Saint James Parish is named for James the Just, who was a relative of Jesus Christ and the first bishop of Jerusalem.
Surrounding Parish Courthouses:
N – Ascension Parish
E – Saint John the Baptist Parish
S – Lafourche Parish
Created: March 31, 1807 
Parish Seat:
Convent 1807 – present
Parish Courthouse – Convent
Location: 5800 Highway 44 / Canalella Street
Built: 1969 – 1970
Style: Modern
Architect: Hamilton, Meyer and Associates Inc.
Contractor: Union Construction Company, Inc.
Description: The building faces south and is a three story white colored concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Convent. The south front has a recessed entrance on the first story with stairs to the second story. The windows are large. The roof line is flat. On the west side is the one story glass and concrete Parish Judicial Building constructed in 2010 to 2011. The architect was N-Y Associates, Inc. and the contractor was B E T Construction, Inc.
See: The 23rd Judicial District includes Ascension Parish and Assumption Parish.
Note: The first courthouse was built in Covenant in 1869 when the parish seat was moved to the east side of the Mississippi River. The second courthouse was designed by Andrew J Bryan and constructed by M T Lewman in 1904. The building was enlarged in 1939. The architect was N W Overstreet and A Hayes Towne and constructed by J C Murphy. The courthouse burned in 1970. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1971 to 1972.
Parish Courthouse – Convent
Parish Police Jury Meeting Room
Parish Judicial Building – Convent
Photos taken 2011 and 2019