We request that you vote for Karin McGrath for judge of Superior Court 3. I have practiced law for 45 years – the last 39 in Warsaw. I have tried many serious criminal and civil cases, including a lot of jury trials.
The question is not how long a person has practiced law but what was the nature of the experience gained during her or his career. By way of an analogy, a person may say he has been in school for 14 years, but if he has taken first grade over 14 times, that "experience" is not impressive and has not prepared him to perform at a higher educated level. It is in the area of serious trial experience that Karin McGrath leaves the other three candidates in the dust. Karin has tried case to juries. She has first-hand experience in dealing with all the procedural aspects and preliminary hearings that go into these types of serious cases. We do not want someone to become judge overseeing jury trials who does not have experience trying serious criminal cases to a jury.
I hasten to say that the other three candidates are good people. But none of those three is the best candidate.
Lindsay Grossnickle was a lifelong Democrat until she decided she wanted to run for judge in Republican Kosciusko County, so she made that switch. She is a Whitley County lawyer, not a Kosciusko County lawyer. Her criminal experience in the courtroom has been primarily doing child support cases for the prosecutor's office in Whitley County.
Robert Bishop is a good guy, but again his experience has been primarily limited to doing child support matters in the prosecutor's office.
Chad Miner - we like Chad - Precious Pamela and I taught him in second grade Sunday school class years ago. Unfortunately, Chad’s lack of substantial experience with serious trials indicates that he is not the best candidate either.
Karin may not have a familiar last name like the other candidates, but the judges of Kosciusko County know Karin and respect her knowledge and abilities in the courtroom. As far as trial experience in genuinely serious cases, Karin's experience is head and shoulders above the others.
We think it would be really good for Kosciusko County, and even for our current team of judges, for there to be a female judge serving here. Precious Pam and I have been happily married for over 50 years and I will say that my dear wife's viewpoint, perspective and wisdom as a lady has been invaluable to me and to our family, and her advice has protected me from making severe mistakes. Please vote for Karin McGrath because she is far and away the best candidate. And the icing on the cake is that Karin McGrath will be the first woman judge in the history of our great county. Thank you.
