality or property, or divorce proceedings.
Small Claims Courts Offer Lower Filing Costs
Small claims cases filed through these courts generally feature smaller caseloads and court fees compared to city or district courts. While a new case usually costs $130 to file, Baton Rouge judges have the option to apply a $30 fee as a substitute or supplement, rendering the cost comparable to city courts that charge $86.50. This lower cost makes these courts typically preferred by landlords seeking to return apartments to the market faster and cheaper.
Regarding compensation, justices receive a meager base salary from the state of $30 a month, or $75 if taking on extra duties, making most of their money from a cut of generated court fees. While statewide reporting shows most justices used none of their fees to pay a salary, justices in Baton Rouge have at minimum $10,000 in salary costs and can hire a clerk.
Special Election Details
Furthermore, Taneshia Flowers secured the position of justice of the peace for District 3’s Ward 2 during a special election. Because of the redistricting mandated by Act 950 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session, the previous Justice of the Peace Ward 2, District 3 overlaps significantly with the new District 4; consequently, candidates participated under the former map to complete an unexpired term, resulting in Flowers holding the office only until the end of December.
