PrevPreviousWILL FEWER TRUCK DRIVERS MEAN MORE TRUCK ACCIDENTS? 49 States Use Common Law, Louisiana Does Not Louisiana’s unique, rich history permeates many aspects of life in the Pelican State. Beyond language, food, and tradition, Louisiana’s history also strongly influences the law. In fact, unlike every other state in the U.S., Louisiana does not use the British common law tradition. Instead, Louisiana civil law has been derived from the French Napoleonic Code. What does that mean in practice? How does that difference play out today? To answer these questions, we must first examine the different legal theories to understand how common law differs from civil law. Louisiana Civil Law vs. Common Law in Other States: The Difference in Legal Theory The key distinction between Louisiana civil law versus the common law used in every other state liesin how the laws are interpreted and implemented — and the role of legal precedent. Specifically, here is how these two legal systems differ in...
