​NOTE: Parties wishing to file pleadings may drop them into the mail slot of the front door of the office. A reminder that a party wishing to file a Petition of Eviction should review the Map of JP Jurisdiction linked below to ensure the property is located in the territorial boundaries of the court. Judge Sanders is not performing marriage ceremonies at this time. Please contact one of the other Justices of the Peace. Their contact information can be found on brla.gov.
ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Steven.
WHERE I COME FROM
My family and I have lived in Ward 3 District 2 boundaries of East Baton Rouge Parish for over 34 years. I was born and raised in Orange, Texas. My father, a LSU law graduate, was raised in DeQuincy. My mother, also a LSU graduate in education, was raised in Oakdale. After high school I followed my parents' Louisiana roots and love of LSU and enrolled as a freshman at LSU. While attending LSU I met and married Donna Abel, a Baton Rouge native and Tara High graduate, in 1983. Like many others, we lived the married student life at LSU for the next 6 years as I earned my BS in Civil Engineering in 1986 and my law degree in 1989. By the time I completed law school we had two children and added three more over the following years all of whom went on to graduate from Woodlawn High School and Baton Rouge Magnet High School. We have greatly appreciated living and raising out children in this part of the parish.
Why I Serve
The long time Justice of the Peace for Ward 3 District 2, Kenneth Kirkpatrick, used to call me for legal advice on how to handle disputes filed in the court. In 1995 and 1996 I served Pro Tempore on many occasions and thoroughly enjoyed the hands on nature of the office. It is truly the "people's court" as parties are rarely represented by attorneys. Judge Kirkpatrick retired from office and I was elected in the fall of 1996 for my first term as Justice of the Peace starting 1997.
Since then I've expanded the office from just a few cases to several hundred cases filed every month and processed over 82,000 matters over the past 27 years. We do our best to process claims expeditiously and resolve disputes in a fair and equitable manner. I enjoy the personal experiences I have with parties appearing in court. We have great people in this parish and it is a pleasure to serve them.
MISSION STATEMENT
SERVE WITH HONOR
Since taking office, I have tried to conduct myself in a fair and equitable manner with respect to people of all walks of life. Justices of the Peace are not community activists nor do they make laws. We are charged with the task of open communication with parties and witnesses in a calm and courteous manner, as well as the willingness to listen and consider what evidence is presented by both sides. We then apply to the law to the facts and render a decision. I often quip that I take in evidence, consider it, render a decision and then sleep at night knowing I've done my best to address disputes between people. I know that we handle small claims, but a couple hundred dollars is just as important to an individual as a hundred thousand dollars is to a large company. My legal background and experience have allowed me to handle more claims in the office as people have come to trust my decision making ability. Claims are processed quickly, service of process is made where possible, and if the parties are willing, the matter can be resolved within 30 to 60 days.
My mission is to serve honorably. It is no small thing to be in a position of public trust, and I have done my best to maintain that trust. I take all claims and matters seriously and give every case the attention it deserves. I believe I have a positive reputation among those that visit my court. I would hope even unsuccessful litigants accept my decisions knowing that I have fairly considered their testimony and evidence. I look forward to continue serving as Justice of the Peace in Ward 3 District 2.