According to results from the Nov. 2, 2002, general election, voters decided to retain Scott A. Shore by a roughtly 83 to 17 percent margin. According to the state constitution, his six year term will be up in 2008. Too bad. It would have been fun for agitate for the ouster of a judge on election day. And why shouldn’t I? Voters have the right to base our decisions on whatever criteria we choose.
And I have the right to vote to kick a soft-on-crime loser off the bench if I want to.
Judges often whine that the sentences they give out, while unpopular, are those they are required by law to give. Which is bull, of course. If it were true, all judges would give out the same sentences. In fact, we wouldn’t even need judges or juries if this were true. Just plug the data into a computer and await the perfect, mathematically derived sentence. But in reality, we have judges, some with lousy reputations — like Shore — and judges like James E. Shadid have reps for being tough and no-nonsense.
No, Shore let that would-be mass murderer off with probation because he wanted to. Period. He bought into whatever sob story he and his attorney vomitted forth.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Frankly, I’ve never been comfortable with the public electing a judge. Yeah, that sentance sounds idiotic, but I didn’t know the whole story. And of course, from time to time everyone slips up.
But, when it comes to electing judges, well, I for one don’t know ANYTHING about law or about what makes a good judge.