James E. Sudduth, III is the founder and driving force behind Sudduth and Associates, LLC. As a Lake Charles native, he witnessed the lack of growth and direction present in his beloved city and decided to become the force of change the city needed. James knew that to accomplish this goal he would have to temporarily relocate to Baton Rouge. After law school, James returned home to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s office, and during his tenure he was promoted to Misdemeanor Section Chief.
When offered a second promotion to the Felony Division, James declined stating that he was being called to serve the public in a different arena. “At the end of the day it isn’t about the amount of money you bring home or the prestige attached to your name; rather it is the satisfaction of a job well done and knowing that despite your limited resources you have accomplished the near impossible. It is about making a difference in people’s lives and having the desire to serve them when no one else will. This is what it means to be a true servant to the public.”
Reported Cases
• Sudduth v. Texas Health and Human Services Commission et al., No. 1:2013cv00918 – Doc. 30 (W.D. Tex. 2014)
• Lehman v. D’Albor and The City of Jennings, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150035
Honors & Awards
• Invited and Elected to join the American Law Society (2016-Present)
• Nationally Ranked Top 10 under 40 (2016)
• For Excellence in the Field of Criminal Law: NACDA
• Nationally Ranked Top 10 under 40 (2017)
• For Excellence in the Field of Criminal Law: NACDA
• Top 40 under 40: State of Louisiana (2017)
• Criminal Defense: American Society of Legal Advocates (“ASLA”)
Community Services
• Board Member: Southwest Louisiana Law Center (2013-Present)
• Board Member: Sowela Foundation (2015-Present)
• Visiting Lecturer: Business Law, McNeese State University (2016-Present)
• Instructor: CPSO New Officer Training Academy (2013-2015)
• Parishioner and Lector: Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church
• Council Member of Knights of Columbus
Professional Associations & Memberships
• American Bar Association (2013-Present)
• Louisiana State Bar Association (2013-Present)
• Texas State Bar Association (2014-Present)
• Southwest Louisiana Bar Association (2013-Present)
• Dean Henry George McMahon Inn of Court (2013-2014)
• Albert Tate Inn of Court (2014-Present)
• St. Thomas More Society (2013-Present)
• American Association for Justice (“AAJ”) (2016-Present)
• National Employment Lawyers Association (“NELA”) (2016-Present)
• American Law Society (“ALS”) (2016-Present)
• National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys (“NACDA”) (2016-Present)
• American Society of Legal Advocates (“ASLA”) (2017-Present)
