Judge Orders Additional Jurors Summoned At St. Tammany Courthouse

Rare “Tales Juror” Process Used After Jury Pool Falls Short In Ongoing Proceedings

A judge in St. Tammany Parish ordered additional prospective jurors to be summoned Wednesday after the existing jury pool was not large enough to complete selection in an ongoing court proceeding.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office said Court Security deputies were assisting with jury selection under an order issued by Judge Ellen Creel at the parish courthouse in Covington. According to the sheriff’s office, the court determined that the available jury pool was insufficient and directed deputies to help procure more prospective jurors.

Under Louisiana law, judges in parishes outside Orleans can use what are known as “tales jurors” when a regular petit jury venire is exhausted or is about to be exhausted before a jury is impaneled. Article 785 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure allows a judge to summon additional jurors from among people who are in or around the courthouse.

The sheriff’s office said people approached by deputies were being contacted in accordance with the court’s order and state law. The agency said questions about the decision to use the process should be directed to Judge Creel’s office.

Online jury-duty information for the 22nd Judicial District Court shows that St. Tammany jurors are coordinated through the court system, with the Justice Center at 701 N. Columbia St. in Covington serving as a central courthouse location. The court’s published calendar also notes scheduled felony jury trial weeks and civil jury trial or bench trial weeks across divisions, underscoring the steady demand for qualified jurors in the district.

Why This Matters In Slidell

Although the jury-selection issue unfolded at the Covington courthouse, it matters to residents across St. Tammany Parish, including Slidell, because parishwide jury service is essential to keeping criminal and civil cases moving through the 22nd Judicial District Court. Delays in seating juries can slow proceedings that affect victims, defendants, witnesses, attorneys and families throughout the Northshore.

For Slidell residents called for jury duty, the episode is also a reminder that jury service is not just a formality. When turnout or available pools run short, judges may be forced to use less common legal procedures to complete a panel and avoid postponing trials.