Justice Court Judges

Originally posted by James Broadwater at http://www.onlinebyram.com on Sept. 19, 2006.

In Hinds County, we have five justice court judges. Sources say the only decent one is Judge Bill Skinner. I have experience with Judge Clyde Chapman, and I can tell you that he doesn't even have enough respect for us, the citizens, to begin court on time. And no, I do not feel that I received justice when I went before him in what should have been an open-and-shut case. On the other hand, I have found Judge Bill Skinner to be a good and decent man.

In Hinds County, when one files a lawsuit in justice court, he may not get the judge for whom he voted -- the one who is supposed to represent him. The stated reason is that the judges are trying to prevent judge shopping. Well, a liberal doesn't have to judge shop. He already has an 80 percent chance of getting what he wants. But those of us who voted for Judge Skinner are being deprived of our day in court. When we file a lawsuit, we face an 80 percent chance of not getting the judge who we chose in a fair election. And the same is true if someone files a lawsuit against us. When we go to court, we should get the judge for whom we voted.

If the conservatives in this country were only as bold as the liberals, America would be a much better place.