Griffin challenges Bridges for Rogers judge seat

ROGERS -- Staff attorney Chris Griffin announced Friday he'll challenge incumbent Judge Paul Bridges for his seat in Rogers District Court.

The seat is up for election March 1. Bridges has held the position since Jan. 1, 2013.

Griffin has worked as senior staff attorney for the city since 2014. He previously was the deputy city attorney for the city for six years.

Griffin said he can bring efficiency to the court system.

"If we don't look for real ways to streamline our criminal justice system, then we are wasting taxpayer money on recurring and obvious problems," Griffin said in a news release. "My outlook on public service is this: I believe elected officials should always and only be referred to as public servants. This is especially true when it comes to judges."

Bridges said his experience on the bench makes him a good candidate for re-election. He said he gained experience previously working for the Benton County and Sebastian County prosecutors' offices.

"I follow the law," Bridges said. "I try to do it with the intent behind what the law is stating. I try to make an impact on the community. I try to make it safe the best I can from where I sit."

Public access is one thing Bridges said he has worked on since being in office, he said. This includes an Open Court event held once a month. People are able to ask for guidance on legal questions during the event, Bridges said.

"Anyone can walk in the door and have a conversation with me," Bridges said. "It seems to work."

A youth court also has been expanded since he has been in office, Bridges said. The court allows first-time traffic offenders the ability to be sentenced by a jury of teenagers, he said. Apology letters, essays and community service are some of the sentences that teenage offenders receive from the jury, he said.

Doug Norwood of Norwood & Norwood law firm said Bridges previously worked at his law firm. Bridges has been a good judge, he said.

"I figured him coming from the defense side that he would be easy on us," Norwood said. "He has been a pretty tough judge and he has been tough on us."

Griffin said a top priority for him would be to implement a Veterans Justice Outreach program. It also would be to reinstate a night court option.

"I believe it's important that judges always search for ways to make our justice system faster, more respectful and more responsive to our good community," Griffin said.

Griffin also said he believes in community service sentences for non-violent offenders. He said this will help keep violent offenders in jail while Arkansas deals with overcrowded prisons.

"I will search for ways to use this alternative means of punishment to keep our community parks, roadways and public areas looking great so that we can keep violent offenders in jail where they belong," Griffin said.

Andrew "Drew" Miller with Keith, Miller, Schneider & Pawlik law firm said Griffin worked for him from 2008 to 2011. He said Griffin's experience makes him qualified for the district court judge position.

"He is definitely one of those people that I know I can count on both professionally and personally," Miller said. "If he gives you his word, it means something."

NW News on 08/29/2015

Upcoming Events