The Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, was created by Act. No. 561 of 1958, which amended Article 7, Section 21 of the 1921 Louisiana Constitution. The court began operations in Lake Charles on July 1, 1960, with five judges. Act. No. 10 of 1968 increased the number of judges from five to six. Act No. 620 of 1977 increased the number of judges to nine. Then, Act No. 801 of 1987 increased the number of judges to twelve.
Originally the court was housed in the courthouse annex of the Fourteenth Judicial District Court. Construction of a new courthouse began in January 1990. The Court took occupancy of the building on November 1, 1991. In 1999 the Court was dedicated & renamed in honor of Judge Albert Tate, the first Chief Judge of the Third Circuit.
The Hon. Ulysses Gene Thibodeaux has been Chief Judge since 2004.
Website: http://www.la3circuit.org/
