Two weeks from now, polls will be open across the commonwealth for Kentucky’s gubernatorial and constitutional offices election. But there are also a couple local races to keep an eye on. Voters in Marshall and Calloway counties will elect a new circuit judge after Dennis Foust announced earlier this year his retirement from the 42nd Judicial Circuit.
Foust was elected to a third eight-year term just a year ago, but decided in June it was time to retire from the bench. After the announcement, three candidates emerged to replace Foust - all white men, all registered Democrats, though it is a nonpartisan race. They appear on the ballot in an order determined by a chance drawing. First up on the ballot is two-term 42nd District Court judge Randy Hutchens and he stresses that experience as a reason to vote for him.
“It should be about experience and qualifications and let me give an example of what I’m trying to say," Hutchens said. "Would you hire an attorney to represent you in a personal injury case that might be involving hundreds of thousands of dollars if he had never had a civil case before?”
Hutchens says he and Foust were once debate team foes when they were at Calloway and Marshall County high schools, respectively, but have become good friends over the years. He says he would try to change some aspects of the court, however, specifically, making it run a little faster.
“I’d like to see us try to get dispositions of cases, felonies in particular, within 6 months of indictment and that doesn’t tend to happen now," Hutchens said. "Obviously there would have to be exceptions, like capital cases or something like that, but I don’t see any good reason why I can’t force the attorneys to try to get prepared within a six month period.”
The second candidate on the ballot - attorney Jeff Edwards - says he has the required experience. He’s been practicing law for nearly three decades and has been the Marshall County Attorney for 18 years, involved in both district and circuit courts.
“I’ve handled all sorts of cases from simple to complex," Edwards said. "I’m well-rounded in regard to my legal background and I think that’s what you need in a judge. Someone that has really practiced law.”
Edwards, too,would like to see some changes made to the way the 42nd Circuit holds court. He wants to call the docket quicker.
“Have less negotiations on the day of court," Edwards said. "Those could be done beforehand and not taking up court personnel time for attorneys to negotiate.”
The third candidate on the ballot is also the youngest - 39-year-old Jamie Jameson plays that up with his campaign slogan, “It’s time for new blood”. But he too touts his experience with the kind of cases that find their way into circuit court.
“The majority is the lawsuits over $5,000 and then the criminal docket of felonies," Jameson said. "I’ve spent my career working on both of those things.”
Jameson served as an attorney for seven years with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy. Before that, Gov. Steve Beshear appointed him to the state Department of Insurance’s consumer protection team. He is also an adjunct criminal law professor at Murray State.
Jameson has his own ideas for how he’d make his mark on the 42nd circuit, including meeting with lawyers in the region to see what their suggestions would be.
“I have some things in mind," Jameson said. "We have a growing docket load in the 42nd Circuit, so, potentially looking at other dates to hold court right now. Circuit court is held once a week – once in Marshall County, the next Monday in Calloway County."
Meanwhile, as a judge, Foust cannot rule on which of the candidates should succeed him. But the winner could be sworn in as early as the second week of November, as soon as the election results are certified.
Voters head to the polls November 3rd.
