Join us for lunch with Susan Theall and Dyan Schnaars, candidates for 15th Judicial District Court, Division M – Family Court.
Susan and Dyan will each have an opportunity to discuss their backgrounds, their candidacies, and the issues they believe are important to the administration of Family Court. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask the candidates questions directly.
Our Secret Lunch will be held Friday, September 25, 2026, at Fezzo’s in Broussard, beginning around noon. It is an opportunity to meet both candidates, hear from them directly, and visit with other engaged citizens.
This event is free to attend; however, lunch is not included. Fezzo’s will provide full table service during the program, so attendees may order from the menu while we meet. Come early, grab a seat, and enjoy lunch and conversation before the program begins.
RSVP below.
ABOUT THE CANDIDATES:
The biographical information below was provided by the candidates and supplemented, where applicable, with publicly available information.
Susan Theall
Susan Theall currently serves as Judge of the 15th Judicial District Court, Division M. She previously served in Division M from 2011 through 2014 and returned to the bench following her election in 2020, with her current term beginning January 1, 2021.
Theall has approximately 40 years of legal experience and was certified as a Family Law Specialist by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization in 1995. Before serving on the bench, her legal practice focused on family law. She has also served in leadership roles within the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Family Law Section and the Paula K. Woodruff Family Law Section of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association.
Theall has served as Chief Judge of the 15th Judicial District Court during multiple terms and participated in the Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute. She has also served on Louisiana Judicial Education faculty addressing domestic violence and was involved in the development of local court rules implementing Family Court in the 15th Judicial District.
Her community involvement has included service with Faith House and participation in local civic and business organizations. Theall also created Kid’s First, a substance-use assessment, monitoring, and treatment program designed to assist parents whose substance-use issues interfere with their ability to parent.
Dyan Schnaars
Dyan Schnaars is a Louisiana native who grew up near Alexandria and moved to Lafayette in 1995. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, with a concentration in management, and later earned her Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center. She has practiced law in Lafayette since 2012 and has focused exclusively on family law since 2014.
Schnaars owns and operates Schnaars Law Firm in Lafayette, where her practice focuses on family-law matters including divorce, child custody, child support, property division, and related issues. Before concentrating exclusively on family law, she practiced in areas including insurance defense, contract defense, and personal injury.
Her professional and community service has included leadership within the Paula K. Woodruff Family Law Section, service with the Lafayette Bar Foundation’s pro bono programs, and involvement with Faith House. Her law firm states that she has received multiple awards for pro bono service, including the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award and repeated recognition from the Lafayette Bar Association.
Schnaars says her interest in Family Court is rooted in helping families in crisis stabilize their circumstances quickly and reducing the long-term effects of family conflict on children. She has emphasized fairness in court, timely resolution of cases, and the use of available resources to help parents address problems that interfere with their ability to exercise parental rights.