Stephen J. Windhorst

Stephen Joseph Windhorst, known as Steve Windhorst (born February 12, 1957), is a state 24th Judicial District judge in suburban New Orleans, Louisiana, who served as a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Jefferson and Orleans parishes from 1992-2000. His father, Fritz Windhorst of Gretna, served as a Republican in the Louisiana State Senate from Jefferson and Orleans parishes from 1972-1992.

Windhorst graduated from Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero in Jefferson Parish. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Tulane University in New Orleans. A certified police officer, Windhorst completed the Gretna Police Training Academy. He was a reserve police officer from 1985–1988 and an assistant district attorney from 1982-1989.

In the nonpartisan blanket primary, also known as the jungle primary, held on November 16, 1991, Windhorst unseated fellow Republican Representative Terry W. Gee, who had served since 1980. In the primary balloting on October 19, Gee led the balloting with 4,512 votes (45 percent), compared to 3,734 (37 percent) for Windhorst. The remaining 1,847 ballots (18 percent) was cast for the lone Democrat in the race, Cynthia Davidson. In the November 16 general election, Windhorst was the big winner, 7,576 (61 percent) to Gee's 4,845 (39 percent).

Windhorst was unopposed for the legislature in 1995 and 1999. In 1996, he lost a bid for state judge to the Democrat Henry G. Sullivan, Jr., in Division M, but he won the District J position four years later on October 7, 2000. In the low-turnout judicial race vacated by the incumbent Republican Sheldon Fernandez, Windhorst defeated a Democrat Pat Hand, 4,631 votes (55.2 percent) to 3,763 (44.8 percent). This "Pat Hand" should not be confused with former Judge Kernan "Skip" Hand, a Republican from Jefferson Parish. Early in 2001, Windhorst's House seat went to another Republican, James Wayne "Jim" Tucker, who in 2008 became Speaker of the state House.

Windhorst was formerly affiliated with the group Victims and Citizens Against Crime. In 1993, he was named “Legislator of the Year” by both Victims and Citizens Against Crime and the Alliance for Good Government. A Roman Catholic, he consistently supported the agenda of the Christian Coalition, whose forces were led by Representative and later state Senator Heulette Fontenot of Livingston Parish. He is a member of the Louisiana and Jefferson Parish bar associations, the Terrytown Civic Association, and the Republican Pachyderm Club of New Orleans. He is also affiliated with the Kiwanis Club and Citizens for a Clean and Beautiful West Jefferson. He was a member of the Jaycees in the Algiers section of New Orleans. Windhorst is also a member of the development board of Archbishop Shaw High School.