To the Editor:
It's sad to say, but not all "participants" in the legal system are dedicated to the legalities of that system. It's also sad to say I can make such a statement with personal experience and personal knowledge. Small town courts, one judge counties, big city courts and multi-judge counties all have their issues. Folks don't always get a fair shake and back room deals are plentiful. I call it the "Good Ol' Boy" Justice. I never could understand why those of us who, for whatever reason, right or wrong, find themselves at the mercy of the system, really couldn't speak for themselves in a hearing or in a pre-trial, having to rely solely on a lawyer to translate.
That brings me to this letter.
In a Small Claims Court one can represent himself or herself. One is not required to do so. One has the right and the option to hire an attorney. But again, one does not have to hire counsel. One can plead his own case and I happen to love that option.
There's an election on the horizon. Judge Johnston is up for re-election and Gary Willen is running for Johnston's seat. Again, sad to say, I am familiar with both. Having said that, I doubt either of them would appreciate my support, but fair is fair and here I am.
Good judges are hard to find. Excellent judges are near extinct. To me, judges have many, many teachable moments, even while they are ruling against you. And even though lots of lawyers are growing up to be judges, they also have those teachable moments. It isn't so much what is said. It's how it's said. I know how hard it is to understand that. I mean, what is the "teachable" moment in saying, "Sorry pal, you're going to jail."
But in Johnston's courtroom, he listens. He is patient. He talks to the defendant and the plaintiff. He interacts with the parties. He is informative. He gives his reasoning and method by which he rules. One may not be happy about his decision. I have been one of those unhappy people. I'm not exactly an "A- Lister" when it comes to the courtroom crowd but most of the time, at the end of the day, one knows the "whys" for the decision rendered and one knows "how" to correct things for the future so as to not find themselves in the courtroom again.
Judge Johnston is a firm judge and he can be a stern judge. In my opinion, he tries to send those out of his courtroom by letting them be aware that he heard them and he listened to them and he explained to them before he ruled on them.
So, in my humble opinion, sometimes it's better to stay put.
Terry Vahila
Malvern, Ohio
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