La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 832
This is the official text of La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 832, part of Louisiana’s Code of Criminal Procedure — sets the procedural rules for criminal cases in Louisiana.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Continued presence not required
Official statutory text
A. A defendant initially present for the commencement of trial shall not prevent the further progress of the trial, including the return of the verdict, and shall be considered to have waived his right to be present if his counsel is present or if the right to counsel has been waived and either of the following occur:
(1) He voluntarily absents himself after the trial has commenced, whether or not he has been informed by the court of his obligation to be present during the trial.
(2) After being warned by the court that disruptive conduct will cause him to be removed from the courtroom, he persists in conduct which justifies his exclusion from the courtroom.
B. Repealed by Acts 2020, No. 160, §2.
Acts 1990, No. 543, §1; Acts 1990, No. 593, §1; Acts 1997, No. 718, §1; Acts 2017, No. 406, §1; Acts 2020, No. 160, §2.
(1) He voluntarily absents himself after the trial has commenced, whether or not he has been informed by the court of his obligation to be present during the trial.
(2) After being warned by the court that disruptive conduct will cause him to be removed from the courtroom, he persists in conduct which justifies his exclusion from the courtroom.
B. Repealed by Acts 2020, No. 160, §2.
Acts 1990, No. 543, §1; Acts 1990, No. 593, §1; Acts 1997, No. 718, §1; Acts 2017, No. 406, §1; Acts 2020, No. 160, §2.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Dealing with a criminal defense matter in Louisiana?
See all Louisiana Criminal Defense lawyers
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.