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10/1/12
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Race for Place 1 judgeship: Paler
Paler faces first GOP competition in nearly 18 years: Howell
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For the first time in almost 18 years, Morgan County Circuit Court Judge Sherrie Paler, a Democrat, has Republican opposition at the polls.
When she and two other judges took office in 1995, they faced thousands of cases that had piled up under the administrations of their predecessors. After about three years in office, Paler and the other judges had brought cases to manageable status.
Attorney Jennifer Howell, 34, is Paler’s GOP challenger in the Nov. 6 general election. Howell worked as an assistant district attorney for about five years and has been in private practice in Decatur for almost two years.
Circuit judges preside over criminal, civil and domestic cases and are top administrators of the judicial system. Although they are elected in county elections, they are state officials.
The Daily posed questions to the candidates.
Sherrie Paler
Q: You have been on the bench three terms. When you were elected, what experience did you bring with you?
A: I brought with me over 13½ years of experience as an attorney in private practice. I handled criminal, civil, domestic relations, worker's compensation, probate, juvenile and bankruptcy cases. I also handled business-related matters such as incorporations, preparation of financing agreements and Uniform Commercial Code documents, leases and contracts. I handled cases in federal court and before administrative hearing panels.
Q: Is it important for a judge to have experience before presiding over cases, specifically capital murder cases?
A: I believe it is vitally important for a judge to have as broad a base of legal experience as possible before assuming the bench. There is simply no time for a circuit judge to be trained in different areas of law if they have never dealt with the types of cases that will come before them on a daily basis. Being a circuit judge requires knowledge of the rules of evidence and how they are applied in the real world. You must make decisions sometimes in an instant, which requires a thorough knowledge of different areas of law. The judge cannot take a break during a trial every few minutes to find the answer to issues that come before them that they have not dealt with as an attorney.
Q: Based on recent past elections, voters in Morgan County overwhelmingly put Republicans in office. Some candidates switched from the Democratic Party to GOP. You didn't change. Tell us why.
A: I ran on the Democratic ticket in 1994 and I was elected. I ran on the Democratic ticket in 2000 and I was elected, and I ran on the Democratic ticket in 2006 and I was elected. I am the same person today that I was in those years, except that I now have almost 18 years' experience being a trial judge. Why make an issue of partisanship by switching? I firmly believe that if all it takes to be the best qualified candidate is that you are a Republican or Democrat, without looking at the candidate's experience, knowledge, judgement, discernment and demeanor, the court system is in real, deep trouble.
Q: Are you pleased with rulings you've made in criminal and civil cases during your tenure on the bench?
A: I am satisfied that my decisions have been rendered after careful consideration of the law and the evidence before me. I have made difficult decisions that affect the lives of the people before me, and I believe I have done so with fairness and impartiality.
Q: Are you fair and impartial toward defendants, their attorneys and prosecutors?
A: A judge must be impartial. All defendants have a right to come before a judge who is not biased against them. A state or municipal entity prosecuting cases is entitled to have a judge who is not biased against them. The judge's job is to be faithful to the law. A Judicial Canon of Ethics expects the judge to be "unswayed by partisan interests, public clamor or fear of criticism." I treat the defendants, attorneys and prosecutors who come before me as I want to be treated, with fairness, respect and impartiality.
Q: Do you believe your decisions are tempered with mercy while ruling with the law in criminal cases?
A: Mercy denotes compassion. I have compassion for victims of crime. I have compassion for people who have been convicted of crime. I treat people how I want to be treated. However, compassion does not necessarily mean leniency. I believe my decisions in criminal cases are fair, but firm based on the law and the facts.
Q: Why should voters re-elect you?
A: I am the most qualified candidate for my job, and my 17-plus years of experience on the trial bench proves this to be true. As one of the circuit judges, I have tried more than 10 capital murder cases, over a dozen murder cases, and countless drug, child abuse, rape and robbery cases, to name a few. I have tried hundreds of domestic relations, workers' compensation cases and civil jury trials, all giving me unparalleled judicial experience. The experience I have as circuit judge is invaluable in meeting the challenges the court system is facing in these hard economic times. ... I do not need to be trained in the law or the workings of the judicial system.
Sherrie Paler, Democrat (I)
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She had never tried a jury trial by herself when she was elected.
She IS a top circuit judge. Very experienced and Morgan county needs to re-elect her !
14 years ago she was over a child custody case. I had raiesed my son from age 6 to 14 by my self, His Mother decidedshe wanted him her. At the end of the hearing Sherrie Brown Paler said It would the best for the child to be with his mother. And since she was giving me 30 dollors a mounth child support for the last 2 years for 2 children that it was fair for me to pay 599 a mounth for him and could stop paying on the other child sense she was turning 18 in 9 mounths anyway. the other child stayed with me until she was out of school. This is how it turned out. Her Lawyer AndMrs, Brown Paler thought I was to strit on him.The 1st year in Tenn. he was arressed 2 times and sent a pyhc ward for 90 days at which time I could not see him. He finely got back to school and failed becuse he was to far be hine. also was told that they did not want him to return to that school the next year,She finely found another school to take him but there was problems ther also. I had to go to Tenn. to Juvinile court with he 2 times after that to beg for him to stay out of Jail. So with my dealings with Mrs Sherrie Brown Paler I will not be voting for her ever!!!!!!!! By the way I paid my child support every mounth until he was 19 years old
It is obvious that Roger struggled with writing his comment, but do not miss the context of his message. Chances are high that I will vote for all of our incumbent Circuit Court Judges. However, I am hearing chatter from other members of the local bar that Judge Paler does not seem to be enjoying her work. It is very obvious that she is well connected based on her campaign contributions and will be very difficult to unseat. I admire Mrs. Howell for having the courage to run for this honored and very important office.
Judge Paler has done a outstanding job and will have my vote. Sounds like to me Roger has issues with woman. Maybe Roger does not SEE why a judge decided the mom would be a better parent. There was a reason why a judge decided this. We are just hearing ONE side of the story here and I am finding it hard to believe. Just sounding like a upset man that's upset because he did not get HIS way. A child does not turn out that bad the DAY the mother gets custody. Like I said, there is more to this story Roger is not wanting to tell here.
My x and I went before Paler in a divorce case. My x wanted half of my retirement that I only worked 36 years for to retire comfortably. Judge Paler told her and her female lawyer there was now way they could touch my retirement. I offered her the house and a new van, all paid for and half of what I drew. Needless to say, Paler agreed with me and I'm happily divorced. We sold the house and she got half but that is all.
Obama girl through and through.
She pledged to support Obama, tells me all I need to know about her decision making skills
Judge Paler has my vote! I have been in front of Judge Paler and found her to be very attentive and fair. Everyone else that I have talked with also feels the same way. It is Thompson we need to get rid of. He likes to swivel in his chair, rub his head and check his watch. I wish we could clone Paler!!!
How could Judge Paler also a christian, support a reprobate like Barry Soetoro ,aka Barrack Hussein Obama in lieu of how he has ruined the economy and $5.5 trillion in new debt in three years and 9 months ? Wait,that's a rhetorical question,she's a democrat !
These lies have got to stop. I thought it was bad in the Mayor election but this is ridiculous.
Where is the lie William?
Debate tonight, she consistently blamed the Republican Legislature for not funding the courts enough, and where do you think they would get more money? Well by raising your taxes of course.
A pledge to support Obama. A blatant lie.
"Thanks so much to everyone that took the time to read my answers (or at least the fraction of them that was printed), and to those who are taking part in an election that is so important to this community. Please feel free to call me at 256-898-4712 or email me at: jennifer@jennifermhowell.com, if I can answer any other questions." [Sic]
I don't see any other candidates giving out their contact #'s so if you have Questions contact her you will be please at the reception afforded to you.
William it is not a lie, here it is I do pledge myself to abide by the result of this Primary Election and to aid and support all the Nominees thereof in the ensuing General Election.”
Vaneesa. Here it is. Vaneesa does hereby pledge to type things as facts and make people thing she isn't connected to Buzz while she spews her lies about other candidates. I give the Howell girl credit for posting her information, but I think the people supporting her on this website are rubbish. You are only hurting her. If there are people that are going to vote against the judges because they are democrats and that is all they care about you don't need to make up more lies to reinforce that. You are just hurting Howell when you act afool.
William do you not know that the Democrat party requires its Candidates to pledge to support the entire ticket? Now that might not be an issue to you, but it is a fact. If you vote in the Democrat primary you also signed an pledge to the same effect. Again you may not care that you signed that oath as a requirement to vote in their primary but you did. Denying it does not make it untrue. I posted the pledge verbatim above.