CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to trial of misdemeanors

HB 279 changes Louisiana's criminal procedure by requiring jury trials for certain misdemeanors. It mandates that defendants charged with offenses punishable by a fine exceeding $2,500 or imprisonment over six months must be tried by a jury of six jurors. This directly affects individuals facing misdemeanor charges where the potential penalties meet either threshold. The law applies immediately to all pending cases, both before and after its effective date.