How should I cite the case in a brief?

Use the official reporter citation and court name on first mention, then a short form thereafter. Include the decision date and pinpoint page or paragraph for quoted language to assist judicial review.

Is this decision binding in other states?

No. The opinion is binding within its jurisdiction; outside Louisiana it is persuasive authority only. Compare facts and statutory framework to assess persuasive weight.

Can I submit a PDF excerpt with my filing?

Check local court rules for attachment and exhibit requirements; many courts accept PDF excerpts but may limit size or require indexing for electronic submissions.

What if the opinion has been limited later?

Search for subsequent cases or statutory changes that modify the ruling. Update your brief to address any negative treatment or distinguish your facts accordingly.

Are remote notarizations acceptable for affidavits?

Remote online notarization is permitted in many states, but rules vary; verify the state's RON status and procedural requirements before relying on a remote notary.

How long should I keep case-related records?

Retain originals for the life of the case and appeals plus at least three years; follow industry-specific retention rules such as HIPAA's six-year requirement where applicable.

Electronic Signature
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State of Louisiana v. Mario T. Willis (2018)

State of Louisiana v. Mario T. Willis (2018)

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

MOTION TO CONTINUE

STATE OF LOUISIANA

: JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

VS

: PARISH OF LOUISIANA

: DOCKET NO.

MOTION TO CONTINUE

Defendant, , through undersigned counsel, moves that the

in the above-captioned matter be continued from the date on which it is set,

at o'clock .M. until

at o=clock .M., and assigns the following grounds therefor:

Defendant=s attorney, will be out of town on that date and is unable to be present in court and, therefore, requests that this matter be continued.

IT IS ORDERED that the scheduled for be

continued to at o=clock .Μ.

THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Louisiana, this day of

Attorney for Defendant

DISTRICT JUDGE

***

CERTIFICATE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing has been forwarded to all opposing counsel by hand delivering same in Louisiana this day of

What the State of Louisiana v. Mario T. Willis (2018) decision covers

State of Louisiana v. Mario T. Willis (2018) is a published Louisiana appellate decision addressing procedural and substantive issues that commonly arise in criminal prosecutions in that jurisdiction. The opinion clarifies key evidentiary and sentencing points and describes the court's reasoning about statutory interpretation and trial-court discretion. Practitioners use the case as persuasive authority within Louisiana and as a contextual example for similar fact patterns in other civil-law states. This guide summarizes the holding, explains when and how to rely on it, and describes practical steps for citation, filing, and recordkeeping.

Why this case matters for practitioners and researchers

The decision provides clear precedent on points of law that affect charging, admissibility, and sentencing in Louisiana courts. Understanding the opinion reduces litigation risk by aligning motions and briefs with the court's reasoning.

Who commonly relies on this case and how they use it

Legal roles that find State of Louisiana v. Mario T. Willis (2018) relevant in practice and research.

Criminal defense attorneys citing the opinion to challenge sentencing or admission of evidence in trial and appellate briefs.
State prosecutors using the decision to support charging choices or to defend trial rulings on appeal.
Judges and clerks referencing the reasoning to craft opinions or to evaluate motions with similar statutory questions.

Primary professional profiles that use this case

Defense Attorney

Defense counsel consult the decision when preparing post-trial motions, sentencing memoranda, or appellate briefs. The opinion's discussion of evidentiary and procedural safeguards helps shape discretionary-argument strategy and supports requests for relief where facts align with the court's rationale.

Prosecutor

Prosecutors analyze the holding to anticipate limits on admissibility or sentencing approaches and to draft charges and plea recommendations consistent with appellate precedent. The case may inform plea bargaining calculations and appellate response strategies.

Core elements to extract from the opinion

When reading State of Louisiana v. Mario T. Willis (2018), focus on the holding, factual context, procedural posture, key statutory interpretation, reasoning, and any dicta that might affect future cases.

Holding

The court's narrow legal ruling that resolves the appeal and establishes precedent for the issue presented.

Facts

A concise summary of operative facts required to assess whether the opinion applies to your case or is distinguishable.

Procedural Posture

Whether the decision arose from a trial court ruling, preservation status, or an appeal with preserved or unpreserved errors.

Statutory Analysis

How the court interpreted relevant statutes and any definitional or constructional rules it applied.

Reasoning

The court's logic connecting facts and law; essential for predicting application to new fact patterns.

Remedy

Relief granted or denied (reversal, remand, vacatur, resentencing) and its practical implications for ongoing cases.

Step-by-step: How to incorporate the case into a brief or motion

Follow these sequential steps to evaluate relevance, draft argument, and present State of Louisiana v. Mario T. Willis (2018) effectively in filings.

01

Identify relevance: Match facts and legal issues to the opinion.
02

Extract holding: Quote the holding and cite the official reporter.
03

Distinguish or analogize: Explain why your facts are similar or different.
04

File with authority: Include the citation in briefs and provide copies to court if required.

Routing and submission workflow for filings that rely on this case

Typical routing: prepare brief, confirm citations, attach opinion excerpts if local rules require, then submit to court and opposing counsel under the court's electronic filing rules.

Prepare document: Draft brief with precise citations.
Attach authority: Add PDF excerpt if local rule allows.
E-file submission: Submit via court's e-filing system.
Serve parties: Serve opposing counsel per local rules.

Configuring an e-filing or brief workflow

Use this configuration checklist when setting up a digital workflow to submit filings that cite the case.

Field	Configuration
Document Format	PDF/A for court compatibility
Signing Method	Typed name with audit trail allowed
Attachment Size	Compress to court limit
Service Method	E-service via court portal

Technical requirements for electronic submission and sharing

Ensure your platform supports required file types, integrations, and secure delivery before e-filing or sharing case materials.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Security: TLS and AES-256 encryption

Comparative pricing and feature snapshot for eSignature vendors

This vendor comparison aligns typical starting prices and key features to help teams select an eSignature provider for submitting and managing filings that reference the case.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day trial	Varied	Varied	Varied	Varied
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Security and compliance features to verify for sensitive case materials

Encryption In Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3

Encryption At Rest: AES-256

SOC 2: SOC 2 Type II available

HIPAA: Compliant (BAA required)

ESIGN/UETA: Compliant with ESIGN and UETA

ISO Standard: ISO 27001 certified

Risks and professional consequences of incorrect use

Mis-citation Risk: Court may reject or discount your authority

Waived Issues: Failure to preserve objections can bar appellate review

Sanctions: Frivolous reliance risks fee or conduct sanctions

Malpractice: Incorrect counsel may face malpractice exposure

Evidence Exclusion: Improper procedure can lead to excluded evidence

Filing Delays: Missed deadlines may forfeit relief opportunities

Common pitfalls when relying on the opinion

Relying on dicta rather than the narrow holding can lead to overbroad arguments and weaken your brief before the court.
Failing to compare the procedural posture—such as preserved versus unpreserved error—may make the citation inapposite on appeal.
Using an incorrect or incomplete citation prevents clerks and judges from locating the opinion quickly, reducing persuasive effect.
Overlooking subsequent negative treatment or later cases that limit or distinguish the decision can result in misleading advocacy.

Frequently asked questions about using State of Louisiana v. Mario T. Willis (2018)

Answers to common questions about citation, applicability, filing practice, and digital handling of the opinion.

Need help? Contact support

How should I cite the case in a brief?
Use the official reporter citation and court name on first mention, then a short form thereafter. Include the decision date and pinpoint page or paragraph for quoted language to assist judicial review.
Is this decision binding in other states?
No. The opinion is binding within its jurisdiction; outside Louisiana it is persuasive authority only. Compare facts and statutory framework to assess persuasive weight.
Can I submit a PDF excerpt with my filing?
Check local court rules for attachment and exhibit requirements; many courts accept PDF excerpts but may limit size or require indexing for electronic submissions.
What if the opinion has been limited later?
Search for subsequent cases or statutory changes that modify the ruling. Update your brief to address any negative treatment or distinguish your facts accordingly.
Are remote notarizations acceptable for affidavits?
Remote online notarization is permitted in many states, but rules vary; verify the state's RON status and procedural requirements before relying on a remote notary.
How long should I keep case-related records?
Retain originals for the life of the case and appeals plus at least three years; follow industry-specific retention rules such as HIPAA's six-year requirement where applicable.

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