I join those who have written letters of support for Ron Powers in his candidacy for General Sessions judge. I wholeheartedly support Ron, he has my vote, and I commend him for your consideration.
I have known Ron for almost 20 years. We have both spent our legal careers in this community. We have tried cases against each other, have represented separate parties in the same case and, after we found ourselves practicing law in the same firm, have tried cases together. In each of those settings, Ron has impressed me with his ability to focus on the heart of the matter, to identify what is truly important, to separate it from what is not important, and to effectively address what matters without wasting time on what does not. I have repeatedly observed Ron exercise this skill – whether dealing with a person, a problem, or a process – and calmly zero in on the substance without being distracted by the rest. This is a critical skill for a successful advocate, and it is an all the more important attribute for a good judge.
Our General Sessions courts handle a heavy caseload, and each of our Sessions judges encounters hundreds of people and presides over dozens of matters each day. Often, these situations are emotionally charged, and the litigants and witnesses in this court are both unfamiliar with the system and are under great stress. For many, an appearance in sessions court is their only interaction with our court system. Further, by necessity, cases and appearances are handled quickly, with large dockets being processed each day. Ron recognizes that each case and each litigant is important, that every person who appears before the court should be listened to and treated in a professional and courteous manner, and that each case deserves the court’s attention and the judge’s careful and honest consideration. Ron will be able to handle this high volume workload in his calm, dignified demeanor and without losing sight of his overriding goal - to achieve justice with fairness and impartiality.
We are fortunate to have candidates of Ron’s caliber willing to serve in this role and seeking election to this important post, and we should support him. Please consider doing so on Aug. 2 or during early voting on July 13-28.
Bill Hannah