On Friday, March 6, 2026, the Louisiana Supreme Court suspended Shreveport City Court Judge Sheva Sims for nine months without pay, ordering her to reimburse the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana $5,801.28 for costs. The decision stems from a recommendation by the Judiciary Commission, which initially sought a one-year suspension without pay.
The case, docketed as 2025-O-01449, involves multiple allegations of misconduct. The Commission’s investigation arose from complaints filed by litigants, anonymous sources, and retired Justice E. Joseph Bleich. The Notice of Hearing alleged violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Louisiana Constitution.
The court found Judge Sims failed to maintain high standards of conduct, respect, and comply with the law, and be patient, dignified, and courteous to all litigants.
One key incident involved an eviction hearing in Monarch Realty & Management v. Jermaine O’Neal. Judge Sims was found to be condescending and impatient with Megan Everett, the property manager, cutting her off and questioning her in a manner that the Commission found unjustified. The court noted that Judge Sims’ attempts to justify her demeanor and ruling were not supported by the record.
Another charge involved the misuse of a court vehicle. The Commission determined Judge Sims used the vehicle for personal commutes and acquired fuel through the Marshal’s Office, constituting an impermissible use of public assets. However, the Supreme Court found this charge unproven, noting that Judge Sims began using the vehicle after deputy marshals advised her against walking to court due to prior incidents.
The court agreed with the Commission on the charge of improper advocacy. Judge Sims presided over an eviction hearing in TTA Capital, LLC v. Schkeiry Williams, where she obtained and introduced evidence not provided by the parties, creating an appearance of bias in favor of the defendant. The court found Judge Sims failed to perform her duties as an unbiased and neutral arbiter.
The most serious allegations involved Judge Sims’ failure to follow the law. She released several defendants charged with domestic abuse battery or violent crimes on their own recognizance, violating the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure. She also granted a defendant credit for time served before the date of his instant charged offenses, also violating state law. The court rejected Judge Sims’ justifications for these actions.
The Supreme Court considered several factors in determining the appropriate discipline, including the pattern of misconduct, its nature, extent, and frequency, and its effect on the integrity of the judiciary. The court noted Judge Sims’ reluctance to accept or recognize her misconduct.
The court acknowledged Judge Sims’ prolonged tenure as a judge since December 2011, but considered her prior complaints and discipline as an aggravating factor. Judge Sims was previously suspended for thirty days without pay in 2015 for improperly holding a prosecutor in contempt and impermissibly dismissing fifteen criminal cases.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
