While both Municipal Court Judge candidates Herman Carson and William Grim boast similar experiences, each had the opportunity to express their individual platforms in the first of four candidate forums last night at the Athens Public Library.
Carson and Grim are running for Athens County Municipal Court Judge in the Nov. 4 elections. The winning candidate will replace Judge Douglas Bennett, Municipal Court Judge since 1985.
Carson, a 48-year-old lifetime resident of Athens County, received a bachelor degree in chemistry and then attended law school at Ohio State University. He has had a private practice for 23 years.
Grim, a 55-year-old Navy veteran, also attended law school at OSU. He spent four years as an assistant prosecuting attorney and had a private practice for 25 years.
After complimenting Bennett's genuine concern for the people who come into his courtroom, Grim said he would change the courtroom by taking the focus off the judge.
Judge Bennett is a type-A personality
he said. I would be more reserved than he is (in the courtroom).
Carson said he has had similar criminal defense experience as the current judge, and, like Bennett, has been a lifelong resident of Athens County.
My lifelong dream was to come back to Southeastern Ohio and help people and this is my opportunity to do that he said.
Carson and Grim fielded questions last night about their positions on several issues, including equal access to legal help, budget concerns and party affiliation.
In response to equal access questions, Grim said the judge should give people the benefit of the doubt when appointing free legal counsel for people who cannot afford it.
Carson emphasized the obligation of the judge to inform litigants of their options for acquiring legal representation, and he also stressed the role of organizations that provide free legal advice.
Both candidates said that the court budget is in good shape overall, and they would like to see it continue.
Carson said the court has been reducing the backlog of fines, totaling about $600,000, owed to the court. He also suggested the possibility of using commercial collection agencies to compensate for these fines so as not to cut into tax money.
Grim said another way to help the budget is to target many people who never pay their fines. He said that after the 30-day deadline for paying fees, he would like to start a policy where offenders would begin working off their fines in community service.
The candidates also discussed party affiliation.
Carson, who chose to run as an independent, said there is no room for party affiliation in the courtroom because total impartiality is expected from judges.
However, Grim, who is running on the democratic ticket, said being a democrat describes him as a person but not as a judge and he cited his ability to be impartial.
The next forum will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Athens Public Library.
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