History & Changes Affecting the Ruston Marshal's Office
 and Ruston City Court

1873 - Lincoln Parish was formed out of portions of Jackson, Bienville, Claiborne and Union parishes.  The Lincoln Parish Court was created and had concurrent jurisdiction with the Justice of the Peace courts within Lincoln Parish.  Vienna was named the parish seat.

1883 - Ruston was founded by Robert E. Russ.

1884 - Ruston was incorporated as a town.  The parish seat was moved from Vienna to Ruston because the Vicksburg, Shreveport, and Pacific Railroad began service through Ruston.  The local population shifted toward Ruston because of the transportation improvements.

1926 - The governor signed into a law, Act No. 157, Senate Bill No. 193., replacing the Justice of the Peace for Ward One of Lincoln Parish (which encompassed the Town of Ruston) with the offices of Municipal Judge and Municipal Marshal.  The judge shall be a qualified attorney-at-law and the marshal shall be a qualified peace officer.  The judge and marshal have a six year term of office.  The first judge was E. L. Walker and the first marshal was J. W. Richardson.

? - The Town of Ruston became the City of Ruston

1981  - A special election was held to fill the unexpired term of the late City Marshal, Charles Humphries. Seven persons qualified to run for this office.  F. Michael Hilton was elected in the first primary with 56% of the votes cast.

1984 - The geographical jurisdiction of the Ruston City Court was extended throughout Lincoln Parish and monetary jurisdiction increased from $5,000 to $10,000.  This change was made to eliminate or postpone the need for a third district court by reducing the district court case load.

1995 - The monetary jurisdiction of the Ruston City Court was increased from $10,000 to $15,000.  This change was made by the state legislature because inflation was forcing creditors to use the district court where an attorney must be used.  The rule of thumb is that a creditor should be able to use a small claims court for the value of a car.

1995 - The Ruston Probation Department was formed.  In the past, guilty defendants had a choice of paying a fine in full or go to jail.  With jail overcrowding and increasing numbers of indigent defendants other sentencing options were needed.  With a probation department the indigent can pay their fines over time.  Plus the law mandates that the sentence for some crimes include community service, restitution, and mandated classes.  In other cases where there is no room at the jail, defendants are sentenced to "Home Incarceration."  The probation department keeps up with balances due on account, directs the community service program, insures that defendants attend court ordered classes, visits defendants on Home Incarceration, and pursues those defendants who are not keeping up with their court ordered obligations.  The probation department operates under the direction of the Ruston City Court and the officers are commissioned deputies under the Ruston Marshal.

2001 - The monetary jurisdiction of the Ruston City Court was increased from $15,000 to $20,000.  This change was made by the state legislature because inflation was forcing creditors to use the district court where an attorney must be used.  The rule of thumb is that a creditor should be able to use a small claims court for the value of a car.

2004 - The monetary jurisdiction of the Ruston City Court was increased from $20,000 to $25,000.  This change was made by the state legislature because inflation was forcing creditors to use the district court where an attorney must be used.  The rule of thumb is that a creditor should be able to use a small claims court for the value of a car.

Notes:  Two-thirds of all civil and criminal services served by the Ruston Marshal's Office are made inside the Ruston city limits.  Ninety-five percent of all civil and criminal services made by the Ruston Marshal's Office are served to Ruston residents or are filed by Ruston businesses or residents.