FORT WORTH- Judge Louis E. Sturns was born and raised in rural East Texas Rusk County, the youngest of six sons born to Robert and Emma Sturns. He continues to hold true to values learned while growing up in rural East Texas— faith, family, self-reliance, concern and respect for others. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Wichita State University and Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Judge Sturns was a Captain of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corp. He received an honorable discharge upon leaving. He also recieved the U. S. Army Commendation Medal. He was the first African-American to serve as a criminal court judge in Tarrant County, the first minority president of the Tarrant County Bar Association and the first African-American to serve on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. His community service and affiliations include: Texas Bar Foundation, Tarrant County Bar, Tarrant County Black Bar, Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, Mayor’s Promotion and Development Fund, and Tarrant County Republican Party, Texas Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, and Texas Ethics Commission.

Sturns is also a member of the Federal Judicial Appointment Committee, a former member of Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Tarrant County Republican Party.  During his tenure as Criminal District Court #1, Judge Sturns presided over thousands of felony criminal cases and received 96% approval rating among judges in a Tarrant County Bar Poll. He is currently judge in 213th District Court, and is married with children and grandchildren.
We salute Judge Louis Sturns as this week’s Living Legend and invite you to send in who you think will make a good Living Legend and why they should be honored.