NEW ORLEANS — Following Monday’s disqualification from running for the Division D judgeship in the 23rd Judicial District, attorneys representing incumbent Judge Steven Tureau are appealing for his name to stay on the ballot and for the case to be heard by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Robert J. Snyder, Jr. and Ruth W. Snyder initially filed their petition challenging Tureau’s candidacy in the 23rd Judicial District Court, objecting to Tureau’s candidacy, on Aug. 14. Tureau has served on the 23rd Judicial District Court bench covering Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes since 2020.

Robert Snyder is running against Tureau for the seat.

The appellate court reviewed evidence showing Tureau filed his 2021 tax return and requested extensions for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, but did not file returns for those years before the extensions expired.

The writ of certiorari argues that the Fifth Circuit majority that disqualified Tureau on Monday ignored court precedent, which leans in favor of allowing candidates to run, and says his challengers failed to post the suit conspicuously at the courthouse as mandated by state law.

Further, Tureau’s attorney, Baton Rouge lawyer Rob Marionneaux, says the Fifth Circuit committed a legal error by using incorrect tax code penalty provisions to rewrite the election code. The ruling by the Fifth Circuit also created an immediate conflict, attorneys argue, because the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal recently reached the opposite conclusion in a similar case, DeBose v. Hon. Juana Marine-Lombard.