The sheriff is the executive officer of the district court. He shall serve citations, summons, subpoenas, notices, and other process, and shall execute writs, mandates, orders, and judgments directed to him by the district courts, the courts of appeal, and the supreme court.
Art. 321.Executive Officer of District Court; Serves Process, Executes Writs and Mandates Directed to Him By Courts
Title I. Courts · Chapter 6. Sheriffs · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 321 makes the sheriff the executive officer of the district court, charged with serving citations, summonses, subpoenas, and other process, and with executing every writ, mandate, order, and judgment that the district courts, the courts of appeal, and the supreme court direct to him.
Full Text of Art. 321
Plain-English Summary
Article 321 sets out the sheriff's core job in Louisiana's civil courts: carrying out what the courts order. Serving process means delivering official notice — a citation, summons, subpoena, or other paper — to the person the court needs to reach. Executing a writ, mandate, order, or judgment is more active: seizing property, enforcing a court command, or otherwise making a judgment happen on the ground rather than on paper.
The sheriff answers not just to the district court but to the courts of appeal and the supreme court as well. Louisiana runs civil enforcement through one parish-based office rather than separate marshals for each level of court, so when an appellate court needs something carried out — enforcing a judgment after an appeal, for instance — the same sheriff who handles the district court's business does the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between serving process and executing a writ?
Serving process means delivering official notice, like a citation or subpoena, to a person. Executing a writ, mandate, order, or judgment means carrying out an active court command, such as a seizure.
Does the sheriff only handle papers for the district court?
No. Article 321 directs the sheriff to serve and execute process from the district courts, the courts of appeal, and the supreme court alike.
What does it mean to call the sheriff the "executive officer" of the court?
It means the sheriff is the court's designated enforcement arm — the office responsible for turning the court's papers and orders into real-world action.
Can someone other than the sheriff serve papers or execute a writ in Louisiana?
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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