Walter Marshall Sanchez
Sole Practitioner
Mr. Sanchez has been an active criminal defense attorney since 1984, successfully representing people in criminal cases, both state and federal; in complex and highly contested family law cases; and professionals whose licenses and livelihoods are in jeopardy.
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Law
- DUI/DWI
- Drug Violations
- White Collar Crimes
- Family Law
- Juvenile Law
- Computer Crimes
- Criminal Defense
- Sex Crimes
Certified Legal Specialties
- Board Certified Family Law Specialist, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, 1995
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1984
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1985
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
Education
- Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- J.D. - 1984
- Honors: Winner, 1984 Flory Trial Moot Court Competition
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- B.S. - 1981
- Major: Management and Administration
Representative Cases
Classes/Seminars
- Faculty Member, Trial Advocacy Training Program, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, LSU, 1993 - 2009
- Presenter, Paul M. Hebert Law Center
- 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 Association
- Presenter, Southern University School of Law
- Presenter, Southwest Louisiana Bar Association
Honors and Awards
- Recipient, Judge Albert Tate Award, Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - 2007
- Listed in "Louisiana Super Lawyers", Criminal Law, 2007 - 2010
- Listed in "The Best Lawyers in America", Family Law, 2007 - 2010
- Recipient, Pro Bono Publico Award, Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, 2004
- 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
- Fellow, Louisiana Bar Foundation, 1999 - Present
Professional Associations and Memberships
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 1985 - Present
- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Past President, 1985 - Present
- Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, Member, 1984 - 2009
- Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, President, 2009
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- National Legal Aid & Defender Association
- Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Charter Member
- American Association for Justice
Pro Bono Activities
- Commissioner, Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, 2009 - 2013
- Hearing Committee Chair, Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, 2003 - 2009
- 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
- Vice-Chairman, Louisiana Indigent Defender Board (Appointed by the Chief Justice), 1994 - 1996
- 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 - Present
- 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
Ancillary Businesses
- Appointed by LA Supreme Ct., Judge Pro Tempore, Sulphur City Ct. 1999-
