Third Judicial District Attorney's Office

11/13/2023

Champs for Children Spotlight! Thank you Laurie for your dedication to keeping children safe.

01/11/2021

Our offices in both Lincoln and Union parishes will be closed tomorrow due to weather conditions.

12/24/2020

12/20/2020

I, along with the Third Judicial District Judges, will be sworn in on Monday, December 21, 2020. We will be sworn in at the Union Parish courthouse at 1:30 pm. Then we will travel to the Lincoln Parish courthouse for a swearing-in ceremony which will begin about 2:30 pm. Everyone is invited to attend, however, due to Covid-19 concerns, we understand if you cannot. I am grateful to God and the citizens of Lincoln and Union Parishes for allowing me to serve for another six year term.

08/04/2020

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN BELTON ELECTED TO NATIONAL POST

Third Judicial District Attorney John Belton of Ruston has been elected by his peers as vice president of the National District Attorneys Association...

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Third Judicial District Attorney John Belton of Ruston has been elected by his peers as vice president of the National District Attorneys Association.

06/05/2020

Update of Joint Statement by Lincoln and Union Parish Law Enforcement

06/04/2020

05/22/2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

During this Covid-19 shut down, our office has continued to function and carry out our duties to the community with attorneys and staff working remotely and in the office by appointment in accordance with mandates from state and federal authorities.

We have remained in constant contact with our partners in local law enforcement as well as the Judges of the Third Judicial District and the Office of the Public Defender. Prosecutors attended all court appearances and hearings ordered by the Judges of the Third JDC and continued to review and bill cases.

Our goal throughout this time was to continue to work with law enforcement to keep our community safe while also ensuring that our attorneys and staff, as well as the public that we serve, were protected from the spread of COVID-19. Our goal remains the same as our office sites open back up to the public during Phase 1 reopening.

As our office sites open back up, we encourage the public to continue to follow the instructions of our government and health officials in order to combat the spread of COVID-19. If you need assistance, we encourage you to continue to contact us by telephone or email as many of our services may be accomplished remotely. For the Lincoln Parish Office, please call 318-251-5100. For the Union Parish Office please call 318-363-2201. Email addresses for staff and attorneys can be found on our website at www.thirdda.org.

Additional safety precautions will be in place for those visiting our offices during the Phase 1 reopening.

John F.K. Belton
District Attorney

04/02/2020

LINCOLN PARISH COURT SCHEDULE UPDATE - APRIL 2, 2020

TO: Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court Lincoln Parish DA’s Office Attorneys and Defendants, 3rd District Court - Lincoln ParishRE: Court Schedule for April 6 thru April 9

04/01/2020

UNION PARISH COURT SCHEDULE APRIL 6 THRU APRIL 9

MEMO FROM THE DESK OF: BRUCE E. HAMPTON, JUDGE DIVISION “C”
Date: April 1, 2020

TO: Union Parish Clerk of Court
Union Parish DA’s Office
Attorneys and Defendants, 3rd District Court - Union Parish

RE: Court Schedule for April 6 thru April 9

Due to an extension of the “Stay at Home” Order issued by Gov. Edwards, and orders of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Union Parish District Court proceedings for Division C will be re-scheduled as indicated below.

Monday, April 6 Civil Court
All matters are reset to May 4, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, April 7 Juvenile Court

Only urgent or time-sensitive cases will be heard. Do not come to court unless you have been contacted by the DA’s office, your lawyer of DCFS and instructed to appear. The Clerk of Court will mail court notices for all other matters on the docket. The courtroom will be open only to those instructed to appear and court personnel.

Wednesday, April 8 Criminal Court

The Court will only handle matters pursuant to audio/video conferencing with defendants that are incarcerated. All other matters on the docket will be reset to June 10, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. The Clerk of Court will mail court notices. The courtroom will be open only to court personnel and attorneys.

Thursday, April 9 Civil Court

All matters are reset to May 4, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

*Please notify the Clerk of Court if you have a change of address.
NOTE: ESSENTIAL AND/OR EMERGENCY MATTERS WILL BE ADDRESS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS ARE TO BE OBSERVED

03/23/2020

The Ruston and Farmerville locations of the Office of the District Attorney of the Third Judicial District will be closed to the general public from March 23rd until April 3rd in accordance with mandates from state and federal authorities.

Our office will continue to function and carry out our duties to the community; however, attorneys and staff will be working remotely. We are in constant contact with our partners in local law enforcement as well as the Judges of the Third Judicial District and the Office of the Public Defender. Prosecutors will attend all court appearances and hearings ordered by the Judges of the Third JDC and will continue to review cases.

If you need assistance, please contact us by telephone or email. For the Lincoln Parish Office, please call 318-251-5100 and direct your call to the appropriate division. Please leave a message and your call will be returned promptly during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For the Union Parish Office please call 318-368-2201 and direct your call to the appropriate division. Please leave a message and your call will be returned promptly during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Email addresses for staff and attorneys can be found on our website at www.thirdda.org. In-person meetings, if necessary, will be by appointment only and must be scheduled by phone.

Our goal is to continue to work with law enforcement to keep our community safe while also ensuring that our attorneys and staff, as well as the public that we serve, are protected from the spread of COVID-19. We encourage the public to continue to follow the instructions of our government and health officials in order to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Public access to our office is subject to change at the direction of State and/or local officials.

John F. K. Belton

District Attorney

11/02/2019

Verdict: Stringfellow Guilty of Murder

Nancy Bergeron, Ruston Daily LeaderA 3rd Judicial District Court jury on Friday found Frank “Red” Stringfellow guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of the mother of two of his children.