Walter Marshall Sanchez

Firm founder, Walter M. Sanchez, has represented people in matters involving criminal law, family law and professional disciplinary actions since 1984. Mr. Sanchez has earned a reputation as an attorney for diligence in the protection of his clients' rights and the respect of colleagues in the legal profession. Since 2007, he has been selected each year by his peers for inclusion in Louisiana Super Lawyers ® in Criminal Law and in Best Lawyers in America ® in Family Law. Mr. Sanchez is a frequent lecturer on criminal and family law issues at both the national and state level and has been a member of the LSU Law School Trial Advocacy Training Program faculty since 1993. He has testified before the Louisiana legislature on criminal justice issues annually for over 20 years. In 1998, he was elected President of the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and, in 2007, received the association's highest honor, the Justice Albert Tate Award. Since 1999, as the result of his knowledge and experience, the Louisiana Supreme Court has appointed him, on an as-needed basis, to serve as Judge Pro Tempore for Sulphur City Court. The Court has also appointed him to numerous board and committees seeking to improve the criminal and civil justice system of the state. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, he helped draft legislation which provided a system for the relocation and continued operation of the state's civil and criminal justice system in the case of future catastrophes. Walt has worked with lawyers from across the country and state to improve Louisiana's chronically underfunded and overloaded indigent defense system. In 2007, he helped craft legislation which resulted in the complete restructuring of the Louisiana indigent defense system, a bill which is being looked to as a model for systemic reform in other states. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Walter Marshall Sanchez included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Recipient, Judge Albert Tate Award, Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - 2007 Listed in "Louisiana Super Lawyers", Criminal Law, 2007 - 2019 Listed in "The Best Lawyers in America", Family Law, 2007 - 2019 Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America”, DWI Defense, 2011 - 2019 Listed in “Top Lawyers of Acadiana”, Acadiana Profile Magazine, 2014 - 2019 Recipient, Philanthropist Day Award, Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, 2003 Citizen of the Year Award, Southwest Louisiana Chapter, National Association of Social Workers, 1995 Member, Order of St. Charles, Diocese of Lake Charles, June 3, 1990 Selected, "Best Aggressive Attorney", Times of Southwest Louisiana, Reader's Poll, 2003 Member, American Mensa, Ltd., 1977 - Present Fellow, Louisiana Bar Foundation, 1999 - Present Selected “Best Lawyers” Lake Charles Family Attorney of the Year, 2015 Other Sources of Feedback About Walter Marshall Sanchez Included on the 2026Louisiana Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2024 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2023 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2022 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2021 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2020 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2019 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2018 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2017 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2016 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2015 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2014 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2013 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2012 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2011 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2010 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2009 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2008 Louisiana Super Lawyers list 2007 Louisiana Super Lawyers list

• Partner

• Faculty Member, Trial Advocacy Training Program, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, LSU, 1993 - Present
• Presenter, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
• Presenter, Tulane Law School
• Presenter, Loyola University School of Law
• Presenter, Louisiana Judicial College
• Presenter, Louisiana Association of City and Juvenile Judges
• Presenter, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Presenter, American Civil Liberties Union
• Presenter, National Legal Aid and Defenders Association
• Presenter, Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Presenter, Louisiana Public Defenders Board
• Presenter, Southern University School of Law
• Presenter, Southwest Louisiana Bar Association

• State v. Bartholomew Cross, 747 So. 2d 94 (LA Supreme Court 1995)
• State in the Interest of D.W., 865 Sol 2d 45 (LA Supreme Court 2004)
• Fastabend v. Fastabend, 606 So. 2d 794 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1992)
• Hernandez v. Hernandez, 640 So. 2d 818 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1994)
• Jones v. Jones, 747 So. 2d 94 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1999)
• Black v. Simms, 12 So. 3d 1140 (La. App. 3 Cir. 2009)
• Ancillary Businesses
• Appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court, Judge Pro Tempore, Sulphur City Court, on an as needed basis, 1999 – Present
• Lake Charles City Court, 2013 - Present

• Commissioner, Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, 2003 - 2017
• Board Member, Louisiana Board of International Commerce, 2013 – 2017
• President, Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, 2011 - 2012
• Member, Louisiana State Bar Association Board of Governors, 2006 - 2008
• Right to Counsel Committee, 2005 - 2009
• Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: President, 1998
• Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Board Member, 1990 - 2008
• Member, Joint Legislative Committee for the Study of the Indigent Defense System (Appointed by the Chief Justice), 1996 - 1997
• Member, Committee on Family Court Rules of the Judicial Counsel of Louisiana (Appointed by the Supreme Court), 2009 - Present
• Vice-Chairman, Louisiana Indigent Defender Board (Appointed by the Chief Justice), 1994 - 1996
• Hearing Committee Chair, Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, 2003 - 2009
• Member, Louisiana Public Defender Board, (Appointed by the Speaker of the House), 2004 - 2006
• Member, Louisiana Public Defender Board (LSBA President), 2007
• Member, Louisiana Task Force on Indigent Defense Services (Appointed by the President, Conference of Court of Appeals Judges), 2004 - 2007
• Member, Louisiana State Law Institute, Special Committee to Study Reinstatement of Fault in Divorce, 1998 - 2001
• Member, Louisiana State Bar Association Family Law Advisory Commission (Secretary), 2003 - 2004
• Chairman, Indigent Defender Board, 14th Judicial District, 1988 - 1996
• Assistant Examiner, Committee on Bar Admissions, 1992 - 2004
• President, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, Inc., 1989 - 1992
• Board Member, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, Inc., 1987 - 2006
• Member, Board of Trustees, LifeShare Blood Centers, 2003 - Present
• Trustee, Finance Council, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, 2002 - 2016
• Past President, Southwest Louisiana State Fair and Trade Exposition, Inc.
• Past Member, Board of Directors, Lake Charles Symphony
• Past Chair, Professional Division, United Way of Southwest Louisiana, Inc., Campaign, 1992 - 1993
• President, Advisory Board, Lake Charles Seafarer's Center, Port of Lake Charles, 1986 - 1999

• Louisiana, 1984
• U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1985
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2016
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 2018
• Specialties and Certifications
• Board Certified Family Law Specialist, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, 1995 to present

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1985 - Present (Member)
• Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1985 - Present (Past President)
• Southwest Louisiana Bar Association (Member)
• Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, 2009 (President)
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• American Bar Association