There is only one primary race for associate circuit judge, and that will be between District 10 Democrats John S. Appelbaum of Imperial and Joe Rathert of High Ridge, who are both running for an open bench seat. The winner will face Republican Jeffrey Coleman of Arnold on Nov. 4. Associate circuit judges serve four-year terms with a salary of $116,858.
Appelbaum, 53, lives at 105 Forest Glade in Imperial. He and his wife, Carol, have three children. He earned a law degree from the St. Louis University School of Law and operates his own law office in Arnold. He served as a Democratic committeeman for ImperialTownship from 1992 to 1994 and has served two terms on the parish council of St. JosephChurch in Imperial. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and has served as an officer or director on the K. of C. Missouri state council since 1996. He served as a state deputy for the K. of C. from 2010 to 2012, and served on the board of directors for the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center at CardinalGlennonHospital from 2004 to 2012.
Rathert, 51, lives at 1467 Paradise Valley Drive in High Ridge. He and his wife, Anne, have two daughters. He is an attorney with his own practice and serves as a municipal judge in JeffersonCounty. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. LouisUniversity and earned his law degree from CapitalUniversity. He has served two terms as an alderman in Sunset Hills in the 1990s and been on the county park board for six years. He is a Sunday school teacher and has served as chair of his children’s school auction.
What is your assessment of the workload for circuit judges in Jefferson County? What changes, if any, are needed to improve the efficiency of the office and the circuit?
Appelbaum: Overall, I believe the workload of our circuit’s judges is consistent with our county’s needs. This was confirmed by a Missouri Supreme Court study conducted in 2008. However, the workload of the Juvenile Court may be of concern. In 2013 there were 474 children placed out of their homes in JeffersonCounty. That figure is higher than every circuit in the state except JacksonCounty. It is higher that St. LouisCounty or City, and twice as high as St. Charles. Last year there were a total of 2,581 referrals to Juvenile Court in JeffersonCounty – the fourth-highest total in the state. I believe we need to work with our schools and communities to recognize families and children who are at risk, and match them with resources in order to reduce the number of children being involved with our Juvenile Court.
Rathert: I have been an attorney and judge in JeffersonCounty for 26 years. As an attorney, I have appeared before traditional and progressive judges; judges who follow the letter of the law and judges who formulate a decision based upon the best interest of the parties or society. A person may be dissatisfied with a judge’s determination.
Fortunately, I feel that our circuit judges truly strive to get it right and apply the appropriate law. Their workload is consistent with other jurisdictions and is not excessive. JeffersonCounty courts do not conform to the time standards that have been preset by higher courts.
A strict enforcement of time standards and the creation of additional time standards where none currently exist would benefit the litigants so they know what is expected at the outset and just how long the process will take.
Should Jefferson County’s circuit and associate circuit judges continue to be elected in partisan elections? Why or why not?
Appelbaum: It is important for judges to be elected by the residents of the county so that voters have a voice in who serves them. However, I believe circuit and associate circuit judges should be elected in nonpartisan elections similar to school boards, city councils, and our County Council. Judges are required to be independent of partisan political process while they serve. It is inconsistent with that principle to require them to seek office under a political party.
Rathert: Judges in JeffersonCounty should continue to be selected in elections by the residents. By having an election process for judges, residents get a chance to meet and discuss important topics that affect them in everyday life, and they have the opportunity to evaluate the person that could potentially make an important decision in their family’s life. The nonpartisan court plan, a system that is used in jurisdictions like St. LouisCounty and the city of St. Louis, is anything but nonpartisan. If you look at some of the appointments over the years, party affiliation is often the biggest factor in the selection process. In either selection process, party affiliation should not be taken into consideration. Whether someone is politically on the left, the right, or somewhere in between should be irrelevant for a judge who is properly doing his or her job.
Why should voters choose you?
Appelbaum: Because of my experience and my commitment to serving my community. My passion for protecting children will be particularly valuable as a judge of the juvenile court. I have prosecuted violent criminals. I helped establish the Jefferson County Family Violence Council, Child Fatality Review Board, and Juvenile Drug Court. I have represented children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.
I have represented parents who are trying to reunite their families. In my volunteer work with the Knights of Columbus, I have worked to help children with developmental disabilities. I believe my experience and my passion for helping children will enable me to improve the lives of JeffersonCounty’s children as our next associate circuit judge.
Rathert: Since December 2010, I have been a judge in the Jefferson County Municipal Court, handling a criminal docket, code docket, DWI docket, trial docket, and confined prisoner docket. I am the only candidate in Division 10 who has judicial experience. I have handled more than 50,000 files since taking the bench as judge, both jury and nonjury trials. The most important attribute of being a judge is one’s ethical character.
A judge must exude qualities that give confidence to the litigants in what often is one of the most stressful and important times of their lives. In my experience as a judge, I have given careful consideration and thoughtful attention to each case that has appeared before me. My decisions are well thought out and fair to the parties. I will continue to utilize these qualities for the citizens of JeffersonCounty as judge in Division 10.