Relics of the Emperors - Louisiana Civil Law

The State of Louisiana has some unique and interesting laws, not common to the other states. Having been under the dominion of France, Spain and France alternatively, before it was purchased by the United States, it is not unnatural that Louisiana's basic law should be drawn from those countries, and especially from the Code Napoleon. Like most countries of continental Europe, France and Spain adopted, to a great extent, the civil law of Rome, as distinguished from the English common law. After the purchase of Louisiana by the United States the people of the territory demanded and were granted the right to retain the law with which they were familiar.

Hence the term "Civil law" of Louisiana. Perhaps some of the most interesting phases of the Louisiana law are those governing relations between individuals, and especially persons of the opposite sex.