Considering a Municipal Judge Election

Florissant has been faced with a number of elections throughout this year. Tuesday, voters will face selecting the municipal court judge for the second time this year.

What should voters be considering when they enter the polls to decide on their next judge?

Political science professor David Kimball at the University of Missouri at St. Louis said there's a couple of factors to be considered in an election for judge.

For those who have previously served as judge, such as , Kimball said that the bar association usually keeps information with ratings on their performances in other municipalities.

However, with opposing having only served as a provisional judge, he said he’s not sure if there would be ratings or performance information for him.

Kimball pointed to the fact that in elections for judges, traditionally, candidates don’t campaign like traditional candidates. But it’s becoming increasingly normal for judges to behave like other candidates running for office.

According to a fact sheet from the American Bar Association, 76 percent of voters believe that campaign contributions do have some bearing on the decisions made by the judge.

Therefore, voters should evaluate their financial supporters and whose interest they will support in office, Kimball said. 

At any rate, the election process for judge remains an important part of Florissant government. 

"A municipal judge does make important decisions," he said.