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Judge Lewis' Belief and
Mission as a Jurist
My fellow citizens:
The District Court deals with everyday people’s everyday problems. The
people appearing in District Court need solutions, not adjudication.
Having presided over numerous criminal, civil, small claims actions,
mental health/ substance abuse hearings and Teen Court trials, I
understand the needs of the people seeking the Court’s help.
I believe that resolution of everyday problems enables people to move
forward as productive citizens and reduces their need for additional
litigation. I believe the court should help them learn to deal with
the issues that created their problems. Traditional adjudication
simply promotes additional litigation, as people come to demand that
the higher authority hear their case and place blame on one of the
parties.
Assisting people in resolving their own problems empowers them to take
care of themselves. This empowerment reduces the tax dollars needed
for each case and enables people to solve their own problems in the
future. With fewer tax dollars spent on courts, we will have more
money to spend on education and health care. A healthy, well-educated
population does not need a Court system to handle its everyday
problems.
Something of an optimist and idealist, I’d like to work myself out of
a job! Practically speaking, of course, that will never happen.
However, the above approach will allow use of precious court time on
those cases that require resolution by traditional means.
I hope the citizens of Mecklenburg
County will allow me to carry on this work in Superior court.
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