A. A judge of any trial or appellate court shall disclose, to the best of his information and belief, the existence of any of the following to all attorneys and unrepresented parties in the cause:
Art. 152.Disclosures
Title I. Courts · Chapter 3. Recusal of Judges · Last amended 2021 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 152 requires a judge to disclose to all attorneys and unrepresented parties certain facts — a past association with counsel in the case, ongoing personal representation by that counsel, a prior judicial act in the same cause, close family relationships, or a family member's economic stake — so a party can then decide whether to move for recusal.
Full Text of Art. 152
(1) The judge has been associated with an attorney during the latter's employment in the cause.
(2) At the time of the hearing of any contested issue in the cause, the judge has continued to employ, to represent him personally, the attorney actually handling the cause or a member of that attorney's firm.
(3) The judge performed a judicial act in the cause in another court.
(4) The judge is related to any of the following:
(a) A party or the spouse of a party, within the fourth degree.
(b) An attorney employed in the cause, the spouse of the attorney, or any member of the attorney's law firm, within the second degree.
(5) The judge's spouse, parent, child, or immediate family member has a substantial economic interest in the subject matter in controversy.
B. Upon disclosure, any party may file a motion that sets forth a ground for recusal under Article151.
Amendment History
Amended by Acts 2021, No. 143, §1, eff. 8/1/2021. Acts 1985, No. 967, §1; Acts 2001, No. 932, §1.
Plain-English Summary
Not every fact worth knowing about a judge's connections to a case rises to a mandatory ground for recusal under Article 151. Article 152 handles that gap by requiring disclosure instead. A judge must tell every attorney and unrepresented party, to the best of the judge's knowledge, about specific circumstances: a past professional association with an attorney now handling the case, current personal representation by that same attorney or the attorney's firm, a prior judicial act the judge took in the same matter while sitting on another court, a qualifying family relationship to a party or attorney, or a close family member's substantial economic interest in the outcome.
The disclosure itself doesn't force the judge off the case. It gives the parties the information they need to decide whether to act. Once a judge discloses one of these facts, Paragraph B lets any party file a motion setting out a ground for recusal under Article 151 — but the disclosed fact has to support one of those grounds before recusal follows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a judge required to disclose to the parties in a case?
Under Article 152, a judge must disclose things like a past association with an attorney in the case, ongoing personal representation by that attorney, a prior judicial act taken in the same cause elsewhere, qualifying family relationships to a party or attorney, or a close family member's economic stake in the outcome.
Does a judge's disclosure automatically mean the judge has to step down?
No. Disclosure under Article 152 only informs the parties. It takes a motion under Article 151 setting out an actual ground for recusal before the judge is required to step aside.
What can I do if a judge discloses a connection to my case that concerns me?
You can file a motion under Article 151 that sets out the ground for recusal the disclosed fact supports. The disclosure itself is what opens the door to raising it.
How closely related does a judge have to be to a party before disclosure is required?
Article 152 requires disclosure of a relationship to a party or a party's spouse within the fourth degree, and to an attorney employed in the case, that attorney's spouse, or a member of the attorney's firm within the second degree.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the vLex (Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, 2026 Edition). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
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