1. A. When a complaint, verified by oath or affirmation, is laid before a magistrate, of the commission of a public offense, the magistrate shall, if satisfied therefrom that the offense complained of has been committed, and that there is reasonable ground to believe that the defendant has committed it, issue a warrant of arrest.

2. B. In addition to any other procedure authorized by law, a proposed arrest warrant may be communicated to the magistrate by telephone or by electronic mail or any similar electronic communication which delivers a complete printable image of the arrest warrant.

   1. 1. If the proposed arrest warrant is communicated telephonically, the affiant shall:

      1. a. recite information establishing probable cause to support issuance of the arrest warrant, and

      2. b. recite the proposed arrest warrant to the magistrate verbatim and obtain the oral permission of the magistrate to print the name of the magistrate on the arrest warrant along with the date and time of the signature.

         The oral recorded authorization of the magistrate to print the name of the magistrate on the arrest warrant shall constitute issuance of the arrest warrant under this section. The conversation establishing probable cause, reciting the contents of the arrest warrant verbatim, and any authorization to sign by the magistrate, shall be audio recorded, transcribed, and filed together with the arrest warrant.

   2. 2. If communication of the proposed affidavit is made by electronic mail or other electronic communication, the affidavit may contain a notarized acknowledgment, or the affiant may swear to the affidavit by telephone. A magistrate administering an oath telephonically shall endorse upon the face of the affidavit the date and time which the affiant undertook the oath by telephone.

R.L. 1910, § 5629; Amended by Laws 2026, HB 3269, c. 120, § 1, eff. November 1, 2026 (superseded document available).