Profile: A. Thomas Stubbs, candidate for judge
Saturday, May 17th, 2008
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Decatur attorney Tom Stubbs represents plaintiffs in consumer law and personal injury cases, and defendants in criminal cases. He’s running to be a Dekalb County Superior Court Judge.
How is running for judge different than running for other offices?
You can’t promise anyone anything except that you’ll be fair and decent to them.
Also, when you challenge an incumbent judge, it’s dangerous to the financial health of people who are often in [the incumbent’s] court to help you. I have a lot of lawyers helping me behind the scenes. A judge’s discretion is enormous, so there are reasonable concerns folks would have [about openly supporting me].
Do you have a gavel?
I do have a gavel, from some of the organizations I’ve chaired.
Do you practice judging with it at home in front of a mirror?
I have three children and don’t have the chance to make a fool of myself like that at home.
What is Superior Court?
It’s the highest trial court in the county. It can hear every case. It’s the only place you can go for family law and felonies. It’s the only place you go for injunctive relief, for example if you want to stop a developer from building something.
You wear a name tag telling people you’re a candidate for judge. You also have a magnet on your car saying so. How often do people come up to you because of those?
Fairly often. A lot of people don’t know you can run for judge.
Do they come up to you at inopportune times, like if you’re at a store buying toilet paper? (more…)
