Why are Judges so important?

I think that a lot of the time, when people think about judges, they think about the court and the judge making a decision that affects their life, such as whether they can go free, go to jail, pay a fine, or be released on house arrest.

- Thera Martin [e-mail]

But truthfully, when most people think of judges, a slight shiver might run up their spine, even if they haven’t done anything illegal.

The reality is, judges can have a lot of power over a person’s life, and that’s all the more reason why all of us (as voters) need to take every election seriously, and when it comes to judicial candidates, don’t just blow them off and select anybody so that you can say you voted. My best advice to voters is to do your homework. Learn a little about these men and women who are seeking your votes on Election Day for judge.

What’s the basic description of what judges on the Court of Common Pleas do? They handle major civil and criminal cases. They handle cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, child support, abuse, juvenile delinquency, adult and juvenile criminal prosecutions, lawsuits involving money and property, estates, guardianship, charitable organizations, and other matters.