The 1836 city charter of New Orleans provided for a Recorder to serve in each of the city's three municipalities. This officer was to have, within his municipality, all powers and duties prescribed by law and was specifically to exercise all duties of a magistrate and conservator of the peace, concurrently with the Mayor. Each recorder was to keep an office nearby the chamber of the municipality council and to keep it open from 9 until 2 daily, except for Sunday. Their salaries were to be fixed by the municipality councils, but were not to exceed $3,500. Legislative act of March 14, 1820 had required that the Recorder be chosen from among the heads of families who had been resident within the city at the time of the election. They were to be at least thirty years of age, citizens of the United States, and possessed of at least $3,000 in real property within the city.

In addition to their judicial duties, the Recorders, along with the municipality councils, served as the administrators of the business of the municipalities. The Recorder of the First Municipality was designated to serve as acting Mayor in case of a vacancy in that office.