Avoyelles Parish, La. (4/4/2026) – A newly filed state bill is drawing strong backlash after residents learned it would eliminate two city courts in Avoyelles Parish and shift how the local court system operates.
State Representative Daryl Deshotel introduced House Bill 1165 on March 31. The bill proposes eliminating both the Bunkie City Court and the Marksville City Court. At the same time, it creates a third judgeship in the 12th Judicial District Court.
The bill language is clear. It repeals the laws that establish both city courts. As a result, those courts would no longer exist beginning January 1, 2027.
In addition, the bill increases the number of district judges from two to three. Voters across Avoyelles Parish would elect the new judge at-large. That judge would serve parish-wide and take office in 2027.
However, the bill does more than add a judge. It eliminates the city courts and the laws that establish positions such as judges, marshals, clerks, and court staff tied to those courts.
Concerns Spread Quickly
Because of that, concerns spread quickly once the public became aware of the proposal.
“I don’t care for it at all,” one resident said. “It seems like they trying to shift even more power to Marksville.”
Others pointed to the lack of public input. “It is ridiculous,” another resident said. “It seems anything that they want to go a certain way, they do not allow the people to vote on.”
Meanwhile, concerns about jobs surfaced across the parish. “They are messing with people’s jobs and this is so wrong,” a resident said.
Marksville City Marshal Jeffery Carmouche also voiced strong opposition. “Very much against as it would eliminate my Marshal job but more importantly it would hurt the people of this parish,” he said.
In Bunkie, residents expressed concern about continued losses in their community. “We have lost enough in Bunkie,” one resident said. “We need to keep the City Court and City Marshal.”
At the same time, questions remain about how the system would function after the change. The bill does not outline logistics such as courtroom space, staffing, or case flow.
However, under Louisiana law, when a lower court is eliminated, its responsibilities do not disappear. Instead, those cases shift to the district court.
That means traffic cases, misdemeanors, evictions, and smaller civil matters would move to the 12th Judicial District Court. As a result, court activity would likely become more centralized within the parish.
Representative Deshotel
Representative Deshotel responded publicly as concerns grew. He stated the bill is still being developed.
“It’s important to get the facts before posting,” Deshotel said. “My goal is to do what is best for the taxpayers of the entire parish.”
He also suggested that access could remain local. “What if the third district judge was located in Bunkie?” he said. “Residents could still handle their matters in Bunkie.”
In addition, Deshotel addressed financial concerns. He noted that district judges are paid by the state. Therefore, he said the parish could see savings that may be redirected to priorities such as roads or animal services.
Even so, concerns about transparency remain central to the conversation. Several residents said they were not aware of the bill before it was introduced.
“Detailed transparency might have avoided the negativity,” one resident said.
The bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process. It must pass through committee and legislative votes before becoming law.
For now, the facts are clear. HB 1165 would eliminate both city courts in Avoyelles Parish, remove the legal framework supporting those courts and positions, and create a new district judge elected parish-wide.
The debate now centers on whether that shift improves efficiency or reduces access to local justice.
