How to Find Jefferson Parish Court Dockets
Court dockets live in the Clerk of Court's records. The Clerk runs JeffNet, the online portal for civil, criminal, parish court, and property records. JeffNet is a closed system, so remote use needs a $5.00 account that lasts 24 hours or a $50.00 monthly subscription. Once you log in, you choose the record category, then search by party name or case number to bring up the docket.
You can also inspect a docket for free in person at the right Clerk desk during weekday hours. Criminal files sit in Suite 1100 of the Donelon Building in Gretna, and civil files are in Suite 2400. Bring the party name or case number to speed the search.
- Pick the court that heard the case, since each one keeps its own dockets.
- Open JeffNet and choose 24-hour access or a monthly subscription.
- Select the civil, criminal, or parish court category.
- Search by name or case number, then open the case activity list.
- Download a document image at $0.75 per page if you need the filing itself.
What a Jefferson Parish Court Docket Shows
A docket is built from dated entries. Each line marks one event in the case, from the first filing to the last judgment. Civil and criminal dockets share the same shape, though criminal ones add charge and bond entries. The table lists the entries you see most.
| Docket Entry | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Filing | A petition, motion, or other document entered with the court. |
| Answer | The defendant's formal response to a civil claim. |
| Motion | A written request asking the judge to act. |
| Order | The judge's directive resolving a request. |
| Minute Entry | The court's summary of what happened on a court date. |
| Hearing / Continuance | A scheduled court date, or a postponement of one. |
| Judgment | The final decision in the case. |
Read the entries in order to follow a case from start to finish. The Jefferson Parish court records page covers the full set of case fields.
Case Activity Versus Document Images
JeffNet splits a case into two parts. The first is case activity, which is the docket list of events and dates. The second is the document image, which is a scan of the actual filing. The two do not always reach back equally far. For 24th JDC criminal cases, activity is online from April 28, 1994, while document images go all the way back to 1840. Civil activity starts January 1, 1986, with images from 1825.
Activity is searchable as a list. Images cost $0.75 per page to download. For some parish court criminal and traffic cases, folder image availability varies with the case status, so a recent or active case may show activity without every image attached.
Note: A docket entry confirms an event happened, but you may need to buy the document image to read the filing itself.
Court Divisions That Publish Dockets
The 24th JDC has 16 elected divisions, labeled A through P, plus a Criminal Commissioner and a Domestic Commissioner. Each division keeps its own docket of cases assigned to that judge. The Clerk's JeffNet system pulls them together so you search across the court rather than division by division.
The two parish courts run their own dockets, and the Juvenile Court keeps closed dockets you cannot search online. The Jefferson Parish District Court page lists the divisions and what each one handles.
- 24th JDC Divisions A through P hear felonies, large civil suits, family, and successions.
- The Criminal and Domestic Commissioners handle bonds, first appearances, and domestic matters.
- First and Second Parish Courts keep misdemeanor, small civil, and traffic dockets.
Parish Court and Juvenile Court Dockets
The two parish courts keep their own dockets for the cases they hear. First Parish Court sits at 924 David Drive in Metairie and runs separate civil, criminal, and traffic desks. Second Parish Court sits at 100 Huey P. Long Avenue in Gretna with the same split. Each desk has its own phone line, which helps when you need to ask about a docket entry by phone rather than online.
Juvenile Court dockets are a different matter. The court at 1546 Gretna Boulevard in Harvey handles juvenile charges, adoptions, non-support, and juvenile traffic. The Clerk states those records are closed and not open to public examination. You cannot search a juvenile docket on JeffNet, and you must petition the Juvenile Court to view a file.
| Court | Civil | Criminal | Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Parish Court | 504-736-8391 | 504-736-8910 | 504-731-4682 |
| Second Parish Court | 504-364-2932 | 504-364-2929 | 504-364-2930 |
For traffic dockets in these courts, the Jefferson Parish traffic court records page has more detail.
Reading Minute Entries and Motions
Docket language is short and uses set terms. A minute entry is the clerk's official note of a court session. A motion asks the judge to do something, and the matching order shows the ruling. The terms below come up on most Jefferson Parish dockets.
- Minute Entry
- The official summary of what happened in court that day.
- Motion
- A written request for the court to enter an order.
- Continuance
- A postponement of a hearing or trial to a later date.
- Rule to Show Cause
- An order telling a party to appear and explain something.
- Disposition
- The final outcome recorded for the case.
Docket Coverage Dates
Online dockets start at different points for each court. Knowing the dates keeps you from assuming an old case is missing when it simply predates online activity. The table sums up the coverage.
| Court | Activity online from |
|---|---|
| 24th JDC civil | January 1, 1986 |
| 24th JDC criminal | April 28, 1994 |
| First Parish Court civil | 1983 |
| Second Parish Court civil | 1986 |
| Parish courts criminal / traffic | 1990 |
For cases older than these dates, inspect the paper file in person or ask the Clerk for help locating it.
Appeals, Hearings, and Docket Limits
A docket can show an appeal entry once a party challenges a ruling. Appeals from the 24th JDC go to the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, and the docket marks the notice and the record transfer. Hearing dates appear as scheduled events, and a missed criminal hearing can trigger an attachment for arrest.
Online dockets have limits. Juvenile dockets are closed. Sealed and expunged matters drop out of search. A few entries may lag the paper file by a day or two. Always confirm a date or outcome with the Clerk before you rely on it.
Common Questions About Jefferson Parish Dockets
A few questions come up again and again when people first open a Jefferson Parish court docket. The short answers below cover the basics before you spend money on remote access.
Is a docket the same as the full case file? No. The docket lists the events and dates. The full file holds the actual documents, which you download as images at $0.75 per page on JeffNet.
Can I see a docket without paying? Yes, in person. You can inspect an open docket for free at the Clerk's desk during weekday hours. Remote JeffNet access is the part that carries a fee.
Why is a recent filing missing from the docket? New entries can lag the paper file by a day or two, so a very recent motion may not show right away. Check again or call the Clerk to confirm.