(Editor’s note: NewsCow received a letter from the judge candidates on Monday. We initially chose not to report the letter here because we were hopeful arrangements could be made that would allow the candidates to attend the forum.
You can read the letter by clicking here.)
Six candidates for a judgeship in Cowley County have met and collectively agreed not to attend any candidate debates or forums this political season.
Democratic candidate Mark Krusor ? who was chosen to speak for the group because he has no primary opponent ? made the announcement by e-mail Monday. The decision means the judge candidates will not appear at a candidate debate Thursday evening hosted by NewsCow.net and KSOK Radio.
The candidates also are declining an invitation to attend a forum at the county fair in August.
Krusor and Republican candidates Chris Smith, LaDonna Lanning, Bert Wilson, Bill Muret and Rod Iverson all affixed their names to a letter sent to NewsCow and chamber officials in Ark City and Winfield. The candidates said state ethics laws specific to judges make it difficult for candidates to attend forums or debates.
Krusor, Wilson and Muret had previously accepted an invitation to the NewsCow, KSOK event but joined in the boycott after "extensive discussion" with the other candidates.
The candidates cited this state law for judges and judge candidates in an e-mailed letter, post dated July 22, explaining their decision:
The Rules Relating to Judicial Conduct, which cover not only sitting judges, but also candidates for judicial office, state at 2.10:
(A) A judge shall not make any public statement that might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome or impair the fairness of a matter pending or impending in any court, or make any nonpublic statement that might substantially interfere with a fair trial or hearing.
(B) A judge shall not, in connection with cases, controversies, or issues that are likely to come before the Court, make pledges, promises or commitments that are inconsistent with the impartial performance of the adjudicative duties of judicial office.
The rules are meant to protect the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary, according to a comment that follows the rules.
Candidates for this local judgeship ? which has opened with the announced retirement of Judge J. Michael Smith ? said they thought it was more fair to take equal criticism for declining to appear rather than have one candidate singled out at a forum for appearing to stonewall or deflect a question.
"The forum moderators and the public generally cannot be expected to know the minutiae of the Rules relating to judicial conduct when a question is formulated," the letter states.
"We understand you may view this as unacceptable, but after due consideration and discussion among all of us and an in-depth review of the Judicial Canons of Ethics, we do not believe it is proper for us to participate in a political forum."
In discussions with Krusor this week, NewsCow provided the candidates with a list of the only two questions that would be asked at the debate. Both dealt mostly with a candidate’s legal experience and their motivation for seeking a judgeship.
Despite these efforts to accommodate the candidates, the group still declined to make an appearance at the forum.
The Republican candidates will face off in a primary Aug. 3 and the winner will face Krusor in the general election.
