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One court for every Luling case
Every criminal case from Luling goes to the same place: the 29th Judicial District Court. Luling is unincorporated, so there is no city or mayor's court. Felonies and misdemeanors are both heard at the district court, and the 29th Judicial District Attorney's Office prosecutes them.
The court's home is the St. Charles Parish Courthouse, 15045 River Road in Hahnville. After Hurricane Ida, the court temporarily used One American Place at 13919 River Road in Luling, and the courthouse has since gone through renovation work. Always check your summons or notice for the exact location before your court date.
Who makes arrests in Luling, and where you are taken
The St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in Luling. If you are arrested, you will usually be booked into the Nelson Coleman Correctional Center (also called the St. Charles Correctional Center) at 5061 LA Highway 3127 in Killona.
A judge must see you within 72 hours, not counting weekends and legal holidays. If you were arrested without a warrant, you are also entitled to a judge's probable cause review within 48 hours. Bail is set or reviewed at the first appearance, so it helps to have a lawyer lined up before then. Call (504) 905-8399, 24/7. Learn more about bail and bond hearings.
Carrying a gun in St. Charles Parish after 2024
Since July 4, 2024, Louisiana lets anyone 18 or older who is not legally barred from having a firearm carry a concealed handgun without a permit. That change did not make every gun case go away.
Guns are still banned in places like schools, courthouses, police and detention facilities, government buildings and polling places. Private owners can also ban them. And for people who are prohibited from having a gun, the penalties are steep:
- Illegal carrying, first offense: up to $500 and up to 6 months.
- Carrying a gun while possessing illegal drugs: 5 to 10 years at hard labor without benefit.
- Felon in possession: 5 to 20 years at hard labor without benefit and a $1,000 to $5,000 fine.
A practical tip: do not bring a firearm to the courthouse for your own hearing, even if it stays in a bag. See our gun and weapons charges page for more.
Accused of violating probation in the 29th JDC?
A probation violation is handled at a hearing before the judge, with no jury, and the state's burden of proof is lower than at trial. The judge can continue your probation, add conditions, order a short jail stay or revoke probation entirely.
For technical violations, like a missed appointment, the law now limits jail time for many people. For offenses committed on or after August 1, 2024, and for people not on probation for a crime of violence or sex offense, the cap is 15 days for a first technical violation, 30 days for a second and 45 days for a third or more. A new arrest is different and can lead to full revocation.
Read more on our probation violations page.
More charges we defend for Luling residents
We defend people from Luling and the west bank of St. Charles Parish against charges including:
- DWI and DUI
- Drug possession and distribution
- Domestic abuse battery
- Theft
- Warrants from St. Charles Parish
Worried about an old warrant or a charge that never went anywhere? The state does not have forever to act. It generally has 6 years to start prosecuting a felony that must be punished at hard labor, 4 years for other felonies and 2 years for misdemeanors that carry jail time. There are exceptions, and serious crimes like those punishable by life have no limit, so get advice before assuming a case is over.
If you have an older St. Charles arrest or conviction holding you back, ask about expungement.
Meeting with us from Luling
Our office is about 20 minutes (roughly 15 miles) from Luling, and about 25 to 30 minutes from the courthouse in Hahnville. St. Charles is one of the parishes Barry lists in his practice, and he regularly handles cases there.
Barry has seen the criminal justice system from several sides: as a staff attorney to a criminal court judge, as a prosecutor and as a public defender. He now focuses only on defense. You can meet us in Kenner or start with a remote consultation.
Call (504) 905-8399 any time, day or night. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
Boutte, Hahnville, Paradis and Ama
We also help clients from the neighboring west bank communities of Boutte, Hahnville, Paradis and Ama. Because none of these towns has its own city court, cases from all of them go to the 29th JDC.
For more about St. Charles Parish courts and the correctional center, see our St. Charles Parish criminal defense lawyer page. If you live across the river, see our Destrehan criminal defense page.