Guillory Seeks Dismissal of Four Felony Charges
Former Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory asked a St. Martin Parish judge to drop the charges, with venue and duty at the center of the hearing.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Legislative Policy
Former Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory sought dismissal of four felony charges at a Monday hearing in a St. Martin Parish courtroom. The judge said he needs more time to review the evidence before deciding.
Why it matters
The dispute centers on whether the alleged conduct occurred in St. Martin Parish, which bears on where the case can proceed. How the court resolves the venue question could shape how the remaining charges move forward.
Prosecutors presented 21 exhibits at the hearing, and the court is expected to rule on two of the four felony charges before Dec. 10. The judge has not yet decided whether the case will be dismissed.
The players
Josh Guillory
Josh Guillory is the former Lafayette Mayor-President who faces four felony charges and is seeking their dismissal.
The details
The hearing focused on affirmative duty and venue. Prosecutors cited text messages, interview evidence and an alleged boat ride on the Vermilion River as showing key activity in St. Martin Parish, while the defense argued planning and contractor hiring took place in Lafayette Parish.
Timeline
Monday, Nov. 9, 2026: Hearing on the dismissal motion held in St. Martin Parish.
Before Dec. 10, 2026: Ruling expected on two of the charges.
Dec. 10, 2026: Court scheduled to reconvene on the remaining two charges.
Legal Context
The dispute over where alleged official conduct occurred tests how Louisiana's parish-based venue rules apply to criminal prosecutions. A ruling on venue would clarify how such cross-parish cases are handled in the state's courts.
The venue ruling determines which parish's courts handle the case, which affects where the proceedings take place and how residents follow them. Officials and the public in both parishes will see the outcome shape how the remaining charges proceed.
The takeaway
Where alleged official conduct occurred can decide which courthouse hears a case, so the venue question matters beyond this defendant. Readers following Louisiana politics should watch the Dec. 10 hearing for the court's next step.
What happens next
The court is expected to rule on two of the four felony charges before Dec. 10, and it will reconvene on Dec. 10 to address the remaining two.
Further reading
For broader background on how such disputes are handled, see Legislative Policy coverage across Louisiana.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Acadiananewsfirst.
