Ask the
Judge: Review of past columns
By Judge Steve Walker
For the past two years (24
months=96 columns) it has been my privilege to see my Sunday weekly column “Ask
the Judge” published on the editorial page of La Prensa.
I thank Publisher Tino
Duran and Editor Nina Duran for allowing me that opportunity. It has been a
wonderful experience to continue to hone my journalistic skills I learned while
in the military as a public affairs specialist. Apparently all that broadcast, photo
print journalism training actually paid off. It did not go to waste. La Prensa
on occasion also published a number of my photos of local events. For that I am
also grateful and hopefully they will continue to do so.
As a retired
English/Journalism teacher and now Judge, I have attempted to inform the
readers on every aspect of the courtroom that I preside over. Since taking the
bench, I have encountered numerous plaintiffs and defendants who have never
been in a court of any kind and for many it is a very scary and intimidating
experience.
By educating the reader in
the workings of the court and what to expect when they find themselves in a
courtroom, it can make the experience less intimidating and stressful.
In two years “Ask the
Judge” covered on more than one occasion dockets addressing all aspects of
truancy, disorderly students, evictions, small claims and traffic violations.
The columns have addressed
the duties of bailiffs, clerks, how to file paper work for small claims and
evictions, what to do when you sue the wrong defendant, the appeal process, the
advantages of hiring an attorney, courtroom demeanor, information on how to get
moving violations off your record (defensive driving and deferred adjudication)
so your insurance will not be affected or have your driver’s license
revoked…and so on.
For those of you who have
followed “Ask the Judge” these past two years, you may recall my three part
series on how to appear on the Judge Judy show in San Francisco
In reality Judge Judy comes
to basically the same conclusions I do in my court, except as a reality show
host she is able to exhibit a much harsher demeanor.
I am not allowed by
judicial behavior to speak to defendants in the same tone or manor she is
allowed to do. While it makes for good TV, for me it could mean sanctions,
reprimand or removal from the bench.
I also related a success
story on a five year old pre-K student who had missed numerous days of school because
her single father relied on relatives and others to take her to school because
of his work schedule. Unfortunately they didn’t follow through and he was still
held responsible.
When she came back to
court with her father two weeks later she personally and proudly informed me
that she graduated Pre-K, walked the stage and received her diploma!
Everyone in the court
clapped and cheered her for her success. When she told her story in court she
constantly referred to me as “Judge.” She serves as a role model for older
students finding themselves in court for skipping school.
Now that I will be leaving
the bench within days and moving on to other journalistic endeavors, this will
be my last official column as a Judge. “Ask the Judge” will be no more.
While the column will be
no more, I hope to write about other issues in the future related or unrelated
to the courtroom. Having said that I will close the column with the weekly
tagline “Lastly
as always, if you are due in court, be sure to show up to court on time. It is
in everyone’s best interest.
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 Steve Walker is a Vietnam
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