After the trial is completed, the court may immediately pronounce judgment or take the case under advisement.
Art. 1637.Completion of Trial; Pronouncement of Judgment
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title V. Trial · Chapter 4. Trial Procedure · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1637 lets a Louisiana court either pronounce judgment immediately once trial is complete or take the case under advisement to decide later.
Full Text of Art. 1637
Plain-English Summary
Once trial ends, Article 1637 gives the court two options rather than forcing an instant ruling or a delay: the court may pronounce judgment immediately, or take the case under advisement.
Taking a case under advisement means the judge postpones a decision to review the evidence, the record, and the law before ruling, which is common in complicated cases where an immediate ruling from the bench would not serve either side well. Article 1637 itself does not set a deadline for how long that review can take.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must a Louisiana judge rule immediately when a trial ends?
No. The judge may pronounce judgment right away or take the case under advisement.
What does it mean for a judge to take a case under advisement?
The judge postpones a decision to review the evidence and the law before ruling, rather than deciding immediately from the bench.
Does Article 1637 set a deadline for a judge to rule after taking a case under advisement?
No. This article does not specify a deadline; it establishes only that both immediate and delayed rulings are permitted.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
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