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Clerk's Office Hours: Monday - Friday  |  8:00AM - 4:00PM

1601 Perdido St. New Orleans, LA 70112

504.658.8500

About Us

The New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court is a vital component of the city's justice system, ensuring the fair and efficient administration of justice in matters related to municipal ordinances and traffic violations. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to upholding the rule of law and providing excellent service to the residents of New Orleans.

As a department, we are responsible for overseeing a wide range of administrative and clerical functions that support the smooth operation of the court.

Court functions include:

 

1. Court Administration: We manage the day-to-day operations of the court, including scheduling hearings, maintaining court records, and facilitating communication between judges, attorneys, and the public.

2. Clerical Functions: Our staff handles the processing and filing of legal documents, maintains accurate records of court proceedings, and ensures that all necessary paperwork is completed.

3. New Orleans Sheriff's Office: We work closely with the New Orleans Marshal's Office, which is responsible for providing security and executing court orders.

4. Building Security We are dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all who enter the Municipal and Traffic Court building. Our security team works diligently to ensure the protection of judges, court staff, and the public.

Appropriate attire is mandatory for any appearance in Court, whether as a participant in a case, a witness, as well as public or private counsel.

Dress Code:

 

The Dress Code for The Municipal and Traffic Court is as follows:

Men: wear shoes with socks; long pants (on pants with belt loops, wear a belt); collared shirt (tucked in) with a tie, with or without a jacket.

Women: wear shoes; a dress, skirt or long pants; a blouse, sweater or casual dress shirt.

You will NOT be allowed to enter the Courtroom wearing the following inappropriate clothing (this may result in an arrest warrant for failure to appear or a default of your case):

  • Shorts
  • Hats (men) or hair curlers (women)
  • Halter or tube top
  • T-shirt or muscle shirt
  • See-through top
  • Flip flops
  • Clothing that exposes your midriff or underwear
  • Ripped or torn jeans
  • Baggy pants that fall below your waist
  • Clothing with an emblem or wording that promotes illegal or inappropriate activity
  • Clothing that depicts or promotes violence, sex acts, illegal drug use or profanity

First Appearance Court:

 

Time: 11:00am

It is very important that you or a licensed attorney representing you go to the court on the date mentioned in the paperwork. This court appearance is called the "First Appearance Court."

If you have any questions or need assistance with a matter related to the Municipal and Traffic Court, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Judges

Image of Paul N. Sens

Division A

8:00am

Honorable Paul N. Sens


Judge Paul N. Sens is graduate of Tulane University and Loyola University School of Law.

Judge Sens served as a staff attorney with the Orleans Public Defender’s Office, he spent 19 years as a solo practitioner, and he was an appointed Louisiana Assistant State Attorney before becoming a judge.

In 1988 and in 1992 he was elected to the Orleans Parish School Board. In that capacity, he served as the Board’s President and Vice-President.

In 1994, he accepted the position of Executive Assistant to the Mayor of the City of New Orleans. His duties with the Mayor’s Office eventually included Intergovernmental Relations, Economic Development and Criminal Justice Coordination. In 1997 he was elected Judge of New Orleans Municipal Court.

Judge Sens served as the Administrative Judge for New Orleans Municipal Court, he is a Fellow of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, a past President of the Louisiana City Judges Association, and past President of the 4th and 5th Circuit Judges Association. In 2010, Judge Sens started a Homeless Court in New Orleans Municipal Court, which earned him the honor of the 2011 Distinguished Jurist Award by the Pro Bono Project.


Image of Robert E. Jones III, Adminstrative Judge

Division B & Community Court

10:00am

Honorable Robert E. Jones III, Adminstrative Judge

Image of Charlene Larche-Mason

Division C

11:00am

Honorable Charlene Larche-Mason

Image of Mark J. Shea

Division D

9:00am

Honorable Mark J. Shea


Mark J. Shea was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in October of 1984, and entered the practice of law as an associate at Shea Law Offices with his father, John.

He was a staff attorney at the Orleans Indigent Defender Program from 1984 until 2007. In 2009, he was elected as Judge in Traffic Court for the City of New Orleans, Section “C”, and now is in Division “D” of the Municipal and Traffic Courts.

He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans Bar Association, Jefferson Bar Association, St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association, American Judges Association, Louisiana City Court Judges Association and a Board Member of the 4" and 5" Circuit Judges Association.
 


Image of Bobbie E. Smith

Division E

1:00pm

Honorable Bobbie E. Smith

Image of Joseph B. Landry

Division F

3:00pm

Honorable Joseph B. Landry

Image of Steven M. Jupiter

Division G

1:00pm

Honorable Steven M. Jupiter


Judge Steven Jupiter was elected to the New Orleans Traffic Court, Division D in 2013.

He graduated from Xavier University in 1992 with a B.A. in Philosophy. Upon graduation, he worked in Washington, D.C. as a congressional aid and obtained a law degree from Catholic University/Columbus School of Law in 1996.

Judge Jupiter began his legal career as the law clerk to the Honorable Michael G. Bagneris, Orleans Parish Civil District Court.

In 1998, he went into private practice with the law firm Leblanc, Maples & Waddell, LLC and honed his skills as an advocate and Litigation Manager. He oversaw the administrative affairs of the New Orleans office which included the claims of people exposed to asbestos and other occupational hazards. In 2005, he began the Jupiter Law Firm, concentrating in the areas of toxic torts/asbestos, real estate, estate planning, commercial transactions and personal injury.

Judge Jupiter also serves as “Of Counsel” to the Haley Law firm, responsible for trial and appellate advocacy on behalf of corporations, municipalities and governmental agencies. As a member of the Silverback Society, NAACP’s Gulf Coast Advocacy Center, and the Louisiana Justice Institute, Judge Jupiter has demonstrated a commitment to working in the community. He has been a volunteer with the New Orleans Juvenile Court Conflict Attorney Panel where he provided free legal assistance to underserved youth.

Judge Jupiter is married to Tonya Rhodes Jupiter and they have two daughters.
 


Custodian of Records

 

Christopher P. Sens

Clerk of Court

1601 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: 504-658-8500

Staff

 

Monique M. Boissiere

Judicial Administrator