The First Circuit Court of Appeal was created by Act. No. 561 of 1958, which amended Article 7, Section 21 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1921. The court began operations in Baton Rouge on July 1, 1960 with five judges. Act. No. 114 of 1975 increased the number of judges to nine. Act. No. 661 of 1980 increased the number of judges to ten. Act. No. 3 of 1981 increased the number of judges to twelve.
The Hon. Vanessa G. Whipple is the chief judge. In 1990, she became the first woman elected to the First Circuit Court of Appeal. In January 2013, she was sworn in as that court’s first female chief Judge.
Website: http://www.la-fcca.org/