Domestic Violence Victims can electronically file for a temporary restraining order [TRO] from the NWLA Family Justice Center to the Bossier Parish Courthouse starting July 22
The 26th Judicial Court serving Bossier and Webster parishes (LA), in conjunction with the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court and other parish officials, announced that starting on Wednesday, July 22, domestic violence victims will be able to remotely E-File (electronic file) for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). Victims will e-file from the safety of the Northwest Louisiana Family Justice Center (NWLA FJC), 1513 Doctors Drive, Suite B, Bossier City, LA 71111, which is approximately 12 miles from the courthouse.
Jill Sessions, Bossier Parish Clerk of Court, said, “The civil program for digital submission of all civil pleadings to and from the 26th Judicial District Court for electronic signing by the judges was implemented in spring of 2019.”
Sessions went on to say, “This new filing option will allow temporary restraining orders filed from the Family Justice Center (FJC) to be automatically and electronically integrated into the court’s electronic case management system. This procedure allows judges, law enforcement and court staff to share and view docket entries indexed and notated into the system simultaneously from multiple locations.”
Sessions stated “During the ordered eight-week COVID-19 shutdown of the courthouse to the public, attorneys utilizing the e-filing platform continued to conduct business with the Clerk of Court’s office without leaving their office. The hope is that this new opportunity afforded to the FJC will allow those petitioners utilizing their assistance to have a more time efficient experience.”
Jeri Bowen, executive director of the Northwest Louisiana Family Justice Center said, “E-Filing facilitates faster service, reduces travel to multiple locations, improves public safety, and reduces the risk of harm to victims of domestic violence seeking the one-stop services of the NWLA FJC.
District Attorney Schuyler Marvin said, “This is a great enhancement to the functionality of the 26th Judicial Court system by using technology to assist victims of domestic violence.”
Louisiana Supreme Court’s director of the Louisiana Protective Order Registry, (LPOR), Ramona Harris, said, “It is critical that court ordered domestic violence protection orders are entered into the Louisiana Protective Order Registry (LPOR) as soon as possible,” commented Louisiana Supreme Court LPOR Director Ramona Harris. “Digital transmission of petitions for court ordered domestic violence protection will speed the filing process and expedite timely transmission for inclusion in the Registry. This will in turn increase victims’ safety as they reach out to the court system for help.”
For further information, contact: Mrs. Jill Sessions, Bossier Parish Clerk of Court at (318) 965-2336, or Mrs. Jeri Bowen, executive director of the NWLA FJC at (318) 584-7171
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE July 24 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.