Judicial experience needed for court judge

I am 70 years old. I commenced my legal practice in Adams County in 1969.

Since that time, I have served as Adams County Prosecutor, Adams County Public Defender Arbitrator, Adams County Court Commissioner and I have and continue to represent many civil litigants.

I currently maintain a full-time general law practice in Othello with emphasis on agricultural law, litigation, wills, estate planning and real estate. Each of these areas of law require a different personality and skill-set. As the senior attorney in Adams County, I serve as Adams County Bar President. The opinions I set forth are my own as the Bar Association has not been polled regarding this election.

In Adams County Prosecutor Randy J. Flyckt’s letter to the editor appearing in the Ritzville Adams County Journal September 25, 2014, he points out that District Court Judge Adalia Hille is 65 years of age and has been on the bench for nearly 24 years and states, “I believe the best interest of our justice system, and Adalia Hille too, will be served by her retirement.” Apparently, Prosecutor Flyckt is of the opinion that, because of these fact, justice would not be served by allowing Judge Hille to continue her career as a judicial officer.

I have represented clients in Judge Hille’s court and have always found her to be highly competent, professional, experienced and, most importantly, she has the experience and judicial temperament which allow her to resolve the conflicts between criminal and civil litigants which are placed before her.

Friends and clients frequently ask my opinion on attorney candidates seeking election as prosecutors and judges because they have limited exposure to these people and it is difficult for them to make reasonable choices.

I offer my opinions based upon my personal contacts with the attorneys seeking election and the experience of the candidate as it relates to the office for which he or she seeks election.

If this election were for Adams County Prosecutor, I would support Carolyn Benzel because of her experience as a prosecutor.

In this District Court election, Judge Hille’s 24 years of “judicial experience” clearly trumps Mrs. Benzel’s “prosecutor” experience.

Adams County residents are fortunate to have a candidate with such extensive judicial experience willing to serve in Adams County and I urge voters to vote for Judge Hille, notwithstanding, she is only a youthful 65 years old.

Steven H. Sackmann, Attorney at Law, Othello