BENTON COUNTY : 2 races for judge draw 4 to ballot
Posted on Monday, May 12, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/225529/
Benton County voters will seat two circuit judges May 20.
Voters will be replacing a 22-year circuit court veteran and filling a new position when they choose among four non-partisan candidates in 19 th Judicial District-West.
Jim Johnson, 55, and Robin Green, 39, are seeking the Division 1 spot being vacated by Circuit Judge Tom Keith, who is retiring after 26 years as a judge.
Doug Schrantz, 55, and Ray Bunch, 55, are running for the new Division 6 position, created last year by the Arkansas Legislature to ease the caseloads of the growing district’s circuit judges.
Keith handles half of the criminal cases that come through Benton County. All six judges will meet after the election to determine the makeup of the caseload for that division.
All four candidates said their experience makes them most qualified to preside.
Johnson has served as Cave Springs’ judge for 17 years and has served as that city’s attorney. He said Green, the attorney for Benton County, has more name recognition. That’s why campaigning has been a little difficult, Johnson said, because he’s had to promote himself.
That’s not his nature, he said.
“I’m not after it for political motives,” he said.
He said that he didn’t want to challenge an incumbent and that the other three candidates had announced, so he decided to oppose Green.
Johnson believes his experience as a trial lawyer and a public defender gives him an edge.
This is the second time that Green has had the job of Benton County attorney. She was appointed the county’s prosecuting attorney twice to fill out others’ terms.
Green, a self-proclaimed “soccer mom,” is active in several groups. She was named Volunteer of the Year in 2007 for the Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce’s Drug-Free Task Force.
Johnson and Green have argued cases before the Arkansas Supreme Court. Green has served on the panel as a special justice.
Green is interested in Division 1 because of the traditional criminal caseload. As prosecuting attorney, she supervised 15 lawyers and made decisions on what criminal charges to seek.
“I will know whether the prosecuting attorney’s case is not as strong as [it ] should be,” she said.
Green said her experience as civil attorney for the county complements her experience as a prosecutor.
The Division 6 candidates both said their experience sets them apart.
Schrantz has served as Rogers’ judge for 15 years.
In private practice, Schrantz has focused on civil litigation, although he’s served as Rogers’ prosecutor. He expects the dockets for the other judges will remain unchanged, leaving the new division primarily for civil matters.
Schrantz said that he has an advantage over Bunch with his tenure as judge.
“When you put on the black robe and take the bench, it’s a different thing, a very different process — different approach to the cases presented to you,” Schrantz said.
Bunch has been a lawyer for more than 23 years. He said his longevity makes him the right choice. He considers himself part of a “dying breed” of lawyers who would take on any type of case.
Lawyers today are more likely to specialize in a certain area of the law, Bunch said, especially in large firms. He anticipates the docket for Division 6 will bring all manner of cases, and he will be ready to preside over them.
Bunch served as a deputy prosecuting attorney before starting his own practice. This will be the second time Bunch has sought a circuit judgeship.
“I ran for this position 18 years ago and was told by a lot of people I was just too young,” Bunch said. “I’m not too young anymore.”
He said he laments campaigning for a nonpartisan judgeship. Judicial candidates can’t make promises like politicians.
“It’s kind of like getting in a fight with your hands tied behind your back,” Bunch said.
That might limit the rhetoric used by candidates, but expressing opinions would give voters a better idea of what kind of judge they’ll end up with, said Keith, who has to step down or lose his pension.
Keith is nearing 70, and considered running for another term and taking the state to court if it tried to take away his pension, but he decided against it.
He’s pleased voters will choose his successor.
The most important thing a judge needs is a well-rounded view of the world, Keith said.
“Experiences in life help you more than you’ll ever know,” he said.
Sitting in his chambers recently, Keith recalled being asked by a woman what made him qualified to be a judge.
His response: “God gave me the ability to read the hearts of men.”
“I was only half joking,” he said. There is a continuous learning curve on the bench, so it takes time to become a good judge, Keith said. A judge needs to be able to evaluate a person’s character, while remaining impartial. Experience in a lower court is beneficial but doesn’t really compare with being a circuit judge, especially on the criminal side, Keith said. The stakes are much higher at this level, he said, and the punishments more severe. A certain amount of confidence is another prerequisite for the job, but it must be balanced by humility, he said. “It’s important that a judge understand as human beings we’re imperfect,” Keith said. “That means when the system fails it’s because we have imperfect beings that operate it.”
To contact this reporter: awallworth@arkansasonline. com Circuit Judge, District 5, Division 1
Russellville
Ken Hodges
Age: 54
Family: Wife, Ramona; two children
Occupation: Lawyer
Education: Law degree
Previous political experience: None
Military experience: U. S. Air Force
(1972-76 ) What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n Crystal meth, domestic violence and illegal aliens Bill Pearson Did not respond Circuit Judge, District 12, Division 1
Fort Smith Stephen Tabor Age: 52 Family: Wife, Kelly; two children Occupation: Circuit Judge, District 12, Division 6 Education: Bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University; law degree from University of Arkansas Previous political experience: Prosecuting Attorney, 12 th Judicial Circuit (2002-2006 )
Military experience: U. S. Air Force (1972-76 ) What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n First, judges must always be alert to and explore innovative approaches to issues which come before them. n Second, the judge must be constant in maintaining his education on the constant changes both in the codes and in the case law. n Third, the judge must move dockets along at a pace which allows citizens the speediest possible access to the judicial system. Litigants and lawyers have the right to a court date within a reasonable time.
Bob Yoes
Age: 57
Family: Wife, Genny; three children
Occupation: Lawyer
Education: Bachelor’s and law degree
from University of Arkansas
Previous political experience: None
Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n Implement expanded use of specialty courts. These include drug courts, domestic violence courts and mental health courts. n Case administration. I will implement use of simple, efficient scheduling orders. I will work to fully implement electronic case filing via Internet. n Implement expanded use of nontraditional corrections and nontraditional conflict / dispute resolution. Circuit Judge, District 14, Division 1
Harrison Gail Campbell Age: 51 Family: Husband, Ron; two children Occupation: Lawyer Education: Alpena High School; University of Arkansas at Little Rock; W. H. Bowen School of Law at UALR Previous political experience: None Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n Making the court process more efficient without sacrificing fairness. n Making sure that all parties appearing in court are treated fairly, with respect and impartially. n Seeking out ways to protect the children involved in the court system. Chris Carter Age: 47 Family: Wife, Karen; three children Occupation: Deputy prosecuting attorney Education: Associate’s degree in secondary education from Montgomery College; bachelor’s degree in history from St. Mary’s College of Maryland; University of Arkansas School of Law Previous political experience: Circuit judge Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n Examine all the cases that are three years old or older and work to resolve those as quickly as possible. n Address alternative dispute resolutions, including referring major civil cases to mediation, as well as divorce cases that involve significant assets to divide. n Working with the state and the local clerks to develop an online court system. Shawn A. Womack Age: 35 Family: Wife, Melinda; two children Occupation: State senator, lawyer Education: Mountain Home High School; bachelor’s degree from University of Central Arkansas; University of Arkansas School of Law Previous political experience: State senator (2003-present ); state representative (1999-2003 ); legislative aide to U. S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson (1997 ) Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n Work to make sure that all family law cases are heard as expeditiously as possible because children don't need to be left in limbo. n Work to ensure that the orders of my court are followed. n Use my experience from a decade of making decisions in the General Assembly to cut through the issues and make timely decisions in the cases before me. Circuit Judge, District 15, Division 1
Booneville Brian K. Mueller Age: 51 Family: Wife, Pamela; two children Occupation: Attorney; District Judge Education: Bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College; law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law Previous political experience: Mayor of Booneville; district judge Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n Work with the prosecutors, public defenders and attorneys to facilitate a fair and efficient criminal justice system of which each community in the district can be proud. Jerry Don Ramey Age: 44 Family: Wife, Brenda; two children Occupation: Yell County District Judge, Dardanelle District Education: Arkansas Tech University and University of Arkansas School of Law Previous political experience: 15 th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney (1997-2000 ); Yell County Public Defender; Yell County District Judge (2002-present ) Military experience: Arkansas National Guard and U. S. Army Reserves; Arkansas Military Academy, Army Command and Staff College What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n The judge must have an understanding of budgets, the ability to manage the docket and the integrity to make the right decision based on the facts and applicable case law. Howard Yates Age: 56 Family: Wife, Jane; three children Occupation: Lawyer Education: Henderson State and the University of Arkansas School of Law Previous political experience: Morrilton City Attorney Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n Bringing my experience to the bench. n Spending the time necessary to serve all four counties of the district. n Applying the law, as established by the state Legislature, fairly and equally. Circuit Judge, District 19-East, Division 1
Berryville Alan D. Epley Age: 62 Family: Wife, Sherry; two children Occupation: Circuit Judge, District 19-East, Division 1 Education: Bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Arkansas Previous political experience: Five terms as Eureka Springs Municipal Judge; two terms as circuit judge Military experience: U. S. Air Force (1969-1972 ) What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are re-elected ? n The Arkansas court system is soon to be brought into the computer / Internet age. An experienced judge will be challenged to ensure a smooth transition without losing control of his trial docket. n Continuation and improvement of the drug court program in Carroll County. n Courthouse security is an issue in these days of violent attacks at public buildings and institutions and it demands attention. Kent Crow Did not respond Benton County Circuit Judge,
District 19-West, Division 1 Robin Green Age: 39 Family: Two children Occupation: Benton County Attorney Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics and business from Hendrix College; law degree from University of Arkansas Previous political experience: Benton County prosecuting attorney (2000 and 2004-2006 ) Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n I will uphold the law and faithfully and impartially perform the duties of Benton County Circuit Judge. I will render timely decisions and manage the cases efficiently, and I will treat all who come before the court with dignity and respect. Jim Johnson Age: 55 Family: Wife, April; four children Occupation: Lawyer Education: Bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Arkansas Previous political experience: None Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n Move the civil docket along. n Make our citizens as safe as possible. This means not only putting criminals away but trying to rehabilitate them. n The distribution of criminal and civil cases among the six circuit judges. Circuit Judge, District 19-West, Division 6
Bentonville Doug Schrantz Age: 55 Family: Wife, Sharon; three children Occupation: District Court judge; Lawyer Education: Bachelor’s degree and law degree from University of Arkansas Previous political experience: Benton County District Judge Division 1 (January 2005-present ); Rogers Municipal Judge; Rogers City Attorney Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to addressed if you are elected ? n The most critical issue is dealing with the backlog of cases that has developed in Benton County. n The courts must become more efficient. Technology can be used to deal with matters of a routine nature to improve efficiency. n Benton County must address the issue of adequate facilities. More efficient courtroom facilities could reduce personnel needs, improve security and allow citizens more reasonable access to the justice system. Ray Bunch Age: 55 Family: Three children Occupation: Lawyer Education: Bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Arkansas Previous political experience: None Military experience: None What three leading issues do you feel need to be addressed if you are elected ? n Time delays in our court system translate to added costs to litigants in civil cases and that time used efficiently is essential to expediting cases in our criminal system. n Continue good working relationships with the existing circuit judges. n To apply the experience I have gained from handling all types of cases.