SCOOP: Fall River County States Attorney Lance Russell to Run for Judge
Here's the one I couldn't write on until the candidate gave some notices to people.Lance Russell, Fall River County States Attorney, who was just in the paper for finally getting one of the Garnier Brothers he was trying to extradite from Pine Ridge has submitted his petitions to run for Judge in the 7th Circuit (Position F) against Pete Fuller and Lara Roetzel.
Lance, a former Pennington County Republican Party Executive Director, and State GOP Executive Director, sent me the following information about his record as Fall River County States Attorney from his last election:
Lance pledged to increase the jury trial conviction rate to at least 50% in my first year. Today, it exceeds 70%.This should make for an interesting race. While Fuller is the sitting Judge, I don't think he's faced election before. In this instance, it will likely place him at a disadvantage. Lance has certainly been involved in elections. In fact, across the Southern Black Hills, he's been one of the most active Republicans out there.
Out of our state’s 66 counties, Fall River County tried more felony jury trials last year than 62 other counties, behind only Minnehaha, Pennington and Lawrence Counties.
For each of the past three years, His office’s expenditures were at least $38,000 less than the final year expenditures of his predecessor.
Fines collected from the prosecution of criminal activity increased from $94,989 three years ago to $160,437 last year.
Unfortunately for the GOP, I think he has to give up some of his current positions with the party to run. In addition to that, he recently represented a coalition of grasslands interests recently over grasslands and prairie dog issues. His representation of those groups will come to an end as well.
This campaign is one to watch, and should turn out to be one of the most active judicial races in the state.
Congratulations Lance, and looking forward to watching your election.
Comments
I'm referring to the quote:
"Lance pledged to increase the jury trial conviction rate to at least 50% in my first year. Today, it exceeds 70%."
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the job of the Prosecutor was to Search for the Truth.
This guy sounds pretty scary.
What's scarier, a prosecutor trying to get criminals off the street?
Or Bill Stegmeier's crank conspiracy theories about the income tax and marriage licenses?
What's scarier, a prosecutor trying to do his job well?
Or Ron Branson's crank conspiracy theories about the NWO and his CALIFORNIA based plans for SOUTH DAKOTA.
By the way Bonnie, where are you from? Oh, that's right. CALIFORNIA.
I see you still have not addressed what PP found about all Stegmeier's REAL motivations behind Amendment E and the crank conspiracy theories.
I guess you cannot deny them because you know they are true.
The Judicial Qualifications Committee provides the list of qualified applicants. The process begins with the individual’s application for the position. Then the Committee conducts a thorough review of the individual’s performance as an attorney, including, but not limited to professional and personal ethics, reputation, knowledge of the law and work ethic. The Committee also conducts a vigorous background check and puts the applicant through an intensive interview process. If the applicant satisfies the strict standards, then his or her name will be on the list of qualified individuals.
I am not award if Russell, Roetzel, or Fitzgerald has been through this process. If any of them have, I am very curious as to how they fared.
Except for Supreme Court Justices, in SD Judges stand for election. We had a life amendment submitted this last election, and it was rejected. So we DON'T have one.
In South Dakota, judges have to run for election.
With that understanding, by your logic, we don't need JAIL now.
(b) I should have said "proposed amendment" rather than amendment-- and it still wasn't a life tenure amendment (I know you are talking about Amendment E, but clearly you should read it again to see what it really was proposing in the last election). Check out Amendment A on this years ballot. Or read the article in the Journal to find out more.
(c) The SD Constitution Article V. § 7. Judicial selection. "Circuit court judges shall be elected in a nonpolitical election by the electorate of the circuit each represents for an eight-year term. A vacancy, as defined by law, in the office of a Supreme Court justice or circuit court judge, shall be filled by appointment of the Governor from one of two or more persons nominated by the judicial qualifications commission."
(d)The majority of the judges on the bench in SD today were, in fact, appointed to fill a vacancy. In the 4th Circuit, the only Judge that was not appointed is Eckrich. He ran against Moses and won. I suggest you ask several Judges whether they were initially appointed or if they ran for the position.
(e) www.sdjudicial.com is a good place to find out more about how our judicial system in SD actually works, the Judicial Qualifications Commission, and recent opinions regarding ethical standards in judicial elections.
More plea deals.