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Why every St. Tammany felony comes through Covington
Covington is the parish seat, so the 22nd Judicial District Court sits here at 701 N. Columbia Street. It hears felonies from every corner of St. Tammany Parish and from Washington Parish too. The 22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, which decides what charges to file, works from the same address.
For Covington residents, the district court also handles misdemeanors and DWI cases. Some tickets written by the Covington Police Department inside city limits may be handled at the city level instead, so read your citation carefully. It will list the court and your appearance date.
From booking to first appearance: the first 72 hours
If you or a family member is arrested in Covington, the first stop is usually the St. Tammany Parish Jail at 1200 Champagne Street. Arrests in the city are made by Covington police, while the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office covers areas outside city limits.
Louisiana law requires that an arrested person be brought before a judge within 72 hours, not counting weekends and legal holidays. At that hearing the judge explains your rights, appoints a lawyer if you qualify, and sets or reviews bail. When deciding bail, judges look at things like how serious the charge is, criminal history, the risk of not showing up and any danger to the community.
Having a lawyer ready for that hearing can make a difference, so call (504) 905-8399 as soon as you learn of the arrest. See our page on bail and bond hearings and our guide on how bail works in Louisiana.
Deadlines the state has to meet
The District Attorney does not have unlimited time. If you are held in jail, the state generally must file formal felony charges within 60 days, or 30 days for a misdemeanor. If you are out on bail, those limits are 150 days for a felony and 90 days for a misdemeanor.
If the state misses these deadlines without good cause, you must be released or your bail obligation ends. There are also limits on how long the state can wait to bring a case to trial: 2 years for most felonies and 1 year for misdemeanors after charges are filed.
We track these dates from the start. A missed deadline is not something to count on, but it is something we watch for in every case.
Felony or misdemeanor: what is at stake
In Louisiana, a felony is any crime that can be punished by death or by imprisonment at hard labor. Everything else is a misdemeanor. If a statute says "with or without hard labor," the charge is a felony.
The difference shapes everything from bail to your future job prospects, and it can affect your right to own a firearm later on. Many felony convictions bar firearm possession for 10 years after the sentence is complete. If your felony case goes to trial, the jury's verdict must be unanimous. Read more in our guide to felony vs. misdemeanor in Louisiana.
Common cases at the Covington courthouse
We represent people on a wide range of charges heard at the 22nd JDC, including:
- DWI. From first offense to felony third offense. Our Covington DWI lawyer page goes deeper.
- Drug charges. Possession, possession with intent and distribution. See our Covington drug lawyer page.
- Violent crimes. Assault and violent crimes and battery.
- Theft. Value drives the penalty. Theft of $1,000 to under $5,000 can carry up to 5 years. See theft and shoplifting defense.
- Probation problems. If you are on probation in St. Tammany and have been accused of a violation, see probation violations.
- Warrants. If you think there is a warrant for you, see arrest warrants before you do anything else.
A former prosecutor on your side of the courtroom
Barry S. Ranshi served as an Assistant District Attorney in Orleans Parish, trying felony cases as first and second chair. Before that, he was staff attorney to an Orleans Parish criminal court judge. He has seen how prosecutors build cases and how judges rule on them.
Today he focuses only on criminal defense, and he regularly handles cases in St. Tammany Parish. Senior Partner John J. Mason also practices in St. Tammany. One client wrote: "Barry Ranshi and John Mason worked tirelessly in my defense, were very accessible, and assured a most acceptable resolution. I highly recommend Barry and John for any legal needs."
Getting help from our Kenner office
Our office is about 40 to 45 minutes (roughly 35 miles) from Covington by way of the Causeway. You can meet us in person or start with a remote consultation by phone or video.
We serve Downtown Covington, Abita Springs, Madisonville and Folsom, along with the rest of the parish. For a wider view of the parish's courts, visit our St. Tammany Parish criminal defense page.
Call (504) 905-8399, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The consultation is free and confidential.