LUTCHER — Two St. James Parish residents have filed a lawsuit seeking to remove Judge Steven C. Tureau from the November ballot, claiming he falsely certified that he had filed his state income taxes.

Robert J. Snyder, Jr. and Ruth W. Snyder, of Lutcher, filed the petition on Friday in the 23rd Judicial District Court, objecting to the candidacy of Tureau, who has served on the 23rd Judicial District Court bench covering the parishes of Ascension, Assumption and St. James since 2020.

Tureau is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, as well as Ascension Parish Clerk of Court Bridget Hanna and St. James Parish Clerk of Court Shane Leblanc.

While Tureau certified on his qualifying form that he had filed state income taxes for 2020 through 2024 and had filed an extension for 2025, Snyder requested verification from the Louisiana Department of Revenue. The department responded last week with a letter and a sworn affidavit from its public records custodian, Antonio C. Ferachi, that Tureau did not file state income tax returns for 2022, 2023 or 2024.

The department confirmed he did file for 2020 and 2021 and noted that an automatic extension through Nov. 15 applies to the 2025 tax year.

The petition argues that falsely certifying tax compliance on a qualifying form is grounds to remove a candidate from the ballot under Louisiana election law.

“Falsely certifying on a qualifying form that you have filed your taxes for the last 5 years is grounds for the Objection to Candidacy to be SUSTAINED,” the lawsuit reads. “Further, falsely certifying on a qualifying form that you have filed your taxes for the last five years is grounds to be REMOVED FROM THE BALLOT.”

The Snyders also filed a motion on Friday to recuse all judges of the 23rd Judicial District Court from hearing the case, citing Tureau's role as a sitting judge on that court and his status as a witness in the matter. The motion was approved and signed by three area judges.

A trial is expected to begin no later than 10 a.m. on Aug. 18, in accordance with Louisiana law governing election challenges.

Tureau qualified for the race Aug. 5 before Ascension Parish Clerk of Court Bridget Hanna. The primary election is scheduled for Nov. 3, with a general election set for Dec. 12 if needed.

Neither Tureau nor Robert Snyder were immediately available for comment.