Committee to Re-Elect Judge Sheva Sims
Election Day, November 3, 2026
Re-Elect Judge Sheva SimsDivision D City Court Judge
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About Judge Sims

Experience rooted in service

Judge Sheva M. Sims brings 31+ years of legal and judicial experience, educational leadership, and deep community commitment to everything she does.

Judge Sheva Sims portrait

About Judge Sheva M. Sims

Honorable Judge Sheva M. Sims is a lifelong resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, and has proudly served as Judge of Shreveport City Court, Division D, since first being elected in 2011. She was re-elected in 2014 and again in 2020 without opposition, reflecting the trust and confidence the community has placed in her leadership.

Judge Sims brings 31+ years of legal and judicial experience to the bench. Before becoming judge, she practiced law in civil and criminal litigation, small claims matters, and domestic cases. Her broad courtroom experience and steady public service continue to shape her approach to justice.

Judge Sims earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Dillard University in 1989 and a Juris Doctorate from the Southern University Law Center in 1994. Before entering the legal profession, she served as a high school mathematics teacher, reflecting a lifelong commitment to education, discipline, and mentorship.

Beyond the courtroom, Judge Sims is a minister of music, a recording artist, and an active mathematics tutor who remains deeply dedicated to the youth and citizens of Shreveport through leadership, outreach, civic education, and service.

Her service has also included reentry and educational initiatives for incarcerated women, including collaboration with Southern University at Shreveport and Bossier Parish Community College, support for books and toiletries for women in Tallulah, and approved planning for a cosmetology training program.

Personal Foundation

Faith, family, and community

Judge Sims is the daughter of the late Dr. Howard Sims, Jr. and Mrs. Eva L. Sims, sister to Dr. Sharon D. Sims and Ms. Shunta E. Sims, and the proud mother of two daughters, Taylor and K.C. Her life and service remain grounded in faith, family, and commitment to the people of Shreveport.

Her record reflects service across the courtroom, the classroom, the church, and the broader community, with a consistent focus on fairness, dignity, and opportunity.

Comprehensive Biography

Chief Judge Sheva M. Sims

Chief Judge Sheva M. Sims, a life-long resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, was elected Judge on November 19, 2011, for Shreveport City Court, Division D. Chief Judge Sims was re-elected to the Shreveport City Court bench in November 2014, and re-elected in November 2020 without opposition. Prior to her election to the bench, Chief Judge Sims was a practicing attorney for over 17 years, handling civil and criminal litigation, small claims, and domestic cases.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Dillard University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Southern University Law Center. After graduating from Dillard University, Judge Sims worked as a high school mathematics teacher. She has also served as a Minister of Music for various churches over the years throughout the State of Louisiana. She presently serves at two churches in Shreveport, LA. She continues to enrich her community by tutoring youth in mathematics in her spare time.

Chief Judge Sims is a member and/or past member of the following association & committees:
• American Judges Association Executive Committee (2024-2025)
• Vice President of American Judges Foundation (2024-2025)
• Chair of American Judges Foundation Scholarship Committee (2024-2025)
• Louisiana Judicial Council/National Bar Association Executive Committee (2nd Supreme Court District Representative 2024-2026)
• Bossier Parish Community College Cavalier Care Center Advisory Board (2022-)
• State Fair of Louisiana Board of Directors (2022-)
• Federal Bar Association
• Louisiana Commission on Justice System Funding Representative (2021)
• The Harry V. Booth-Judge Henry A. Politz American Inn of Court
• Advisory Council of the National Association for Court Management (2020)
• American Judges Association
• American Judges Association Executive Committee (2022)
• American Judges Association Membership & Retention Committee Chairperson (2021-2023)
• National Association of Women Judges, District 6 Director (2017-2019)
• International Association of Women Judges
• Louisiana Judicial Council, National Bar Association, Secretary (2017-2018)
• Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society
• YMCA, Board of Director President (2007-2008)
• Judicial Council of the National Bar Association (Board member)
• League of Women Voters
• North Shreveport Business Association
• Louisiana AIDS Advocacy Network
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• Louisiana Bar Foundation Education Committee (2018-2019 and 2019-2020)
• Louisiana Bar Foundation Communication Committee (2017-2018)
• Louisiana Bar Foundation Grant Committee (2016-2017)
• Louisiana Bar Foundation Development Committee (2014-2015)
• Community Action and Lawyers in Transition Committee (2011-2012 and 2012-2013)
• House of Delegates

Chief Judge Sims has received the following awards:
• Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. Network Coalition Honoree (2023)
• Mary Springhill AME Church Celebration of Women's History Month Award (2023)
• Louisiana Housing Counsel Appreciation Award (2023)
• Network Coalition Honoree (2023)
• Louisiana Leading Lady Judges (2023)
• Power of Influence Awards (2023)
• American Judges Association Member Spotlight (2022)
• American Judges Association President's Award (2022)
• Mattie Brewer-McCulloch's 50 over 50 (2022)
• The Judicial Council of the NBA Judge Leon A. Higginbotham Award (2021)
• The Judicial Council of the NBA Member of the Year Award (2021)
• NBA Power of 50 Awards (2021-2022)
• Service and Leadership Recognition by the Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards (2019)
• The Power of Influence Woman of Inspiration Award (2018)
• Judge Benjamin Jones Judges in the Classroom Award (2017)
• HERA Award Nominee (2016)
• SUSLA Upward Bound North Trio Achiever Award (2015)
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Award, Shreveport, LA (2014)
• David Raines Community Center Seminar of Excellence Award (2014)
• Louisiana State Bar Association Crystal Gavel Award (2013)
• Dr. Jesse N. Stone Pioneer Award (2013)
• NAACP City of Shreveport (2013)
• Women Motivating Women Award (2012)
• Gospel Music Living Legend Award (2011)
• SB Magazine Top Attorney (2009)
• Leah Hipple McKay Memorial Award Outstanding Volunteer (2009)

Since Chief Judge Sims' election, she made history by participating in the first Judicial Ride-Along Program at Shreveport City Court, a program the Louisiana Supreme Court launched to invite members of the Louisiana Legislature to spend a half-day "on the bench" with judges. Chief Judge Sims is the first judge in Shreveport to convene neighborhood informational seminars entitled "Know Your Legal Rights," in an effort to educate and inform members of the community of their legal rights.

Because of Chief Judge Sims' unwavering focus to improve the community's understanding of the judicial system, she has been nationally and locally recognized for her public service efforts. While serving as the National Association of Women Judges (2017-2019), Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson selected Chief Judge Sims to spearhead the Women in Prison Initiative in north Louisiana. While serving as the District 6 Director of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) from 2017-2019, Chief Judge Sims implemented the historic cosmetology program at the Louisiana Transitional Center for Women in Tallulah (LTCW), LA. She also collaborated with Bossier Parish Community College to initiate skills and educational reentry programs for incarcerated women at the Louisiana Transitional Center for Women in Tallulah and the Caddo Correctional Center (CCC) in Shreveport. Chief Judge Sims has inspired other community organizations and businesses to assist with the collection of books, toiletries and dental hygiene products in support of the Women in Prison Initiative. To date, over sixty (60) boxes of books, toiletries and dental hygiene products have been donated to the women incarcerated at the Louisiana Transitional Center for Women.

Chief Judge Sims has been a frequent speaker throughout Shreveport at various schools for graduations, honor convocations and events such as the Judges/Lawyers in the Classroom, a program implemented by The Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education (LCLCE). In 2012, Chief Judge Sims was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to participate in the Louisiana Judicial Leadership Institute, a program designed to recognize and train future leaders in the judiciary. In 2015, Chief Judge Sims' portrait was added to the Southern University Law Center's "Wall of Fame" for her level of excellence and outstanding achievements in the legal profession. In 2022, Judson Elementary School honored Chief Judge Sims by awarding deserving students "The Sheva Sims Outstanding Leadership Award." She is also a participant in the Externship Supervisory Program sponsored by the Southern University Law Center.

Chief Judge Sims is the daughter of the late Dr. Howard Sims, Jr. and Mrs. Eva L. Sims. Her siblings are Dr. Sharon D. Sims (Nia) and Ms. Shunta E. Sims. She is the proud mother of two wonderful daughters, Taylor and K.C.