Government House: First Louisiana Supreme Court Location, 1813-1818

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Government House, where the Louisiana Supreme Court met for approximately five years from March 1, 1813 until 1818, was located on the northeast corner of Levee (now Decatur) and Toulouse Streets in the French Quarter. Built by the French in 1761, Government House was occupied by the French high court, the French Superior Council, until 1769. When the Spanish gained control of Louisiana, the Spanish governor-general resided there. After the Americans purchased Louisiana in December 1803, the Louisiana legislature occupied Government House and was in session as late as December 1814, prior to the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815. According to Fortier’s History of Louisiana, in December 1814, Major General Andrew Jackson allegedly threatened to “blow up” the Louisiana legislature in Government House after rumors circulated that the legislature might surrender to the British. Fortunately, this did not come to pass.

A large, raised building with covered galleries extending along the sides, Government House occupied 220 feet on the Mississippi River and extended 330 feet to the next street. In an 1885 Guide to New Orleans, Government House was described as “a plain residence of one story, with the aspect of an inn. It fronted the river. One side was bordered by a narrow and unpretending garden in the form of a parterre, and on the other side ran a low gallery screened by latticework, while the back yard, inclosed [sic] by fences, contained the kitchens and the stables.”

“Placing their desire for stable, consistent justice above their parochial concerns, Louisiana’s early lawyers and judges blended civilian and American principles of law in a distinctively American court system. The Louisiana Constitution of 1812 created a state judiciary that represented the reconciliation of civil and common law traditions,” according to "A Brief History of the Supreme Court."

On April 30, 1812, Louisiana became the 18th State admitted to the United States. Less than a year later, the Louisiana Supreme Court was created. On February 10, 1813, Louisiana Governor William Charles Cole Claiborne signed the first Judiciary Act of Louisiana, establishing the Louisiana Supreme Court. Three judges “learned in the law” were to be appointed, the first appointed to be the presiding judge. The Supreme Court was required to meet in New Orleans less than three weeks later, on March 1, 1813.

The Louisiana Supreme Court was delegated appellate jurisdiction in civil matters exceeding $300, as well as control over admission to the bar. The state was divided into eastern and western judicial districts that required the judges to ride circuit, sitting in New Orleans from November through July and in Opelousas from August through October. The Supreme Court was to hear appeals from the eastern judicial district in New Orleans and the western judicial district in Opelousas.

The Louisiana Supreme Court first convened in Government House, the first Louisiana State Capitol Building. Governor Claiborne appointed Dominick Augustin Hall and George Mathews as the first judges. Judge Hall, the first Chief Judge, was appointed first on February 22, 1813, and Judge Matthews was appointed the following day, February 23, 1813.

According to the official minutes, the Court adjourned that first day after Judges Hall and Mathews produced their commissions. Judge Pierre Derbigny joined the bench the following week. Of the three judges, only Judge Derbigny had no prior judicial training.

On March 2, 1813, the Court admitted seven lawyers to practice, including Francois Xavier Martin, who became a Supreme Court judge two years later in 1815, Edward Livingston, and John Grymes. The Court met for six days the first week, including Saturday, according to the Court’s official minutes.

The Supreme Court heard its first case on March 11, 1813, an appeal from the territorial Superior Court. Four days later, the Court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over cases decided in the territorial Superior Court, those decisions being final and irrevocable. By this ruling, the Louisiana Supreme Court permitted itself to create new law and not be bound by prior cases.

Having survived the Battle of New Orleans, in February 1828, Government House burned down after a fire broke out in a small dry goods store located next door. According to an 1828 newspaper account, the new Civil Code and the Code of Practice, except about 50 copies, were destroyed in the fire.