Kentucky

Just some thoughts and suggestions for how to cast your vote for a judge this upcoming election.

DON'T CAST YOUR VOTE FOR A JUDICIAL CANDIDATE JUST BECAUSE HE OR SHE HAS MET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA OR OTHERWISE STRUCK YOUR FANCY.

Some sign, poster, handout, or a nail file telling  you to VOTE for XXXX just should not cut it.

• Big posters.
• Billboards.
• Signs in thoroughfares.
• It's a name that sounds ok, or against a name you don't like the sound of.
• Nice nail files.
• Nice cards with basketball schedules.
• Pretty yard signs.
• Female name.
• Male name.
• Name you heard somewhere before (it might be because of negative press!)
• The candidate is pretty.
• The candidate is not pretty.
• The candidate has pictures with children.
• The candidate has pictures with family members.
• The candidate has pictures with (fill in the blank).
• Someone in a commercial tells you to vote for XXXXXX.
• Elect, retain, or let's keep a certain person on the bench (doesn't mean they did a good or a bad job; just means a politician appointed them or they got elected once.)  It has nothing to do on the job they did on the bench or their qualifications to serve.
• They went to law school in Kentucky.
• They went to law school somewhere else.
• They are of a particular gender, ethnic origin, or whatever that has no relevance to experience or legal background.
• You flipped a coin.
• You pick every candidate who is first or second on the ballot for the race.

I can't tell you the number of times I hear someone ask or complain there are too many judges on the ballot and they know nothing about them. 

Well, I can't necessarily argue with that or dispute that because Jefferson County (unlike most of the other counties in the state has and needs a lot of judges to sit on the bench), but I surely can share with them  for whom I am voting and answer questions why I am casting my vote for that particular person.  It may be a good reason to some; a bad reason to others; but it is a reason that makes sense to me if it is because I want a good, competent, qualified, fair and experienced judge or lawyer on the bench.

My suggestion is that you ask your family lawyer or any other lawyer whom  you trust. 

In a day or two, I am going to share with you the names of those whom  I am voting or not voting for in this election for judge.

Please understand, this is not without risk to me since most lawyers don't like to have to make a choice on a judge and vote, endorse, or even give money to the loser which amounts to being against the eventual winner.  Being on the wrong side has it's down side when looking up to the judge on the bench.

But, if you don't stand for something, then you don't stand for anything.  The public must rely upon a lawyer's recommendations for judge. 

As for me, I am a veteran, a retired Army Judge Advocate, and practicing trial lawyer.  I have never missed a general election and am pretty sure I voted in all the primaries once I hit 18, to include many by absentee ballot while away from home on military service for many years.

What I have learned is that my vote is precious to me.  Others have died to preserve that freedom of choice.  I will not throw it away.  So when someone asks for my vote, it's not a gift, it's not charity, and it's not free to be thrown away.  It has to be earned and respected.  Why?  Because it is MY VOTE.  A valued and cherished benefit of living in a democracy.

Don't vote for my choices just because I make them.  But, if you trust me, then you may wish to consider my recommendation.  Take a look at my "about page" at the top left hand corner of this blog.  Considering, I have been publishing this blog (and the one at www.Kycases.com) for free and for the benefit of the public and the lawyers for over 8 years, I would hope you might at least listen to what I have to say, but if not, then no big deal.  However, please vote. Please check out the candidates.

If you have a neighbor who has a yard sign supporting a particular judge, and you like that neighbor or trust them, then consider that yard sign as a personal endorsement by them and factor that into your decision.