The Office of Marshal of the City Court of Lafayette
was created by an act of the legislature when the City Court of Lafayette was established in 1910. The present City Marshal, Earl J. "Nickey" Picard, elected in 1984, is the tenth marshal in the history of the court.
The Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, Section 13 Article 1881, which sets out the general powers and duties of the marshal and deputy marshals states:
THE MARSHAL IS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE COURT. HE
SHALL EXECUTE THE ORDERS AND MANDATES OF THE COURT AND IN THE EXECUTION
THEREOF, AND IN MAKING ARRESTS AND PERSERVING THE PEACE, HE HAS THE
SAME POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF A SHERIFF. THE MARSHAL MAY APPOINT ONE
OR MORE DEPUTY MARSHALS HAVING THE SAME POWERS AND AUTHORITY AS THE
MARSHAL, BUT THE MARSHAL SHALL, BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
The immediate objective of the marshal and staff is to serve the court
in matters submitted to the court's jurisdiction. A closely related objective
is to enforce the mandates and orders of the court. The marshal's office
is a catalyst between the police department and the court. To that end,
the marshal is responsible for serving notice and summonses and for executing
arrest warrants issued by the court, generated by sworn affidavits filed
by police officers or the public. An additional objective is to maintain
a well-trained, well-equipped staff, to carry out the court mandates and
orders and to assist state, local and federal law enforcement agencies
when called.
The TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION extends over all territory which is now or hereafter included within the corporate limits of the City of Lafayette and throughout the Third and Tenth wards of the Parish of Lafayette. Whenever the corporate limits of the City of Lafayette now or is hereafter extended into a Justice of the Peace ward, that portion or any such Justice of the Peace ward, not included within the City of Lafayette, shall remain under the jurisdiction of the Justice of the Peace.
The CIVIL JURISDICTION of the Lafayette City Court is concurrent
with the district court is cases where the amount dispute, or the value
of the property involved, does not exceed $15,000.00. Small claims can
be filed in cases up to $3,000.00.
The Lafayette City Marshal
Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm
337-291-8789
After Hours and Weekends:
Lafayette CIty Police Department
337-291-8600
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Department
337-232-9211
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