One day, if you have to walk through the door to Dubois Circuit Court, what will you care about?

You won’t care whether the judge had the sharpest looking yard signs.

You won’t care whether the judge showed up at a bunch of community functions.

You won’t care how many people the judge had walking with him in the Strassenfest parade.

You won’t care if the judge has a cute dog.

You won’t care whether the judge made the best Facebook posts.

And you won’t care whether you know the judge or his family.

You won’t care. You just won’t.

After years of meeting people just like you who never wanted to find themselves in court – people who were only there because of what happened to them or a family member on the worst day of their life – may I tell you what you will care about in that moment?

You will want a judge who is committed to following the law.

You will want a judge who is fair and impartial.

You will want a judge who believes in second chances, but not endless chances.

You will want a judge who is dedicated to our community’s safety.

And you will want a judge who will hold violent offenders, career criminals, and those who harm children accountable within the confines of the law.

I hope you don’t have to come to Circuit Court because of what happened to you or to a family member. But Dubois County, early voting has begun. You get to decide who you want sitting on the bench if you happen to walk through that door. Please understand: you won’t get to make that decision again until 2032.