Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Calling the Court

  1. Clerks can look up hearing dates based on a variety of information: party name, case number, the name of the judge, or some other method. In order to release information about the court date, the clerk may want personal identification information from you. For example, your birth date, year of arrest, and the charges against you. [1] Gather as much information as you can.
    • Look at the complaint filed in the case to find the case number, the judge’s name, and other information.
  2. You will need to contact the clerk of court to find out your next court date. To find the court’s phone number, you can look in your phone book or do an internet search. Type the name of the court and “phone number” into a web browser.
    • Be sure you have the right court. In large cities, there may be several courts: a criminal court building, a civil court building, family court, etc.
    • If you have been charged with a crime, then you will appear in criminal court (or juvenile court if a juvenile). If you are being sued by another private party, you are probably in civil court.
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  3. After you have located the court’s phone number, you should call the clerk and ask when your next court date is. You may have to work through an automated system.
    • If you reach an automated system and need to speak to a live person, then wait until all of the options have been listed. If you don’t pick any option, then you should be forwarded to a person to talk to.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using an Online System

  1. Court hearing dates may be kept online by each individual court or in a centralized database by the state. To find out where you should look, “find my court date” and the county where you live.
    • If you don’t see any relevant results, then type “find my court date” and the state where you live.
  2. At the 19th Judicial District for East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, criminal defendants can search using either their name or docket number. [2]
    • Other online systems may allow you to search using different information.
  3. Enter your information accurately and completely and hit “Search” or “Submit.” [3] Your court date should be pulled up.
    • If you have questions, or if no court date information appears, then you should contact the court directly by telephone.
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      Tips

      • To make sure that you always know your court dates, you should get a small notebook which you reserve solely for writing down court appointments. When you appear in court, be sure to bring the notebook with you and write down the next scheduled court date.
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      Warnings

      • If you can’t make a court date, then you will need to contact the other party, whether the prosecutor or the other side in a civil case. You can’t simply call the court and inform them that you won’t be attending the hearing.
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