Candidates for judge of Brown Circuit Court appeared before voters Oct. 2 at the Brown County League of Women Voters’ candidate forum. Because of judicial rules, they weren’t allowed to answer questions on specific topics from the audience, but they were able to make prepared statements. These are the speeches they shared with voters, edited for space.
Kristopher Kritzer (D)
I’m running to be your next judge. … I love the law and I want to see fairness and justice prevail in our society. … I’m also running because I see a need for change, and I don’t mean that as a criticism of our current judge at all. But people, young people, in our county are dying from drug overdoses, and there is room for improvement in the way our county handles that, from citizens to government. …
My father, during a conversation, once asked me a question I carry with me every day: “If you don’t fix it, who will?” And I’ve turned that into a life philosophy. Belly-aching and whining doesn’t solve problems. Work hard, intelligently apply the resources you have, and you can do good things in this world. It’s not always about fixing a problem. It’s knowing that you can rely on yourself to get the work done. …
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]If you’re in a courtroom, it’s because you have a problem in your life. … The first priority for a judge should always be the fair and just application of the law as it currently exists. I believe that the second should be to help solve the root problem in front of them. …
Robberies, thefts, crimes of violence, driving while intoxicated, these are crimes that can be linked back to substance abuse and addiction in many cases. … Understanding, addressing and solving the root problem, be it addiction or otherwise, civil or criminal, can be an effective way to try to keep people from having to return time and again to the courtroom. …
But this problem-solving approach goes beyond just mere knowledge of the law. It requires understanding the people standing before you. It requires knowledge of the options that are available to help those people. It requires knowledge of the science of addiction and the human brain. It requires knowledge of best practices for helping people overcome their addictions or other problems.
That is why I am a member of the Brown County Drug Free Coalition, and make it a priority to be there every month. It’s why I attended the Statewide Opioid Summit put on by the Supreme Court this July. … It’s why I’ve attended other trainings on these matters. … It’s why I’ve read scholarly articles and talked with judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement and recovering addicts, so that I can be the best advocate I can be, and truly help people. …
One of the things I’ve discussed from the beginning of my campaign is a problem-solving court called drug court. If elected, over the course of my first term, I hope to establish this in Brown County.
This is a specific type of program that has been shown to reduce recidivism for those who graduate from it. But make no mistake, it is not a slap on the wrist. It is hard work that aims to provide a light at the end of the tunnel for those willing to put in the work. …
I am in favor of having options available to craft the best sentence possible for each individual or provide my probation and Community Corrections department with the tools to course-correct someone. That includes drug court, it includes medication-assisted treatment and it includes jail or prison time in some cases.
Drug court and problem-solving can’t save everyone, but it can help. And wouldn’t we rather help reshape someone into a productive member of society, who can pay into the tax pool rather than take out of it? …
You ask, “Why should we elect him? He’s only 34 years old. He doesn’t have decades of experience.” And that’s true. What I do have is a wide range of experience.
I’m currently a deputy prosecutor in Hendricks County, and before that I was in private practice. … I defended those accused of crimes. I practiced in family law. … I practiced in probate court, drafting wills and seeking guardianships. I represented tenants against a landlord who rented apartments infested with bedbugs, and even a little old lady who was deceived by an unscrupulous contractor.
I practiced in at least nine different counties in front of many different judges and I learned what separates a mediocre judge from a good one from a great one. … I have gone up and won against attorneys who have built reputations for winning jury trials. …
And let’s not forget that Judge Judy Stewart was elected to the bench at 33 years old and Judge Frank Nardi was elected in Owen County at only 29. This county has and continues to be well-served by the wisdom of young people who grew into their roles. …
I listen closely, I analyze fully, and I treat people with respect. I’m passionate, motivated and energetic. I bring a fresh perspective to this position, and I will be resolute without sacrificing efficiency.
Along those lines, I will be seeking to expedite the court calendar and move the court to a different electronic system to improve our efficiency. … I don’t shy away from making tough decisions and standing by them. I am dedicated to remaining fair and neutral while still seeking just solutions for the people who would come before my bench.
Mary Wertz (R)
When I first considered being a candidate for Brown Circuit Court judge, I thought about what it means to be a good judge. … I thought about all the judges I have appeared before in the over 27 years that I have been a lawyer, most often in Brown, Monroe and Bartholomew counties and the many special and senior judges who have heard cases in those counties. I also thought about my years as Indiana Deputy Attorney General when I traveled to courthouses in counties all over the state of Indiana … and I’ve appeared before the Indiana Supreme Court, federal court judges and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.
I thought about the qualities I most value in the judges that I have met over the past many years: integrity; knowledge of the laws, rules and procedure; common sense; freedom from bias.
There are also other, more personal, abilities that make a difference: The ability to ensure dignity and respect in the courtroom; the ability to speak plainly and frankly without being rude or disrespectful; the ability to listen and let all participants know that they are heard.
I believe I would bring these qualities and abilities to the bench. …
I was admitted to the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington. … I graduated with honors in 1990 and passed the bar. … I began my legal career as a deputy prosecutor in Monroe County. … After four years in that position, I became a litigation attorney for a state agency in Indianapolis. … After about a year at the agency, I was offered a position in the Office of the Indiana Attorney General. … I was privileged to work in what was called at the time the Federal Litigation Section. This section handled some of the most complicated cases for the office. …
I was Brown County chief deputy prosecutor for 16 years. I am currently prosecuting felonies in two courts in Bartholomew County. During my more than 23 total years as a deputy prosecutor, I have prosecuted nearly every type of criminal case. I have tried two murder cases successfully. I have successfully tried crimes against children, domestic violence, drug dealing and manufacture and robbery. …
One of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of prosecuting criminal offenses is helping victims of crime. Victimization can happen to anyone at any time and it can be a life changing experience. … My job as prosecutor is to ensure that all victims are treated with dignity and respect and to ensure that they are not re-victimized by the process. As judge, I would continue to ensure that victims are treated with dignity and respect.
More importantly, I would also ensure that the rights of the accused are that are guaranteed by our constitutions and laws are protected and preserved.
We, as a community, have been, and will continue to struggle with this terrible drug epidemic. … Many have been talking about establishing a drug court in Brown County for low level, non-violent offenders. Drug courts are one type of problem solving court and must meet specific criteria set forth by the Judicial Conference of Indiana. There are challenges to establishing a drug court, one of which is funding.
In August, Judge Stewart asked our county council to approve a new probation officer position, in part to start the process of establishing a drug court. For budget reasons, the request was denied. Grant funding is another option. …
Also, in the future, the Judicial Conference may permit regional drug courts. If this were to occur, Brown County could partner with Monroe County, Bartholomew County or both. This is an option that must be explored. …
I intend to pursue the establishment of a drug court, but only if it fits the needs and unique circumstances of our community. …
I would also be vigilant about moving cases through our court system. It is the judge’s responsibility to ensure that all matters, especially those involving children, violence and addiction, are resolved without unnecessary delay. The judge must be ready and willing to deny motions for delay if good cause is not shown. One of my priorities if elected will be find ways to schedule matters to make better use of the limited court time. I have the time and energy to put in long hours to make our system run more efficiently.
Until I decided to be a candidate, I had not been politically active. It would be my preference that judicial elections be non-partisan and I believe most agree. A judge should never serve a political or any other sort of agenda. I think this is why judges wear robes. It serves as a visual reminder that the judge is different than the other participants in our judicial system, that the judge has a higher obligation: To seek the truth, to seek justice, to seek fairness.
I’m 53 years old and have been a lawyer over half of my life. My years of life and legal experience have given me the skills, knowledge and perspective to do this important job and to do it right.
