Why Glenn

Why Glenn
Glenn Gerding for Orange/Chatham District Court Judge

If elected District Court Judge, I will:

· Help keep our communities safe.
· Work to create an Elder Protection Court.
· Protect victims of crime.
· Support families and juveniles.
· Refer appropriate offenders for mental health and
substance abuse treatment.
· Continue helping improve the efficiency of our courts.
· Encourage mediation in appropriate cases.

1. I will help keep our communities safe. We need to feel safe on the sidewalks and streets of our towns. We need to know that if a person drinks and drives, or breaks into your home, that he will be held accountable and deterred from future criminal behavior. I will ensure that defendants' constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected, but I will hold convicted criminals accountable for their actions.

2. I will work to create an Elder Protection Court. Elderly citizens are particularly vulnerable to being victims of crime, ranging from physical and emotional abuse, to financial identity theft and fraud. As our District's population of older citizens grows, so too will the number of elderly victims. Elderly victims face problems younger victims usually do not: difficulty hearing in court, getting to court and moving in and out of cramped courtrooms. Elderly victims can have memories that fade with time and/or medication. Elderly victims frequently feel embarrassed that their private lives are exposed in open court. And given the hectic pace of a typical day in District Court, elderly victims can get lost in the shuffle of cases. I propose an Elder Protection Court to address the unique needs of elderly victims.

Our District already has specialty courts to address the needs of the mentally ill and substance abusers. We also have a court designed to meet unique needs of domestic violence victims. We have led the State and nation in our cutting-edge approaches to helping defendants and victims in criminal cases. But we do not have a formal way to address the unique needs of elderly victims. I will work to create a specialty court to fill that void.

The specialty court I propose would handle a mix of civil and criminal cases, much like our domestic violence court. If a senior citizen is being abused and taken advantage of, then he or she will need a civil restraining order and will also participate in the criminal prosecution of the abuser. One court date for both events can eliminate the need for multiple trips to court. The courtroom can be set up to be more accommodating, with hearing devices to assist the hard-of-hearing. The process can be made more personal with the assignment of an Elder Protection Court case-worker to guide the senior citizen through the process and to be a point-of-contact to answer questions and facilitate the victim's needs. I have the leadership abilities and experience to achieve my goal of protecting our elderly and helping them negotiate the judicial process through an Elder Protection Court.

3. I will protect victims. Crime victims, especially victims of domestic abuse, often fear coming to court. I will ensure that victims are not subjected to humiliation in court. I will do all that I can to make sure victims' voices are heard without fear of threats or reprisals from their abusers. I will ensure that victims are aware of their rights under the law, and that their rights are respected.

4. I will support families and juveniles. In juvenile court I will help impressionable youth overcome problems in their lives and chart a healthy and productive future. I will place special emphasis on guiding first-time youthful offenders to programs that help resolve the underlying problems that led to their delinquent behavior. As a board member of the Adolescent First Offenders Advisory Board, I will bring experience to the bench to help our youth stop harmful behavior and make positive changes in their lives.

In Family Treatment Court, I will strive to keep families together when possible, and focus resources on rebuilding families rather than tearing them apart.

5. I will refer appropriate offenders for mental health and substance abuse treatment. I have extensive experience with our District's Community Resource Court and Drug Treatment Court created by Chief Judge Joe Buckner to address mental illness and substance abuse. I will work hard to determine which offenders are appropriate to participate in either court, and encourage each court's participants to take advantage of recommended treatment.

As a Veteran, I'm sensitive and aware of problems Veterans face as they return from war. Many Vets return from war physically and mentally broken, alone, and financially destitute. Many Vets suffer from war-related mental illness that can lead to substance abuse. I will strive to mobilize community resources to help Vets get back on their feet.

6. I will continue to work to improve the efficiency of our courts. Over the past several years, Chief District Court Joe Buckner has invited me to meet with him and District Attorney Jim Woodall to discuss ways to more efficiently use the limited time and resources we have in District Court.

As stakeholders in the District Court process, we have discussed ways to improve efficiency without sacrificing fairness. As a District Court Judge I will continue to work with Judge Buckner and Mr. Woodall to decrease the amount of time a person has to wait to have his case resolved.

7. I will encourage mediation in appropriate cases to avoid unnecessary litigation. Mediation allows parties to work out differences without a judge's intervention. Mediation saves time and money for everyone, including the court system which is supported by our taxes.

Having had clients who used the services of Deep River Mediation in Chatham County and the Dispute Resolution Center in Orange County, I know which cases are appropriate for mediation and the value of successful mediations.

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