In the wake of the untimely passing of Judge Bob Moon, we have been fortunate to have had good candidates offer themselves to fill his important post.  I know well many of the candidates running in the August election, and all of these men and women offering themselves for service are good people.  However, I would urge my fellow citizens to consider electing Ron Powers to serve as our next General Sessions Court judge.

In my view, a good judge has compassion, is civil to the parties appearing before the court, has integrity, and has respect for the law.  Ron Powers has all of these qualities, and he would make an excellent judge in our community.

I have known and respected Ron for nearly a decade, and I first had the pleasure of his friendship while practicing law beside him for several years in the same firm.  When I first began working closely with Ron, he immediately impressed me with the care he brought to the work with his clients.  Ron knew and recognized—as good members of the bar do—that, although a lawyer may have many cases, each case matters to the client.  Ron understands that law is, foremost, truly a service profession and that its best practioners exist to assist others in times of crisis and need. 

Because of this understanding and compassion for his clients, Ron can be an especially forceful advocate.  In so doing, though, he is especially careful to treat others with respect and dignity.  Strong in faith and family, Ron has a quiet, unassuming presence and humility that one does not often encounter, and he is not easily flustered or agitated.  The legal system is adversarial by nature and can be callous at times.  But, the lawyers and judges in that system have a special responsibility to ensure that all are treated in a civil, professional, and courteous manner.  Ron knows and practices this civility very well; it is part of his nature. 

Ron is also a man of honor and integrity, and I would not hesitate to trust him with many of the most significant decisions in my life.  Throughout his practice and in his personal life, Ron is and has been scrupulous, unfailingly honest, and reliable.  He is a superb role model for our community.  Because our general sessions judges have more direct daily contact with our citizens than virtually any other elected position, the importance of these qualities simply cannot be overstated.  

Finally, one of the things that has always impressed me about Ron has been the depth of his experience.  More so than most other candidates, Ron’s practice has always been varied and diverse.  He has worked in small- and large-sized firms, and he has represented people, businesses, and governments in all types of situations and disputes.  With this wide-ranging experience comes a good knowledge and familiarity with many types of law.  Having practiced in this court for many years, I know that it is especially important that a judge in this court have a broad knowledge of, and respect for, our law.  Ron’s well-rounded experience fits this bill easily.

In short, Ron Powers would make an excellent judge for our Sessions Court.  Please consider lending him your support on Aug. 2 or during early voting on July 13-28.