Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Access Information for Persons with Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is federal civil rights statute that requires all state and local governmental entities, including the courts, to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities who have an interest in court activities, programs, services, and employment. The 19th Judicial District Court welcomes our patrons with disabilities.
The court will make reasonable efforts to meet the needs of litigants, attorneys, job applicants, employees and others with disabilities who request physical accommodations, who wish written materials converted to alternative formats, or who request auxiliary aids, interpreters, assistive listening devices or other services when:
a member of the public needs an accommodation in order to visit, conduct business, or participate in any activity or program at the Court; or
an applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to be considered for a job; or
an applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of the job or to gain access to the workplace; or
an employee with a disability needs an accommodation to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment.
Individuals requiring assistance or special accommodations for activities, programs, visits, or employment at the court should follow the appropriate procedures outlined below. Accommodation requests must be in writing and submitted as far in advance as possible. Such requests may be made for the person with the disability by a family member, health professional, or other representative.
Potential Jurors and patrons conducting business with the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court’s Office may address their requests for accommodation directly to the Clerk of Court or his designee in writing to East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court’s Office, P.O. Box 1991 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-1991or by calling (225) 389-3950.
REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATION IN COURT PROCEEDINGS
Applications requesting accommodations pursuant to this rule may be presented ex parte (i.e., done on behalf of one party only and without notice to an opposing party) in writing, on the ADA Accommodation Request Form.
Requests for accommodations must be made as far in advance as possible but no less than five (5) court days from the date upon which it is needed. The court may, in its discretion, waive this requirement.
All accommodation requests shall include a description of the accommodation sought, along with a statement about the impairment that requires such accommodation. The Court or its designee may request additional information about the qualifying impairment if it is deemed necessary.
Upon receipt of the request, the court shall place under seal the identity of the applicant as designated on the application form and all other identifying information provided to the court pursuant to the application.
An applicant may make ex parte communications with the court. Such communications shall deal only with the accommodation(s) the applicant’s disability requires and shall not deal in any manner with the subject matter or merits of the proceedings before the court.
The applicant will be informed in writing of findings of fact and orders, as may be appropriate, that the request for accommodations is granted or denied, in whole or in part, and the nature of the accommodation(s) to be provided, if any.
REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATION FROM COURT EMPLOYEES
Written requests/applications for accommodation pursuant to this section may be submitted to the Judicial Administrator’s Office.
Requests shall include a description of the accommodation sought, along with a statement of the impairment that necessitates such accommodation. The Court may require the applicant to provide additional information about the qualifying impairment.
The ADA Coordinator will complete an essential functions job analysis and may request a clinician review to help determine whether/how applicant may perform essential functions with or without accommodation; assess whether the applicant is a qualified individual with a disability; recommend reasonable accommodation(s), if applicable, or alternate work if accommodation appears to be unduly burdensome, and summarize findings and forward recommendation to the Judicial Administrator.
Court representatives may consult with the applicant and his/her representative and/or rehabilitation counselor, if applicable.
REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATION FROM JOB APPLICANTS
Requests for reasonable accommodation during the application process should be submitted to the Judicial Administrator’s Office as far in advance of the requested accommodations implementation date as possible, and in any event, should be made no less than five business days prior to the requested implementation date.
Requests for accommodation that relate to the essential functions of a position should be at the time that a conditional offer of employment is extended.
Requests shall include a description of the accommodation sought, along with a statement of the impairment that necessitates such accommodation. The Court may require the applicant to provide additional information about the qualifying impairment.
The ADA Coordinator will review the application and make a recommendation to the Judicial Administrator.
In determining whether to grant an accommodation and what accommodation to grant, the Judicial Administrator shall consider, but is not limited by, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and related state and federal laws.
The applicant will be informed in writing of Judicial Administrator’s findings. The Judicial Administrator’s decision to deny a request for accommodation is final.
OBJECTIONS
Non-Employees
Individuals with disabilities who believe they have been discriminated against with regard to access to employment, services, programs or other activities at the at the 19th Judicial District Court may use the 19th JDC ADA Complaint Form to file a complaint with the Court’s ADA Coordinator at: 300 North Boulevard, Suite 3602, Baton Rouge, LA 70801 or via email at cpatterson@19thjdc.org.
Upon receipt of a complaint, the ADA Coordinator shall review the complaint, notify the Judicial Administrator and propose a resolution for reasonable accommodations. The approved resolution shall then be communicated with the complainant.
Employees
Employee objections shall be resolved by utilizing the applicable Court procedures detailed in the Employee Handbook.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
It is the Court’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all of its applicants and employees. The Court does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, age, gender, color, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), creed, national origin, ancestry, religion, union activity, organizational affiliation, political opinions, sexual orientation, family care status, veteran status, marital status, or any other basis protected by law. This policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, selection, appointment, training, promotion, retention, performance evaluations, compensation, benefits, transfer, voluntary demotion, and discipline.
LIST OF CONTACTS
Requests for accommodation should be directed to the ADA Coordinator:
Charise Patterson
Deputy Judicial Administrator for Court Operations
19th Judicial District Court
300 North Boulevard Suite 3602
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Telephone: (225) 389-4744; Fax: (225) 389-4774
E-mail: cpatterson@19thjdc.org
FORMS