October 5, 2023 • 8 mins
Jessica Stone discusses why she is running to be a Family Court Judge, they types of cases a Family Court Judge would see, and how children are protected in the courtroom...
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
In a studio with me. Ihave a guest this afternoon. First,
we had a chef a little whileago, and now a potential judge.
Her name's Jessica Stone. She's beenan attorney for quite some time. Jessica,
welcome back. Thank you. Didwe meet like a year ago in
this radio studio? One year ago? One year ago? What's good to
see? If so? Now youare running for the family court. That's
(00:21):
right here in Jefferson County. That'sright. And as best I know about
family court, this deals with issueslike the rough, some of the rough
stuff that goes on in families,and then like adopts, and sometimes there's
joyous moments too, that's right.So why are you equipped to be a
family court judge? Well, myexperience is both professional and personal. So
(00:45):
I have experience as a family courtpractitioner. I have owned solo practice,
and I've also worked a civil lawfirm and currently a prosecutor in my seventh
year doing that. But ash,my life experience has taken me and I
found myself as a litigant and familycourt and divorce and post divorce litigation eight
(01:07):
years and running. Sometimes that couldbe pretty brutal too, absolutely. I
mean we see that, we seethings in movies and shows, but I
mean real life is pretty gut wrenching. Yes, you are definitely seeing people
in their heart as days in familycourt all right. So in family court,
obviously there's issues that come into likesometimes parents aren't doing their job properly
(01:33):
and don't even question whether or notsomeone can can continue as a parent.
Right that's the dependency if youse neglectdocket and you know, as a sitting
judge and family court, sometimes youwill have to make the decision to remove
the child from the home. Andthen if it doesn't, if the parents
don't step up, you will haveto terminate parntal rights. That's got to
(01:59):
be gut n because you're obviously makinga massive decision in some grown up life.
And so so what factors come intoplay? I mean there's legal factors,
but some isn't Some of it theimpression someone makes, oh for sure.
I mean you want you want togive the parent the opportunity to come
back from whatever got them into thecourtroom. You're talking about like drug dependency,
(02:23):
other issues, crime that they're involvedsomething like that. Right there,
CPS is usually bringing the case beforethe court. And then and then of
course the safety of the child.The best interest of the child is a
common theme. It is statutory anda rule that's used a lot to decide
(02:44):
cases. Yeah, so if you'vebeen a prosecutor in these situations, you've
no doubt known that there could bea ten year old or an eight year
old or six year old involved inin How are they shepherded from the heat
of the courtroom? I mean,is it are they? Are they protected
from the harsh things that have tobe said in an open court. Well,
(03:06):
they are appointed a guardian at item, so they have representation in the
courtroom and that I think will serveas a protection to them absolutely. And
then legal aspect, and you know, so that they don't have to experience
the courtroom. And that's done incriminal court. When I prosecuted child abuse
cases. The last thing we wantto do is to have to bring the
(03:30):
child into the courtroom. It's it'straumatizing and they've already been through so much
trauma. So that's you know,last resort. So you're running for a
family court judge position, and thereare ten of those ten of those courtrooms,
ten of those courts which we allre elected all the judges. Last
November, Judge Tar Haggerty retired.So that's how this seat came about.
(03:53):
Oh, I got you. Okay, you're running alone? Or is there
are there other people running for this? I have five opponents? Okay,
So well, why are you bettersuited than the opponents? I don't know
who they are and I don't needtheir names, but why do you think
you're better suited for this? SoI'm What sets me apart, Harry,
is that I have that life experiencewe were talking about. People will ask
(04:14):
me, well, what does itmean that you bring the perspective of the
litigant to the bench and why doesthat make you better? Well, having
that, I know what the delaysand the process can mean for the family.
When you delay, that means anotherattorneys feed, that means another day
off work. It means you're leftin limbo when you're waiting on a court
(04:40):
order for months, sometimes sometimes years, not years, but a year,
and that creates more litigation, Itcreates more stress on the family that's already
you know, under stress and emotionalturmoil. So preventing that when other opponents
might say that my promise comes witha passion behind it, that I will
(05:03):
not let that happen on my watch. Yeah, that you're going to keep
things moving through there, because you'reright. It adds expense and stress,
and all that does is prolongs theagony for everybody that's involved in the situation.
All right. So I hadn't heardmuch about it judicial races this year,
(05:24):
although I saw a sign with yourname on it. That's great stone
Stone, Stone Stone is a rocksolid choice, boat Stone. I think
that's what it said. Is thisthe only judicial race? It's the only
judicial race, along with the governor'srace and AG and HAG commission or something.
There's only a few. I thinkthere's a handful of it, just
a few. Do you know,if you're on the other side of the
(05:45):
ballot this time, I wish Iwould have looked that up. I think
it's all on the front. Butplease just turn over your ballot and make
sure correct. All right? Sois our I was Let's ask you a
general question. Is our family courtsystem operating well? Now? Is it
over overbooked? Is that? What? What's the status? I mean?
I would say absolutely, Like Isaid, those delays are caused by clogged
(06:10):
up dockets and they could they coulduse another another judge in that in that
uh, in that field, butyou know, it could just take one
judge to make all the difference inthe world to get in there and turn
them turn some things around. Sothat's my goal. Yeah, I know
that the pandemic slowed everything down andcreated all kinds of different hardship for various
(06:31):
judges at circuit level and district level, and I'm sure family courts the same
way. So I'm just kind ofhoping that that log jam has been easing
up a little bit. It haswith zoom court and I and I do
plan to continue to allow zoom court. I know that maybe some of my
opponents are not advocating for that,but I think it's best for everyone,
especially in things like domestic violence caseswhere the victim alleged victim is coming and
(06:59):
you're forcing more retraumatizing that correct tobe before the close proximity with somebody who
allegedly abused them, right, andthen it helps, you know, people
that may find it to be abarrier just to get to the courthouse,
zoom allows for them to get therewithout without transportation. Is it tougher to
be credible over a zoom as opposedto in person. Obviously, you've been
(07:24):
in this long enough to see people, and I've I've been lucky enough to
get to sit there with judges afew times and watch cases. They invited
me to come in, and justas a public observer, I got to
tell you, standing there and watchingpeople's faces when they're approaching the bench and
the judge is telling them up upup, and just watching their face,
(07:45):
their whole life is hanging in thebalance. Do you feel that in every
case that you're taking on. Ido like being able to observe someone in
person, just like my dad alwayssays, never do business over the phone,
always do in person. However,you be surprised what you can see
just by someone appearing on zoom.I've seen people shirtless, I've seen people
(08:11):
you know, just their their postureand the way they present themselves. It
does, so it's not really thatdifferent than seeing it in front of a
person standing in front of your bench. That's right. You feel like you
get clear, cogious and you knowthe way they speak and how they conduct
themselves. Well. Best of luckto you, Jessica Stone. Your website
(08:33):
is Jessica Stone for Judge that's it, Jessica's Stone for judge dot com.
All right, people want to learnmore, that's what they do. And
good luck and the only judicial racewe'll see here November seventh. Thank you
so much to Well, it's goodtalking to you again. Absolutely, Jessica
Stone. We're back in a fewon news radio eight forty WHA s
In a studio with me. Ihave a guest this afternoon. First,
we had a chef a little whileago, and now a potential judge.
Her name's Jessica Stone. She's beenan attorney for quite some time. Jessica,
welcome back. Thank you. Didwe meet like a year ago in
this radio studio? One year ago? One year ago? What's good to
see? If so? Now youare running for the family court. That's
(00:21):
right here in Jefferson County. That'sright. And as best I know about
family court, this deals with issueslike the rough, some of the rough
stuff that goes on in families,and then like adopts, and sometimes there's
joyous moments too, that's right.So why are you equipped to be a
family court judge? Well, myexperience is both professional and personal. So
(00:45):
I have experience as a family courtpractitioner. I have owned solo practice,
and I've also worked a civil lawfirm and currently a prosecutor in my seventh
year doing that. But ash,my life experience has taken me and I
found myself as a litigant and familycourt and divorce and post divorce litigation eight
(01:07):
years and running. Sometimes that couldbe pretty brutal too, absolutely. I
mean we see that, we seethings in movies and shows, but I
mean real life is pretty gut wrenching. Yes, you are definitely seeing people
in their heart as days in familycourt all right. So in family court,
obviously there's issues that come into likesometimes parents aren't doing their job properly
(01:33):
and don't even question whether or notsomeone can can continue as a parent.
Right that's the dependency if youse neglectdocket and you know, as a sitting
judge and family court, sometimes youwill have to make the decision to remove
the child from the home. Andthen if it doesn't, if the parents
don't step up, you will haveto terminate parntal rights. That's got to
(01:59):
be gut n because you're obviously makinga massive decision in some grown up life.
And so so what factors come intoplay? I mean there's legal factors,
but some isn't Some of it theimpression someone makes, oh for sure.
I mean you want you want togive the parent the opportunity to come
back from whatever got them into thecourtroom. You're talking about like drug dependency,
(02:23):
other issues, crime that they're involvedsomething like that. Right there,
CPS is usually bringing the case beforethe court. And then and then of
course the safety of the child.The best interest of the child is a
common theme. It is statutory anda rule that's used a lot to decide
(02:44):
cases. Yeah, so if you'vebeen a prosecutor in these situations, you've
no doubt known that there could bea ten year old or an eight year
old or six year old involved inin How are they shepherded from the heat
of the courtroom? I mean,is it are they? Are they protected
from the harsh things that have tobe said in an open court. Well,
(03:06):
they are appointed a guardian at item, so they have representation in the
courtroom and that I think will serveas a protection to them absolutely. And
then legal aspect, and you know, so that they don't have to experience
the courtroom. And that's done incriminal court. When I prosecuted child abuse
cases. The last thing we wantto do is to have to bring the
(03:30):
child into the courtroom. It's it'straumatizing and they've already been through so much
trauma. So that's you know,last resort. So you're running for a
family court judge position, and thereare ten of those ten of those courtrooms,
ten of those courts which we allre elected all the judges. Last
November, Judge Tar Haggerty retired.So that's how this seat came about.
(03:53):
Oh, I got you. Okay, you're running alone? Or is there
are there other people running for this? I have five opponents? Okay,
So well, why are you bettersuited than the opponents? I don't know
who they are and I don't needtheir names, but why do you think
you're better suited for this? SoI'm What sets me apart, Harry,
is that I have that life experiencewe were talking about. People will ask
(04:14):
me, well, what does itmean that you bring the perspective of the
litigant to the bench and why doesthat make you better? Well, having
that, I know what the delaysand the process can mean for the family.
When you delay, that means anotherattorneys feed, that means another day
off work. It means you're leftin limbo when you're waiting on a court
(04:40):
order for months, sometimes sometimes years, not years, but a year,
and that creates more litigation, Itcreates more stress on the family that's already
you know, under stress and emotionalturmoil. So preventing that when other opponents
might say that my promise comes witha passion behind it, that I will
(05:03):
not let that happen on my watch. Yeah, that you're going to keep
things moving through there, because you'reright. It adds expense and stress,
and all that does is prolongs theagony for everybody that's involved in the situation.
All right. So I hadn't heardmuch about it judicial races this year,
(05:24):
although I saw a sign with yourname on it. That's great stone
Stone, Stone Stone is a rocksolid choice, boat Stone. I think
that's what it said. Is thisthe only judicial race? It's the only
judicial race, along with the governor'srace and AG and HAG commission or something.
There's only a few. I thinkthere's a handful of it, just
a few. Do you know,if you're on the other side of the
(05:45):
ballot this time, I wish Iwould have looked that up. I think
it's all on the front. Butplease just turn over your ballot and make
sure correct. All right? Sois our I was Let's ask you a
general question. Is our family courtsystem operating well? Now? Is it
over overbooked? Is that? What? What's the status? I mean?
I would say absolutely, Like Isaid, those delays are caused by clogged
(06:10):
up dockets and they could they coulduse another another judge in that in that
uh, in that field, butyou know, it could just take one
judge to make all the difference inthe world to get in there and turn
them turn some things around. Sothat's my goal. Yeah, I know
that the pandemic slowed everything down andcreated all kinds of different hardship for various
(06:31):
judges at circuit level and district level, and I'm sure family courts the same
way. So I'm just kind ofhoping that that log jam has been easing
up a little bit. It haswith zoom court and I and I do
plan to continue to allow zoom court. I know that maybe some of my
opponents are not advocating for that,but I think it's best for everyone,
especially in things like domestic violence caseswhere the victim alleged victim is coming and
(06:59):
you're forcing more retraumatizing that correct tobe before the close proximity with somebody who
allegedly abused them, right, andthen it helps, you know, people
that may find it to be abarrier just to get to the courthouse,
zoom allows for them to get therewithout without transportation. Is it tougher to
be credible over a zoom as opposedto in person. Obviously, you've been
(07:24):
in this long enough to see people, and I've I've been lucky enough to
get to sit there with judges afew times and watch cases. They invited
me to come in, and justas a public observer, I got to
tell you, standing there and watchingpeople's faces when they're approaching the bench and
the judge is telling them up upup, and just watching their face,
(07:45):
their whole life is hanging in thebalance. Do you feel that in every
case that you're taking on. Ido like being able to observe someone in
person, just like my dad alwayssays, never do business over the phone,
always do in person. However,you be surprised what you can see
just by someone appearing on zoom.I've seen people shirtless, I've seen people
(08:11):
you know, just their their postureand the way they present themselves. It
does, so it's not really thatdifferent than seeing it in front of a
person standing in front of your bench. That's right. You feel like you
get clear, cogious and you knowthe way they speak and how they conduct
themselves. Well. Best of luckto you, Jessica Stone. Your website
(08:33):
is Jessica Stone for Judge that's it, Jessica's Stone for judge dot com.
All right, people want to learnmore, that's what they do. And
good luck and the only judicial racewe'll see here November seventh. Thank you
so much to Well, it's goodtalking to you again. Absolutely, Jessica
Stone. We're back in a fewon news radio eight forty WHA s
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