Wednesday’s Tribune offered brief analysis of the judicial races on next Tuesday’s electoral card:
Floyd County Superior Court 3: Three Dems vie for new judgeship, by Stephanie Mojica.
The new court, which takes effect in 2009, is being created to reduce the caseloads of the existing Floyd County Court, Floyd Superior Court and Floyd Circuit Court. The three Democrats vying for the nomination are Richard Bolin, Maria Granger and Stan Robison.
Floyd County Superior Court 1: Longtime lawyer challenging Orth, by Stephanie Mojica.
Defense attorney Michael McDaniel is running against incumbent Judge Susan L. Orth for a spot on the ballot for November’s Floyd County Superior Court No. 1 race.
Speaking only for myself, Stan Robison’s extensive non-sectarian legal experience speaks volumes, and he gets my vote in Superior 3.
As for Superior 1, it’s a tougher call, but to be perfectly honest, the skilled and curmudgeonly Michael J. is one of my foremost local heroes ... and it's not a bad idea to have at least one safecracker on the police force.
Readers, you may well feel differently. Let ‘er rip.
I'm a law student at IU and I clerked for Judge Orth last summer. As a resident of Monroe County, I won't be voting in the Floyd County election, but I would still encourage people to vote for Judge Orth in the Superior 1 election. Judge Orth is obviously qualified, experienced, and follows the law -- in short, she has all the qualities that any judge should have.
ReplyDeleteBut what sets her apart is her humanity. I've watched her give consideration to some difficult matters, and I can only say that I think the people of Floyd County should be proud. She has an ability to relate to people in difficult situations and balance that with what the law requires of her that sets her apart among the people I've encountered since I started law school. It is a quality that is all too uncommon among lawyers in general, and I think it serves the county well.
Thanks David. That's a fine testimonial.
ReplyDeleteMr. McDaniel made a lasting impression on me many years ago. As a member of a jury pool, I had the opportunity to watch him in action during the voir doir. I decided right then, that if I ever needed a criminal defense attorney, he was the man. His reputation as a fine attorney has just continued to grow. Fortunately, I have never needed his services!
ReplyDeleteIn SC3, I am troubled by the lack of an answer to the question about Maria Granger's jury trial experience. Is it 100's as she SEEMS to indicate in the Tribune's Q & A?
"I handled hundreds of criminal cases as lead counsel in the courtroom before judges and juries."
Even in last night's edition of the Tribune, she could offer NO examples of her jury trial experience. I therefore have to find that her answer was misleading at best and a lie at worst. I'll give the benefit of doubt and go with misleading. Still, that it is not a quality that I want in a judge. (Eliminates one)
I'm in agreement with IAH concerning Ms. Grangier's candidacy. I feel very strongly that she has a responsibility to provide examples of what her most recent piece of literature to reach my house describes as "numerous" jury trials.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Tribune will continue to press for facts in this case, prior to the election.
Ms. Grangier has every right to argue that jury trial experience is less important than other factors but to claim it as a qualification and then refuse to document it is troubling, as is the support she's receiving from party leaders while doing it.
What happens if Ms. Grangier is elected and is then found guilty of being untruthful on her resume? Our new county court will be a laughing stock, lacking the authority to demand truth from anyone.
All she has to do is clear it up and that can be avoided. I don't think that's too much to ask under the circumstances.
I had already made up my mind in the Floyd Superior Court 3 race...my bride and I wrote a letter to the editor recently asking our friends and acquaintances to vote for Stan Robison and we hope we gave ample reasons for them to give consideration to that recommendation. You can read the letter here.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Granger, in my opinion, has done great damage to her candidacy by first exaggerating her experience and then by her lack of candor in her sole interview with the local paper. I'm told the published version is a highly sanitized telling of the actual manner in which Granger rebuffed the reporter's queries.
It really wasn't necessary for the Granger campaign to huff and puff so. But that's the deal she made with her advisors and they'll have to live with it at election time.
FYI,
ReplyDeleteFor anyone interested, many city officials including Mayor England, Carl M, John Rosenbarger, & others are scheduled to be at Silver Grove NA's annual open house this evening (May 1)at the Advent Church basement on the corner of Shelby & Indiana @ 6:30 PM.
Now is your chance for a one on one with any or all.
As a practicing attorney in Floyd County I have had many of my friends ask me who I thought they should vote for in the upcoming Judicial elections. Without elaborating on the why as eloquently as some others, I will just provide a name. I like Mike McDaniel and intend to support him with my vote. In the other race I support Stan Robison. He is unopposed in the primary, but I also support Glenn Hancock who has opposition in the Fall.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone wants to hear elaboration - please feel free to email me.
Mike McDaniel has the biggest resume and credentials of anyone in the field of Jurisprudence in Floyd County - period. That said he deserves a real chance to be a judge for this community.
ReplyDeleteIf you doubt any of his priors, do your homework before you respond.
"Mike McDaniel has the biggest resume and credentials of anyone in the field of Jurisprudence in Floyd County - period."
ReplyDeleteHaving not spent my adult years here, I'm not familiar with these names running for our new Judge. Can anyone elaborate on qualifications? I'll check out your letter allforword...thanks.
I know that our favorite "professor of political science" has endorsed Grangier's candidacy. "Professor" Erika has never been shy about pointing out the discrepancies of those she opposes and demanding their heads.
ReplyDeleteWell, Erika, what about your candidate and her misleading(to be kind)statements? Is it okay for people to lie if you support them? Why won't Grangier address this?