The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

The Supreme Court, and Louisiana state law, are historically based in the colonial governments of France and Spain during the 18th century.

Under the colonial governments of France and Spain, the courts of what is now Louisiana existed in several different forms.

In 1807, the newly-elected Legislative Council created courts in each of the territory's nineteen parishes.

The Supreme Court retained five justices, but they were now appointed by the Governor and served twelve-year terms.

The Constitution of 1913 affected the Court by requiring that the members of the judiciary be elected instead of appointed.

Due to having a large backlog in its docket, the Court was authorized to sit in panels of three.

The Court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction (i.e. all intermediate courts of appeals are bypassed) over 1) any case where a law or ordinance of this state has been declared unconstitutional, or 2) when a defendant has been convicted of a capital crime and the death penalty has actually been imposed pursuant to La.

5, § 6, provides that "The judge oldest in point of service on the supreme court shall be chief justice.

"[5] When Justice Bernette Johnson was elected in 1994, she technically filled a seat on a state appeals court but was assigned to serve on the Supreme Court on a full-time basis under the terms of a federal consent decree.

[7] On September 1, Federal District Court Judge Susie Morgan ruled that Johnson had seniority.

[10] On October 16, 2012, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that Johnson would become the next Chief Justice.