Senator Morris’s plan to cut 4th Circuit judges draws sharp questioning on data and process

Senator Jay Morris thrust a measure to reduce the number of judges on the 4th Circuit — the appellate circuit covering Orleans Parish — into extended floor debate Tuesday, arguing the change would right-size the judiciary and reduce waste.

"The bill, as it currently stands, eliminates 4 judges. It it reduces the number of appellate court judges from 12 to 8 in its current form," Morris told colleagues, later offering an amendment to reduce the change to two judges (from 12 to 10). He described the change as a correction to what he called an over-allocation of judges in the New Orleans area and said filings and census trends support the adjustment.

Opponents repeatedly pressed Morris for empirical backing and for use of the established Judicial Council process. Senator Plessis and others asked whether the sponsor had relied on Supreme Court filings or census population figures and whether the Judicial Council had recommended a reduction. Morris said the proposal relied on case filings and a work-study, and that he had consulted lawyers whose views varied. "They're similar," Morris said of filings compared to other circuits, and added he had received anecdotal observations from practicing attorneys.

Fiscal impact and timing were central themes. Senator 8 asked, "How much is this bill gonna save the state of Louisiana?" Morris responded, "As I recall, it's about 800,000 to $1,000,000 per judge a year," and said any savings would flow to the state general fund. Critics warned that removing appellate judges could lengthen dockets and reduce review quality; Senator 8 asked whether such cuts might unintentionally cause delays or risk wrongful convictions by reducing appellate capacity.

Morris defended the amendment and the decision to move without formal Judicial Council recommendations, calling the 4th Circuit "low-hanging fruit" for efficiency and noting past post-Katrina adjustments. The sponsor also offered transition language making operational effects dependent on judicial terms and retirements so vacancies would not be filled; he said the act would be effective upon the governor's signature.

After prolonged questioning and exchange on data sources, consultations and likely savings, the Senate adopted the amendment limiting the reduction and then passed the bill on the floor vote recorded in the session transcript.