The right kind of experience is the difference in the Ruston City Judge’s race, and Mike Smith is the candidate with the right kind of experience to be our next Ruston City Judge.
Mike is the only candidate who has experience managing and directing court dockets, not simply appearing on the docket. That is a major difference.
There is a significant difference between appearing in court on individual cases and being responsible for preparing, managing and directing a high-volume courtroom docket.
That experience is the closest equivalent to presiding over a courtroom and is an advantage in becoming a judge. That makes Mike the only candidate in the city judge’s race with this experience.
When it comes to serving as a judge, relevant courtroom experience directing a court docket matters more than simply the number of years in the legal profession.
- Every candidate in this race is an attorney, but their professional backgrounds and experiences are different.
- Practicing law for many years does not necessarily mean an attorney has spent those years handling the types of cases that come before City Court.
- This election is about selecting someone prepared for the specific responsibilities of Ruston City Court Judge.
- Mike’s career has been built around courtroom proceedings, criminal and juvenile matters, managing court dockets, and resolving legal disputes.
- His experience is not simply general legal experience. It is experience directly relevant to the position of city judge.
Mike is the only candidate with prosecutorial experience, another major difference.
As a prosecutor, when Mike handles a courtroom docket, he represents the State and not any individual. He is seeking accountability and justice for the citizens of Lincoln Parish.
That prosecutorial experience provides a perspective that private civil practice alone cannot replicate.
- Mike has served as an Assistant District Attorney in Lincoln Parish for 12 years.
- He has prosecuted misdemeanor, juvenile, and felony matters. He has prosecuted felony jury trials and handled criminal proceedings involving complex evidence and legal issues.
- His work has required him to regularly evaluate evidence, prepare cases, examine witnesses, and understand constitutional protections.
- As a prosecutor, he has worked directly with law enforcement, victims, witnesses, defendants, defense attorneys, judges, and court personnel.
- A prosecutor’s ethical responsibility is to seek justice, not merely convictions. That responsibility requires sound judgment, fairness, and discretion.
Other issues that must be responded to and corrected will be addressed in upcoming editions.
This is a paid political advertorial from the Mike Smith Campaign.
The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.
