Open thread: Elections for Floyd County Superior Court 2 & 3.

The election’s only a week away, and it’s time to consider the local races. NAC’s pants-down editorial board hasn’t undertaken a detailed consideration of the candidates, which is to say there hasn’t been the chance to set aside three hours for beer, pizza and politics. For now, we're throwing out local contests randomly for discussion, and using the Tribune's hard work to set the table. Thanks, guys.

First up, the two contested judicial races. In the new Floyd Superior 3 ...

Attorneys battle to become judge of new Floyd County court, by Matt Thacker (News and Tribune).

Two New Albany attorneys are facing off to become the first judge of the newly created Floyd County Superior Court No. 3. The campaigns have focused on what type of experience is most important for a judge.

Republican Rick Fox, 53, boasts 21 years of experience in the courtroom and has represented various agencies at different levels of government. Democrat Maria Granger, 53, says she already has judicial experience as a Supreme Court Hearing Officer and taught Business Law at Indiana University Southeast.

Fox has accused Granger of not having enough jury trial experience.“I’ve tried criminal and civil jury trials as well as have had many cases in the Indiana Court of Appeals,” Fox said. “I think that distinguishes my record from (Granger’s) record.”

Granger said that she has tried about 10 cases before a jury, but also manages more than 600 cases per year as Hearing Officer.

Earlier today at Freedom of Speech, Granger repeated a statement that first drew attention here during last spring’s primary, and that Fox references above:

I am also the only candidate in this race who has fought crime for more than five years and prosecuted hundreds of cases before judges and juries.

Perhaps our resident legal minds can help make sense of this lingering oddity. What constitutes a case before a judge and jury, and how many has she really tried?

ELECTION Q & A 2008: Floyd Superior Court 3
Maria Granger for Judge (Superior III)
Rick Fox for Judge (Superior III)

The other contested judicial race is Superior 2, pitting Glenn Hancock (D) and Chris Lane (R).

ELECTION Q&A 2008: Floyd Superior Court 2
Glenn Hancock for Judge (Superior II)
Chris Lane for Judge (Superior II)

Susan Orth (D) is unopposed in Superior I: Susan Orth for Judge (Superior I).

Please post your thoughts, subject to the usual identification policy.

Open thread: Races for judge, Floyd Superior 1 & 3.

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.

Meet the candidate: Stan Robison, Floyd County Superior Court 3, Wed. Jan. 16 at NABC.

Last week, Stan Robison announced his candidacy for the new Floyd County Superior Court 3 judgeship. The election will be on Tuesday, May 6, which of course is the date for Indiana's 2008 primary, and not coincidentally, the first of two NABC Elector nights this year.

But I digress.

Speaking personally, I've known Stan since the early 1980s. He's had a successful law practice in New Albany and has served as deputy prosecutor and public defender. He has my vote, but you don't have to take my word for it.

On Wednesday, January 16, there'll be a "meet the candidate and fundraiser" beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Prost room at New Albanian Brewing Co., 3312 Plaza Dr., in New Albany. There'll be pizza, Progressive Pints, and the opportunity to get to know Stan.

I may be a bit late; there's a funeral earlier in the afternoon near Indianapolis. Even so, hope to see readers there at some point tomorrow night.

Stan Robison for Judge