Beaumont Secures Court Bench

Judge Wins Runoff With 52 Percent Of Vote

— Cristi Beaumont will be one of two new judges in the 4th Judicial Circuit.

Beaumont, 40, will serve a six-year term and oversee the Drug Court program. The circuit includes Washington and Madison counties.

Beaumont
Beaumont

“I’m too tired to be excited. Right now, I’m just happy,” the longtime deputy public defender said Wednesday. “Can’t get the smile off my face.”

Beaumont said she will handle as many of her criminal cases as possible by the end of the year. Others will be transferred to another public defender.

Beaumont won the runoff with 52 percent of the vote.

It was a rematch for her and Bob Lambert, who received 47.5 percent of the vote in the May 22 election to Beaumont’s 39.5 percent. Amy Estes Turner took 13 percent.

The judgeship was up for election because Mary Ann Gunn stepped down from the bench. Chadd Mason is a gubernatorial appointee serving the remainder of the term that ends Dec. 31.

The Division 4 judge traditionally has been randomly assigned 20 percent of civil cases and 20 percent of domestic relations cases filed in the two counties. Last year, the court handled about 1,600 cases, including about 880 civil cases and about 560 domestic relations cases. There are about 165 drug court defendants.

Washington-Madison County Drug Court was established in 1999 with five participants. In the years since, about 1,600 people have participated in the program, and 1,029 of those graduated. The program aims to keep nonviolent, first-time drug offenders out of the court system and get them off drugs by placing them in an intensive, nine-month counseling and supervision program.

Division 2 Judge Kim Smith announced he will be stepping down at the end of the year after 26 years on the bench. The governor will appoint an interim judge to serve the remainder of Smith’s term, which expires Jan. 1, 2015. The appointee will not be able to run for re-election to the same seat.

By The Numbers

Division 4 Circuit Judge

Final, but unofficial results, from the two counties in the 4th Judicial Circuit, Division 4 judgeship:

Washington Madison

Cristi Beaumont 32,192 (52 percent) 3,412 (55 percent)

Bob Lambert 30,200 (48 percent) 2,794 (45 percent)

Total 35,604 (52 percent) 32,994 (48 percent)

Source: Washington and Madison counties election commissions

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