Town Legal Matters

This section will deal with legal matters concerning the Town of Simmesport. This includes the Lawreson Act, which dictates how the town government is set up, to the town law firm and City Court

The Lawreson Act

Prior to 1882, each municipality was incorporated by a separate legislative act. Then in 1898 The “Lawreson Act” was passed which set a unified framework for local governments. Named after Judge Samuel McCutcheon Lawrason, a West Feliciana Parish lawyer born in 1852 in New Orleans, the act is the guide and framework for over 75% of all local Louisiana governments. Simmesport falls under the Lawreson Act, although it did get the Louisiana Legislature to change the Police Chief position to an appointed position instead of an elected position (as stated in the Lawreson Act). This act dictates the duties of elected officials, what powers each of them have and how town meetings are to be run. Here is a link to the Lawreson Act if you wish to read it.

The Lawrason Act