Fairness is an essential criterion for selecting a judge.
Advertisements accusing Cole County Circuit Judge Pat Joyce, the incumbent Democrat, of being "Missouri's most liberal judge" are clearly unfair.
We commend Brian Stumpe, the Republican challenger, for his service as Jefferson City prosecutor, but we believe he made a serious error in judgment when he accepted a massive campaign contribution from the Washington, D.C.,- based Republican State Leadership Committee. On its web site, the GOP group describes its newest program "to elect down ballot, state level conservatives."
When it comes to making laws, voters elect like-minded candidates - Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives.
When it comes to interpreting laws, we favor judges who apply knowledge, discernment and fairness.
We have observed Judge Joyce's reasoning and rulings throughout her 20 years as a judge, and we have seen nothing that could be construed as biased, either liberal or conservative.
She has been a leader in establishing specialty courts for alcoholics, drug addicts and, most recently, veterans. And although the rigorous, court-ordered alternatives to incarceration don't work for everyone, they have helped many people.
If conservative principles include personal responsibility and social productivity, the case can be made that Joyce advances conservative causes by helping people recover and re-engage instead of joining the ultimate welfare recipients - prisoners whose bed and board are paid by taxpayers.
In addition to specialty courts, Joyce has applied a steady - firm, but fair - approach to the entire range of criminal and civil cases filed in circuit court.
In addition, because the Capitol is in Cole County, our judicial circuit often is the first venue for legal challenges to state legislative actions, including laws and proposed constitutional amendments. A comprehensive, impartial hearing and ruling in these cases is an essential function for Cole County's judiciary.
We applaud Judge Joyce's consistent application of fairness during her tenure as a Cole County circuit judge. She has earned re-election.