Louisiana Justice Courts Face Scrutiny Over Fee System

A federal class-action lawsuit claims judicial compensation structures in Louisiana incentivize rulings favoring landlords.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a single stone column, symbolizing legal institutional oversight and scrutiny. — A federal class-action lawsuit filed in Baton Rouge alleges that Louisiana's fee-based judicial system incentivizes biased rulings in eviction proceedings. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should judges be prohibited from receiving personal compensation based on court fees they collect?

Louisiana justice of the peace courts generated $45 million in total fee revenue between 2016 and 2025, with judges retaining $31 million as personal income. A federal class-action lawsuit in Baton Rouge now alleges this structure incentivizes judges to favor landlords in eviction proceedings.

Why it matters

Legal experts argue that linking a judge's personal compensation directly to court fees creates significant conflicts of interest. The system allows landlords to choose where to file petitions, potentially steering cases toward courts that prioritize high-volume outcomes.

A federal class-action lawsuit is underway in Baton Rouge challenging the constitutionality of the court fee system. Meanwhile, 25% of state justices reportedly failed to complete mandatory training over the two years preceding the report.

The players

Chuck Cusimano II

He is a Louisiana justice of the peace who presided over the Fifth Justice of the Peace Court.

The details

Justice Chuck Cusimano II alone earned more than $400,000 in 2025 from his Fifth Justice of the Peace Court. Between June 2025 and May 2026, his court processed 5,500 eviction cases, ordering 3,276 evictions while ruling in favor of tenants just 141 times.

1879: New Orleans officially abolished the justice of the peace system.
2016-2025: Period analyzed for judicial financial disclosures and fee revenue.
2025: Justice Chuck Cusimano II earned more than $400,000 in compensation.
June 2025 - May 2026: The Fifth Justice of the Peace Court processed over 5,500 eviction cases.

Legal Context

The current fee-based model operates as a legacy structure that exists in contrast to the reforms enacted in New Orleans, which abolished the justice of the peace system in 1879. This creates a patchwork of judicial oversight across Louisiana, where some parishes maintain these courts while others have moved toward different administrative models.

Residents in districts served by these courts face a system where eviction outcomes may be disproportionately influenced by court fee structures. The ongoing legal challenge could lead to significant reforms in how local justice is administered and how judges are compensated.

The takeaway

The concentration of high-volume eviction cases in specific courts underscores the need for transparency in how judicial systems are funded. Citizens should remain aware of how local court fee structures can impact the fairness of proceedings within their communities.