The ability to educate Clarkston area voters on legal experience and personal backgrounds was one of the beneficial factors in the July 20 League of Women Voters Oakland Area 52-2 District Judge Candidate Night.
All four candidates (Jonathon Douglas, Kelley Kostin, Larence Kozma and Colleen Murphy) established similar viewpoints on several of the evening’s bigger topics, such as community involvement, punishment versus alternative sentencing and top offenses facing the court today.
‘Overall, it was a very good forum,? Kostin said. ‘It was nice to see the four of us have a consensus on similar issues.?
Candidates used two-minute opening and one-minute closing statements to reinforce individual qualities that made them stand out from the other candidates.
Douglas reflected upon how he developed a desire to run.
‘I came to have a passion for consumers? interest and Michigan consumers? law. That’s where I felt the call as a neutral arbitrator between opposing parties to seek judgeship,? Douglas said.
Kostin, a current magistrate, expressed a desire to continue serving her community to the forum’s audience.
‘I want to be a judge because I want to continue to use the experience and knowledge I’ve gained to better serve my community,? Kostin said.
Drawing from a long and varied career lineup, Kozma emphasized the many positions he has served in the court system, from police office to assistant prosecuting attorney.
‘Representing both sides of the prosecution and defense, I have the experience to understand a judge must examine every case on individual basis to come to a just and fair decision,? Kozma said.
Murphy, also a magistrate, used her experience of day-to-day court involvement to express her qualifications.
‘I’m well aware of the things that need to be done to protect our families,? Murphy said. ‘I want to be a district court judge because I believe that would be a unique opportunity to help the people of our community and protect our community.?
Continuing the theme of agreement, all four of the candidates found alcohol-related offenses to be some of the court’s top problems with domestic violence a sensitive issue as well.
The topic of rehabilitation or harsh punishment for offenders brought similar ideologies from the candidates with their own personal stances. All the candidates agreed that each case must be judged on an individual basis.
‘We have to take every case individually,? Kostin said. ‘That person has to be punished for the crime with a fair and just punishment. However, we need to look at what this person has done and figure out what needs to be done to make sure that person doesn’t come back again.?
Kozma had a similar outlook.
‘If a person comes before the court and is a repeat or violent offender, then a punishment is in order,? Kozma said. ‘However, if a person is a first- or second-time youthful offender, then the court can be used to change the behavior of the offender.?
While Murphy stressed the success of alternate sentencing programs, such as sobriety court, she believed that strong offenders deserved strong punishments.
‘There are times when harsh punishment is necessary and I would have no problem incarcerating someone to protect our community,? Murphy said.
Douglas saw the question as more of a progression instead of one option versus the other.
‘Looking at the spectrum of rehabilitation or punishment, I look at them as steps rather than as something on a spectrum,? Douglas said.
The candidates were addressed as to how many civil and criminal jury trials they had tried in addition to how many cross examinations they had performed. Only Kozma and Murphy had close approximations, with Kozma noting more than 290 felony trials while Murphy reported 40 criminal trials and 20 civil trials.
Kostin was unable to determine specific numbers and Douglas stated he had tried ‘dozens? of cases by trial.
‘I think the question about amounts was very important, but unfortunately, I don’t think very many numbers were given,? Kozma said of the question.
The topic of working with the community and school systems was another opportunity for the candidates to express more of their backgrounds and personal philosophies.
Kostin is an active member of her son’s PTA at Bailey Lake Elementary and uses that association to educate the students.
‘What I try to do is teach the children that there are consequences for behaviors,? Kostin said.
Murphy reflected upon involvement with the district’s ‘teen court? and ‘court in schools? programs and hoped to expand those programs in the future.
‘If I’m elected both the teen court and court in schools will definitely be expanded to cover the whole jurisdiction and middle schools,? Murphy said. ‘It’s a wonderful program.?
Kozma is also familiar to the area’s schools.
‘I made a lot of appearances, with some at Clarkston High School and with a full gym,? Kozma said. ‘I think I got their attention because it got very quiet when I began discussing the ramifications of drunk driving.?
After 13 questions submitted by the audience, the forum closed with one-minute closing statements, of which the candidates reinforced their backgrounds and experiences one final time.
‘I’m glad the League of Women Voters does something like this,? Kostin said.