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Family Court 

 Judges

All cases involving minor children

Honorable David A. Blanchet Division H
Honorable Charlie Fitzgerald, Division M

Divorce cases without minor children

Honorable John D. Trahan Division A
Honorable Jules D. Edwards Division B
Honorable Edward B. Broussard Division C
Honorable Edward Rubin Division D
Honorable Michelle M. Breaux Division E
Honorable David M. Smith Division F
Honorable Laurie A. Hulin Division G
Honorable Thomas R. Duplantier Division I
Honorable Kristian Earles Division J
Honorable Patrick Michot Division K
Honorable Marilyn Castle Division L

Adoptions

Adoptions are randomly alloted to the 13 District Judges listed above.

Hearing Officers

PLEASE NOTE UPDATE AS OF MAY 1, 2020:

Due to the Covid-19 Virus, Family Court has Issued   HEARING OFFICER CONFERENCE RESTRICTIONS for parties and attorneys that will come into effect upon Phase I reopening of the Courthouses.  For a copy of the Courthouse and Courtroom Restrictions, click this link.

UPDATE AS OF MARCH 23, 2020:  Pursuant to the "THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL 15th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT EMERGENCY ORDER RELATIVE TO COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY", which expires on April 9, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. unless extended, please note the following:

1. Protective Order hearings in Lafayette Parish scheduled during the existence of the Emergency Order will be rescheduled to Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.  Parties and attorneys will be notified by the Clerk of the date and time of the hearing;

2.  Protective Order hearings in Acadia Parish scheduled during the existence of the Emergency Order will be rescheduled to April 17 and 24, 2020.  Parties and attorneys will be notified by the Clerk of the date and time of the hearing;

3.  Protective Orders in Vermilion Parish scheduled during the existence of the Emergency Order will be rescheduled to April 14, 2020.  Parties and attorneys will be notified by the Clerk of the date and time of the hearing; 

4.  Abbreviated Hearing Officer Conferences where both parties are represented by attorneys will be conducted via telephone conference in order to issue recommendations that will become Temporary Orders in order to stabilize family situations until the Court reopens; 

5.    Hearing Officer Conferences where one party, or both parties are unrepresented will be rescheduled;

6.    Hearing Officer Eller's Divorce Confirmation Dockets scheduled for March 26, April 2 and 9, 2020 will be rescheduled; 

7.    Hearing Officer Eller's FC Nonsupport dockets scheduled for March 18, April 1 and 8, 2020 and Civil nonsupport Docket scheduled for March 25, and April 8, 2020 will be rescheduled;  

8.  For cases in Acadia and Vermilion Parishes, the attorneys may continue to submit necessary documents for 102 and 103 Divorce confirmations in advance of the hearing dates.  

For further instructions regarding submissions and modifications, please telephone the Hearing Officers' office.  Please click on the name of your Hearing Officer below for the telephone number.  

 

PLEASE NOTE:  The offices of Hearing Officers Randall, Eller and Doguet have temporarily moved to 202 West Main Street, Lafayette, Louisiana (across from the Lafayette Parish Courthouse on the corner of West Main and Buchanan Streets), due to scheduled remodeling of the third floor of the Lafayette Parish Courthouse.  Telephone numbers and mailing address remain the same.   

Vanessa Randall
Shawn Eller
Dennis Bundick
Andre' Doguet  

 Family Court System

Overview of the 15th Judicial District Court Hearing Officer System: 

 Hearing Officers Conferences

Amendments to 15th JDC Family Court Rules  

On June 1, 2015, the Louisiana Supreme Court amended Title IV of the District Court Rules by adopting uniform rules for Family Courts.  These rules contain a number of appendices that include existing local rules of the various Judicial Districts.  A link to a complete set of the rules and appendices can be found on the Supreme Court Website at:   

http://www.lasc.org/rules/dist.ct/TitleIV.asp#TITLE

The 2015 amendment to Appendix 23.0D, Hearing Officer Conference and Information Order, for the 15th JDC can be viewed by clicking this link     

Summary of 2015 Amendments to Title IV Appendices of the 15th Judicial District can be viewed by clicking this link  

2015 Amendments to Title IV Appendices of the 15th Judicial District can be viewed by clicking this link     

On May 23, 2018, Louisiana Civil Code Art. 132, was amended to provide that the court is to award custody in accordance with the parents’ agreement unless the provisions of the Post Separation Family Violence Relief Act (R.S. 9:364, et seq.) apply.  Accordingly, the Court is required to inquire into whether there is a history of domestic violence between the parents in all custody matters.  To assist attorneys and parties who are submitting custody judgments by consent or stipulation, this Court has developed Appendix 25.0 to Title IV of the Rules for District Courts to be submitted with all stipulated or consent custody judgments which can be viewed by clicking this link.

 Family Court Intervention "KIDS FIRST" Substance Abuse Assessment Program

Due to the COVID-19 EMERGENCY ORDERS, participants in monitoring with the Family Court Intervention "KIDS FIRST" Substance Abuse Program, also referred to as CLEARSTART, shall continue to contact the hotline telephone number daily.  In the event you are directed to undergo a drug screen but cannot do so due to self-quarantining or medically ordered isolation, please contact CLEARSTART and the Family Court Administrator, Karla Smith, at the telephone numbers/fax numbers listed below to advise of your condition.  When your medical situation resolves, you will be required to provide information to CLEARSTART and the Court regarding your condition such as medical records, work excuse, explanation, etc.

If you have  a hearing scheduled prior to March 27, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. on  a Family Court Intervention "KIDS FIRST" or CLEARSTART matter, your hearing will be reset and you will receive a notice of the date from the Clerk of Court's Office in the Parish where your case is pending. 

CLEARSTART telephone number: (337) 281-1545

CLEARSTART fax number: (337) 408-3982

Karla Smith telephone number: (337) 258-9978 or (337) 704-5326

Karla Smith fax number: (337) 704-5336 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION: 

Family Court has developed a program to assess whether parents and custodians of minor children have a substance abuse issue.  The program involves a screening process to determine whether an assessment for substance use disorder is warranted.  The Court has developed the following forms to be used in conjunction with this program.

Family Court Intervention "KIDS FIRST" - Order for Drug Testing, Screening and/or Assessment 

Family Court Intervention "KIDS FIRST" - Order Implementing Recommendations, for Monitoring and Costs

Family Court Intervention "KIDS FIRST" Handbook  

Family Court Topics of Interest