Council approves first reading to let judges enter civil default judgments for no-shows in municipal court

Lafayette City Council gave unanimous approval on first reading April 1 to Ordinance No. 6, Series 2025, amending Article 3 of Chapter 65 (Municipal Court) to allow a municipal judge to enter a civil default judgment in lieu of issuing a failure-to-appear arrest warrant when the underlying violation is civil (fine-only) rather than criminal.

Judge Amanda Bilhash explained the proposed change during the council meeting. She said current code permits the court to issue a warrant when a defendant fails to appear, but that arresting people for failing to appear on civil violations (which carry fines but not jail) is neither an effective nor a proportionate remedy. The ordinance would allow a judge to enter a judgment for the fine rather than order an arrest when jail is not a potential penalty for the original violation. The judge framed the change as a way to create a fairer process and reduce law-enforcement use on arrests-and-releases for civil matters.

Councilors asked clarifying questions about existing default judgment language for traffic matters and whether the proposed change was already in practice for some violations; the judge and staff said traffic default procedures existed in code for certain offenses and that this amendment would expand the judicial alternative for civil violations. The ordinance passed first reading unanimously; a subsequent reading and further codification steps will follow.

Motion language recorded in the meeting: “I move to approve on first reading Ordinance number 6, Series 2025, amending Article 3 of Chapter 65, Municipal Court of the Code of Ordinances.” The motion was seconded and passed with no dissent.