Jefferson County voters picked Lucas Null to serve as the next Division 10 associate circuit judge.
Null, a Republican from Arnold, received 44,227 votes (63 percent) while Colby Smith-Hynes, of Hillsboro who ran as a Libertarian, received 25,023 votes, according to complete, but unofficial results Tuesday night.
Null, who owns Null Law Firm, and Smith-Hynes, who is the deputy director of legal services for the Jefferson County Juvenile Office, joined the race about a month after the August primary when Jeffrey Coleman, the lone candidate for Division 10, withdrew his name by court order to run for the Division 2 circuit judge position vacated by Ed Page. Smith-Hynes ran unsuccessfully as a Republican against Renee Reuter for the Division 12 associate circuit judge seat in the August primary.
Null said he was thankful for everyone who supported him, including the Republican Central Committee “in this whirlwind of a campaign.”
“I am blown away,” he said on Tuesday evening. “I am humbled and honored. To have that many people vote for me is surreal.”
Null said he previously ran unsuccessfully in 2022 for Division 11 associate circuit judge. He said he listened to the critiques and suggestions, and worked on improvements for four years.
During his campaign, Null said Jefferson County deserves a judge who is fair, impartial, prepared and willing to listen to every person who comes before the court.
“I have more than 12 years of legal experience, including extensive experience in Jefferson County and the associate circuit court as a guardian ad litem and court-appointed attorney,” he said. “This experience has given me an intimate understanding of the associate circuit court and the community it serves. My goal is to treat everyone who enters my courtroom with dignity and respect, while applying the law fairly and independently. I will also strive to maintain an organized and efficient courtroom so cases can be resolved fairly and without unnecessary delay. Above all, I want to earn the trust of the people I serve.”