A Guardian investigation found that Louisiana’s justice of the peace courts may violate tenants’ constitutional rights by allowing eviction fees to boost judges’ incomes.
In a case in Baton Rouge, Marchana Watts, who earned $20 an hour as an insurance analyst, presented receipts proving she had paid $950 in rent for a year and a half.
The judge, Tracy Batieste, reportedly ignored her evidence and instead focused on a court fee, instructing the trailer‑park manager to pay.
The judge accepted a $100 bill and told Watts she had 24 hours to move.
Louisiana’s 390 part‑time justices of the peace handle thousands of evictions each year, earning income directly from court fees that can exceed $150 per case.
Advocates argue that the fee‑based compensation creates a conflict of interest that incentivizes judges to favor landlords and expedite evictions.
Bradley Benton, a former legal‑aid attorney, said landlords prefer justice of the peace courts because they are faster, cheaper, and easier to win against tenants.
In one suburban court, eviction fees helped a part‑time judge earn more than $400,000 last year, surpassing the chief justice of the United States.