SPOKANE, Wash. — Judges can play a significant role in our everyday lives, and we’re more likely to interact with a judge than with a governor or a congressman. But they’re often the candidates on our ballots we know the least about.
So, we looked into how registered voters can evaluate judges and make more informed choices come November.
Derek Deis sat down with Darren DiGiacinto, president of the Spokane County Bar Association’s Board of Trustees, to learn a little more about Superior Court Judge responsibilities.
DiGiacinto says judges handle disputes between people and have significant authority.
“The judges at the superior court level are given general authority to preside over both civil and criminal matters, as well as juvenile matters. These can range from business disputes to divorces or criminal accusations,” DiGiacinto said.
Michael Cecil, an assistant professor at Gonzaga University School of Law, describes judges as referees. After hearing arguments from both sides, Cecil says they make rulings within specific guidelines.
“But there always is that element of personal investigation and evaluation of one’s character, the veracity of their remorse over a particular crime, and how much sentence should be given. So those kinds of decisions play an incredibly important role,” Cecil said.
How can the Spokane County Bar Association evaluation results inform voters about judicial candidates?
“It’s meant to be a resource, not a comprehensive deep dive into everything about every candidate,” DiGiacinto said.
The evaluation is detailed. More than 300 bar members responded to a third-party poll ranking judicial candidates in five categories: legal ability, judicial temperament, integrity, relevant legal experience, and suitability.
A cross-section of the bar membership then serves as the judicial evaluation panel. This panel interviews candidates, reviews the bar results, and makes recommendations. The panel provides one of four recommendations: exceptionally well qualified, well qualified, qualified, or not qualified. These recommendations are available on the Spokane County Bar Association’s website. Can individual bias affect these results? “Is it possible that there are attorneys out there who have opinions about the candidates? Of course, but that’s why we gather feedback from a broad range of bar members,” DiGiacinto said. Cecil views the bar evaluation results as useful for voters but stresses the importance of independent research. “It is important to make independent investigations,” Cecil said. He suggests researching online, watching interviews on YouTube, and reviewing what candidates stand for and how they intend to uphold the rule of law. What about endorsements? You may see endorsements from political or civil rights groups for particular candidates. Both DiGiacinto and Cecil advise looking beyond these endorsements. “It can be a telling feature in evaluating, but it shouldn’t be the sole factor in your decision. It’s guidance,” DiGiacinto said. “Endorsements are suggestive but not conclusive in determining how you should vote,” Cecil said. There are many websites to help you learn about judicial candidates. However, if you want to make an informed choice this November, you’ll need to conduct your own research. “Please investigate. Look into the veracity, temperament, and character of the judges running for office. Make a decision based on your own conscience. That’s the most important thing as a voter in a democracy,” Cecil said. COPYRIGHT 2024 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
