I heard about the position of JP two days before the application was due. I was told that the current JP had no opposition and that I should consider running. I took a quick look at the qualifications of the currently appointed JP and felt mine were considerably greater. Having served 28 years in law enforcement and having dealt with people from every background on the job, in addition to working with the court almost daily, I was attracted to the possibility of looking at the other side of justice — in the courtroom. I had thought about going to law school after retirement so I could enter the legal system again and work in the courts. What I didn't know is that in the state of Montana, the qualifications for a Justice of the Peace do not require a law degree. While I studied law in college, I put it into practice on the streets during my career, and I can now use that experience to serve justice on the bench, if elected.
Juvenile programs allow eligible youth to be held accountable without pushing them deeper into the justice system. Instead, they focus on accepting responsibility, learning from mistakes, and staying connected to school, family, and community. I plan to implement SNAP, Alive at 25, and traffic safety courses much like in Yellowstone County. One of the things I did during my career was bring a juvenile diversion program to our city, which is something that could be done here. While the juveniles were charged at the county level, the county referred it back to our city program where we had a magistrate set a hearing and deliver sentences for those juveniles who did not commit serious crimes. The juveniles had an opportunity to expunge the charge from their record at county level if they didn’t have any further encounters with law enforcement in a 12 month time period. It was very successful, helped out the community directly, and lowered recidivism rates.
Traffic cases make up a large portion of Justice Court work, especially in rural Montana. Traffic safety courses help drivers better understand Montana traffic laws, risky behaviors like speeding, distraction, seat belt non use, and the real world consequences of unsafe driving. DUI education programs are especially important. Impaired driving remains one of the most serious threats to public safety. Education paired with accountability helps reduce repeat offenses and reinforces that impaired driving endangers everyone—not just the driver. We have all been affected by this offense at some point in our lives or know someone who has. Because of that, we need healthy community support. I am a big proponent on education in these types of cases. However, to achieve success, the community must get involved with partnerships in business.
Have questions or suggestions? I would love to hear from you!
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