James E. Sudduth III - Lake Charles, LA
Attorney at Sudduth & Associates, LLC
Employment Litigation/Labor & Employment Lawyers in Lake Charles, LA
1109 Pithon Street Lake Charles, LA 70601
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
13
Years
Experience
Lake Charles Employment Litigation/Labor & Employment Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Employment Litigation/Labor & Employment 30%
- Criminal Defense 20%
- General Civil Litigation 15%
- Personal Injury 15%
- Family Law: Divorce, Child Custody, and Child Support 15%
- Estate Planning 5%
Litigation: 75%
Attorney Information
Overview
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 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.”
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Invited and Elected to join the American Law Society (2016-Present)
- Nationally Ranked Top 10 under 40 (2016)
- Nationally Ranked Top 10 under 40 (2017)
- Top 40 under 40: State of Louisiana (2017)
Other Sources of Feedback About James E. Sudduth III
Included on the 2026 Louisiana 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
Education
-
Legal Education
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Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center,
Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, 2013
Juris Doctorate/Diploma in Comparative Law
Honors: CALI Award for Legal Excellence in Louisiana Constitutional Law
Honors: Flory Trial Winner: 2012
-
Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center,
Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, 2013
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Non Legal Education
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Louisiana State University A&M,
Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, 2009
Bachelor of Science
Honors: cum laude
Major: Finance
Minor: Spanish
-
Louisiana State University A&M,
Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, 2009
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Founder
Past Positions
- Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney, 2013 - 2015
Languages
-
English (Primary)
-
Spanish
Classes and Seminars
- Business Law (Visiting Lecturer), McNeese State University, 2015 - Present
Pro Bono Activities
- 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
- Habitat for Humanity International volunteer
Representative Cases
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Sudduth v. Texas Health and Human Services Commission et al., No. 1:2013cv00918 – Doc. 30 (W.D. Tex. 2014)
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Lehman v. D’Albor and The City of Jennings, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150035
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 2013
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 2013
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 2013
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 2013
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2013
- Texas, 2014
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 2014
Other Affiliations
- 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
Photo
Contact
1109 Pithon Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: 337-541-0792
Fax: 337-419-0507
Website: https://saa.legal/
Hours: Monday - Friday : 8.30 AM - 5.00 PM, Saturday - Sunday : By Appointment
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