Jurisdiction of Alexandria City Court is limited to the citizens of Wards 1, 2 and 8 in Rapides Parish. Within those boundaries the court has the power to hear and decide both criminal and civil cases, rule in civil cases and hand down judgment for punishment in criminal cases.

The City Court of Alexandria, Civil and Criminal shall convene on the first Tuesday of September and remain in continuous session through the first Monday of September the following year. The Court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Tuesday and Thursdays are soley criminal and traffic respectively. Civil cases, other than small claims, are heard on Wednesday and Friday starting at 9 a.m. Evictions are heard at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Mondays are reserved for special settings and Small Claims. City Court Rules are available on request to the Clerk.

Certain criteria determine if a civil case meets the requirements to qualify for hearing in city court. The primary requirement is that the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000 in value.

Criminal case limitations are such that the penalty does not exceed a $1,000 fine and/or six months incarceration. Traffic offenses and violations of city ordinances are all heard in this court.

A Small Claims Division is part of the Alexandria City Court established pursuant to Louisiana Statues 13:5201-5212. You may sue to resolve minor civil disputes or try to recover claims of up to $3,000.00 plus interest and court costs. A claim, generally speaking, asserts a legal right you may have. Cases are generally heard on the last Monday of each month. Rules for this division of Court are available on request to the Clerk.

An established structure on the corner of Washington and 6th Streets has received a dramatic facelift and now houses the Alexandria City Court. The new maximum security, state-of-the-art facility houses the offices of the City Judge, City Marshal as well as the offices of the Clerk of Court, Deputy Marshals, Bonds and Fines Department, Probation and Pre-Trial Intervention Department, Criminal Deputy Clerk, Prosecution Staff and two courtrooms are also located in the building.