From Jeffrey D. Kohl
Assistant District Attorney, Green County
To the editor:
I strongly endorse Jim Beer for re-election as Green County Circuit Court Branch 1 Judge.
Besides 19 years as judge, he is a former District Attorney, former Court Commissioner, and a former Family Court Commissioner. His opponent has been none of these and has none of the experience in making vital decisions which comes from these. While his opponent has experience in family law and some civil litigation, Jim Beer had a much broader range of experience in private practice, including major civil cases, as well as criminal law experience up to and including homicide cases. While his opponent claims years of legal experience, the range of his experience is less than Jim Beer had even before he took the bench and is notably very weak in criminal law.
I have to worry especially how the criminal justice system in Green County will suffer if we lose the 19 years of judicial wisdom Jim Beer brings to the bench every day. His opponent steers away from even mentioning the criminal law, indicative he's aware of his lack of knowledge in this most important area of judicial practice.
In addition Jim Beer was born and raised here in Green County, and understands our county's citizens and standards. While his opponent did wisely move to Green County to raise his family, his every-day practice has remained primarily oriented in Dane County and is colored by Dane County attitudes. This is shown in his technocratic complaining about Green County's court rules. Jim's opponent also held a major fund-raising event in Dane County, with the main attendees and contributors having been Dane County attorneys. We do not need a Dane County attorney, acting to impose Dane County attitudes, as our judge.
When Jim Beer's opponent ran for the Branch 2 judicial seat six years ago, he basically justified his candidacy by saying he was the son of a judge and had always wanted to be a judge. His justification hasn't changed much this time around, but the voters of Green County really should expect some justification for their votes besides asking for a personal wish fulfillment.
Assistant District Attorney, Green County
To the editor:
I strongly endorse Jim Beer for re-election as Green County Circuit Court Branch 1 Judge.
Besides 19 years as judge, he is a former District Attorney, former Court Commissioner, and a former Family Court Commissioner. His opponent has been none of these and has none of the experience in making vital decisions which comes from these. While his opponent has experience in family law and some civil litigation, Jim Beer had a much broader range of experience in private practice, including major civil cases, as well as criminal law experience up to and including homicide cases. While his opponent claims years of legal experience, the range of his experience is less than Jim Beer had even before he took the bench and is notably very weak in criminal law.
I have to worry especially how the criminal justice system in Green County will suffer if we lose the 19 years of judicial wisdom Jim Beer brings to the bench every day. His opponent steers away from even mentioning the criminal law, indicative he's aware of his lack of knowledge in this most important area of judicial practice.
In addition Jim Beer was born and raised here in Green County, and understands our county's citizens and standards. While his opponent did wisely move to Green County to raise his family, his every-day practice has remained primarily oriented in Dane County and is colored by Dane County attitudes. This is shown in his technocratic complaining about Green County's court rules. Jim's opponent also held a major fund-raising event in Dane County, with the main attendees and contributors having been Dane County attorneys. We do not need a Dane County attorney, acting to impose Dane County attitudes, as our judge.
When Jim Beer's opponent ran for the Branch 2 judicial seat six years ago, he basically justified his candidacy by saying he was the son of a judge and had always wanted to be a judge. His justification hasn't changed much this time around, but the voters of Green County really should expect some justification for their votes besides asking for a personal wish fulfillment.
