O'Neil for Justice

This letter is to encourage the good citizens of Flathead County to vote for Jerry O'Neil for Justice of the Peace.

From 1996 to 1999, I was one of the Justices of the Peace in Missoula County. I don't have a law degree. The commissioners appointed me to fill an unexpired term, the previous JP having passed away in office.

There were candidates with law degrees, as well as some of us without. The commissioners chose me because they thought that fairness and common sense were the most important qualifications, not necessarily schooling.

The Montana Supreme Court requires all judges in courts of limited jurisdiction, which includes Justice Court, to attend two (at that time) professional seminars annually. The first two things I learned at these seminars were that if you had common sense, and knowing little of the technicalities of the law, your decisions will be correct 90 percent of the time.

Too, they were fond of repeating a German saying, "The more laws, the less justice."

Justice Court, mostly, deals with people like you and me. Most of the people appearing there are good people who have made poor decisions. The primary qualities for being a good Justice of the Peace is not learning the finer points of law, but of dealing with your fellow citizens in a fair, consistent and respectful way.

There are people who want Justices of the Peace to have law degrees. I say why? The learning curve is not that steep. Yes, you must learn things like rules of evidence and other procedures, but there are not that many. Don't be distracted by the arguments that only lawyers can make good judges.

Jerry O'Neil is a man who has all the qualities to be an outstanding JP. I encourage you to vote for him and put a decent and intelligent person on the bench.

Michael Jaworsky

Whitefish