Courtroom and trial experience matter. We need Judges who have jury trial experience. I have tried 90 jury trials in 2 different states over the past 28 years. For example, we all talk about how our justice system must be free from bias, yet we have new Judges who don’t know what a Batson challenge is (systematic exclusion of jurors based on race or gender) let alone have they ever raised or litigated such an issue. Or, they will forget to excuse an alternate juror, which means a new trial is required. I have dealt with these issues on a number of occasions. There are a host of other issues just like this that many recent appointees have no experience regarding or understanding of. It is easy to talk about these things, but harder to actually do them.
My opponent has been hearing misdemeanors cases for almost two years. On three occasions during this campaign she was assigned to hear felony cases but her judicial colleagues intervened and kept her in misdemeanors. The reason: they knew that almost every lawyer assigned to her would remove her as the judicial officer, which would cause the other judges to have an increased caseload. This would also create negative publicity that would hurt her chances of winning this election. It is not so much that they care about this particular judge, but rather that they just want her to win so others will be discouraged from future challenges to incumbent judges, so they can run unopposed for their entire careers. This is a tremendous disservice to the voters in this community.
A judgeship pays about $158K a year with all kinds of other benefits. We have a Judge who is doing a terrible job even on misdemeanors and it has been hidden from the public. Ask anyone in the Court system if this person has done a good job, the answer is no. A judgeship is not a favor for well connected people. It is a calling for people who will roll up their sleeves and get to work.
I realize that trial work is not the only experience a Judge needs. Life experience matters as well: I have lived in the Twin Cities for 21 years and raised my 3 children here. As a member of the long term recovery community, I have insights into an area that affects most people that appear in our courts.
My website TomHandley4Judge.com is an effort to give this community as much information as possible for an informed decision. It is more than rhetoric. It details the work I have done for the past 28 years.
The more you know, the more clear it becomes.
Vote for Tom Handley
November 6, 2018
You can learn more about Tom Handley here.