Michael Marsiglia speaking at a campaign event

From the campaign

What Happens When You Have to Go to Court?

A plain-English guide to appearing at First Parish Court in Metairie: what to bring, when to arrive, who to ask, and what the day actually looks like.

If you have been told to appear at First Parish Court, you go to 924 David Drive in Metairie, bring every piece of paper you were sent, arrive early, and check in. Appearing without a lawyer is permitted, and the sections below set out what to expect.

Confirm your date and time with the Clerk of Court on 504-736-8976 before you travel.

Bring the citation or summons and anything else the court sent you.

Arrive early. Parking, security, and check-in all take longer than people expect.

Court is open Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This page explains the process. It cannot tell you what to do about your own matter.

Nobody explains this part

Court procedure is written for people who already know it. If you have never been, the paperwork tells you where and when, and almost nothing about what actually happens in between.

That gap is where most of the anxiety lives. People are rarely frightened of the law. They are frightened of not knowing what is expected of them in a room where everyone else seems to know.

Before you go

Call the Clerk of Court on 504-736-8910 and confirm the date, the time, and where you need to be. Dates move. A wasted trip costs you a morning, and you may be able to avoid it with a two-minute call.

Ask the clerk what your matter involves and whether anything is required of you beforehand. The clerk cannot give you legal advice and will not, but the clerk can tell you what is on the record.

Gather your papers. The citation or summons, anything the court has posted to you, and any document connected to the matter. Photographs, receipts, a repair estimate, a lease, and an insurance letter. Bring the originals if you have them.

Getting there

First Parish Court is at 924 David Drive, Metairie, LA 70003-5135. Allow more time than the journey needs. Parking, getting through the entrance, and finding the right room are all part of the appointment, and none of them are quick when you have not done it before.

Arriving early costs you twenty minutes of sitting down. Arriving late can cost you the matter.

When you arrive

Find the counter or the courtroom named on your paperwork and check in so the court knows you are present. If you cannot tell where to go, ask. Staff are asked that question every day, and it is not an imposition.

Then you wait. Matters are called in an order set by the court, not by arrival, and a morning docket can hold a great many of them. Bring something to read and expect the wait to be longer than the hearing.

When your matter is called

You will be asked to come forward and identify yourself. Listen to what is being said and answer only what you are asked. If you do not understand a question or a term, say so and ask for it in plain words. That is a reasonable request, and asking it is not a mark against you.

Speak to the judge, not to the other side. Keep it factual. Bring out the documents you have when they are relevant.

Most parish court matters are brief. The questions in front of the court are narrow, and that is what makes them short.

The traffic route that avoids a hearing

Many traffic matters never reach a courtroom at all. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:2561.8, the judge of this court fixes a schedule of fines, including costs, for the various traffic offenses. A person charged with such an offense may plead guilty before the clerk, who records it, and pay the fine and costs set by that schedule.

Whether that route is available or advisable in your situation depends on the facts and on the law that applies. The clerk can tell you what the schedule is. A lawyer can advise on whether it is the right course for you.

If you cannot attend

Contact the Clerk of Court before the date, not after. A court that hears from you in advance has options. A court that hears nothing has fewer.

Do not simply not appear. Failing to attend can carry consequences of its own, separate from the original matter.

What the court staff can and cannot do

Clerks and court staff can tell you what is on the record: what was filed, what is scheduled, what the court has received, and what a form requires. That is genuinely useful, and most questions people arrive with are answered there.

What they cannot do is advise you. A clerk cannot tell you whether to contest a matter, what to say, or how your case is likely to go. That is not unhelpfulness. Giving that advice is not their role and would not be proper.

The distinction is worth knowing before you go, because expecting advice at a counter and not receiving it is one of the more common frustrations people describe.

A word about who contacts you

The court states that correspondence about a case will come through the US Mail or an official process server. Treat unexpected calls, texts, or emails claiming to be from the court with caution, and verify anything you receive by calling the Clerk of Court directly.

Questions people ask

Do I need a lawyer for parish court?

Most people who appear do not have one. Whether you should is a decision that depends on your situation, what is at stake, and the law that applies. A lawyer can advise on that; this page cannot.

What should I bring?

The citation or summons, anything else the court sent you, and any document connected to the matter, such as photographs, receipts, estimates, or correspondence.

How long will it take?

The wait is usually longer than the hearing. Plan for the morning rather than for an appointment slot.