League of Women Voters

This past week the Blount County League of Women Voters sponsored an informative program called "Selecting State and Local Judges: Election, Appointment, or Other Alternatives?" Former State Supreme Court Justice Penny White and Dr. Stephens led the presentation and discussion. When the question nearest and dearest to my heart was asked "How do intelligent voters make a decision about their choice between judicial candidates?" , I noted this reply from Professor White: "Look at the qualifications, the education and the trial experience and look at the character of the individual, their patience and work ethic." The moderators went on to say that comparing and campaigning on partisan politics was in their opinion wrong. "You do not want a Judge who is a Know-it-all; you want a Judge who will defer to the law and not their personal beliefs."