LUTCHER – A judge has ruled against a lawsuit that sought to remove 23rd Judicial District Court 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 was 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 told Snyder 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 argued that falsely certifying tax compliance on a qualifying form was grounds to remove a candidate from the ballot under Louisiana election law.

The Snyders’ attorney, Brian F. Blackwell with Blackwell & Bullman, told WBRZ that Judge Ronald Johnson ruled against his clients on Monday. Blackwell said his client was determining whether to appeal.