Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

15th Judicial District Court, Division M

2 candidates are tracked for 15th Judicial District Court, Division M on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Dyan Schnaars and Susan Theall. Candidate information follows official Lafayette Parish election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Challenger Dyan Schnaars is running against sitting Division M judge and 15th JDC Chief Judge Susan Theall, per the Acadiana Advocate's Nov. 3 ballot rundown. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

Louisiana › Lafayette Parish › 15th Judicial District Court, Division M

Dyan Schnaars

Republican

Biography

Schnaars is the managing attorney and owner of Schnaars Law Firm, LLC in Lafayette, practicing exclusively in family law since 2014, per her firm's website. She earned her business degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and her law degree from Southern University Law Center, and served as president of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association's family law section in 2021. She is challenging the sitting judge for the 15th Judicial District Court, Division M. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Susan Theall

Republican

Biography

Susan Theall is the sitting Division M district judge on the 15th Judicial District Court, first elected in 2020 after an earlier term from 2011 to 2014 that included service as Chief Judge, per the court's own website. She is a certified Family Law Specialist and a former chair of the Louisiana State Bar Association's Family Law Section.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotDistrict Attorney, 15th Judicial District

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for 15th Judicial District Court, Division M in 2026?

When is the 15th Judicial District Court, Division M election in Louisiana?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Louisiana are on the Louisiana election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Lafayette Parish ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Lafayette Parish and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Louisiana election office, or see the full Lafayette Parish sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Lafayette Parish ballot

5 tracked races in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Lafayette City Court Judge, Division B Lafayette Parish School Board, District 2 15th Judicial District Court, Division I See all 5 Lafayette Parish races

Candidate profiles

Dyan Schnaars, full profile Susan Theall, full profile Official Louisiana election office