Florence Needs John Odem

We recently expressed our opinion concerning what kind of municipal judge John Odem will make for the City of Florence. We're aware of at least two others who have also applied for the job. One is our friend Janice Keeton. You may read a short bio of Janice at this Pen-N-Sword site: Link

While we're not familiar with the third candidate, we're sure he has many good qualities. We welcome biographies from any candidates for this position.

However, after looking at the requirements for this position and the attributes of these three as posted on their homepages and other sites, we feel Mr. Odem is the far better choice among them. John has experience at the Municipal, District, and Circuit Court levels, as well as experience as a special prosecutor and in a vast number of defense cases.

It is our understanding that the city council will make a decision between now and the end of the year. There is only one council meeting remaining during this term (December 18, 2012 @ 5 pm) The decision must be made soon due to James Hall’s early appointment to the Probate Judge’s bench. 

If you live in Florence and likewise support John in his quest for Florence Municipal Judge, please contact these councilmen and express your support. 

 

District 1 - Dave Smith              dmsmith@florenceal.org     (256) 760-6401

 

District 2 - William Jordan         djordan@mjcarterins.com   (256) 760-6402

 

District 3 - Hermon Graham      hermon1@comcast.net      (256) 760-6403

 

District 4 - Barry Morris             bkmorris@una.edu             (256) 760-6404

 

District 5 - Blake Edwards         bedwards@florenceal.org  (256) 760-6405

 

District 6 - Andrew Betterton     andy@abetterton.com        (256) 760-6406

Many thanks to all who take the time to become involved in our city government.

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From e-mail and comments we receive, it's obvious many don't fully understand the charge of Capital Murder and how it came into existence. Neither do many understand the great delays that often occur in trying such cases. Tomorrow we'll take a look at the genesis of the current law and how it's applied and sometimes misapplied.

Shoalanda 

Is John Odem the Next Florence Municipal Judge?

Who will replace James Hall as the Florence Municipal Judge? We've heard John Odem is the city council's choice, and we couldn't agree more.

John is intelligent, personable, caring, and above all honest. We just wish there were more like him in local government.

And yes, that was John driving his band's famous Cadillac transporting our "uber hip" council members in the Florence Christmas parade. That makes it a real no-brainer. The council gets a new judge and a chauffeur.

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From our friend Debra Glass:

I am not normally one to participate in or even know much about local political matters, but today I'm attending a Lauderdale County Commission meeting that will decide the fate of Ghost Bridge. The bridge is central to the folklore history of this area. The spot where the bridge crosses Cypress Creek was the site of one of the bloodiest Civil War skirmishes of the war. Though most of the ghost stories associated with the bridge are not based on fact, the site is much cherished by Shoals natives. I hope the area is protected and restored. And I hope to see you at the meeting.

We've received several e-mails on the fate of Ghost Bridge. Many in our area feel strongly about saving and restoring this landmark. If you can, join Debra in making your voices heard: Petition


Shoalanda

Expectoration--Not Good for the Nation

Approximately a generation ago, John Hartford penned a humorous song that included the line: Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, good for the country, good for the nation. What is not good for anyone, or at least bystanders, is expectoration, or in plainer terms, spitting.

Today's TimesDaily is reporting that the February incident involving two Muscle Shoals police officers has been turned over to the Colbert County District Attorney's office. The case will then be presented to the grand jury by an independent prosecutor. The account does not name the officers, nor will we. We will elaborate that our sources indicate the incident was precipitated by an inebriated prisoner spitting at the officers--not a pleasant picture.

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Last night was certainly a night of surprises in several Shoals elections, but before we consider the November General Primary, several same party races will have to be fought to a conclusion at the polls. Over the next few days, we'll be offering additional information on these candidates.

Congratulations to the winners, as well as to those who ran extremely clean campaigns. Among the latter was John Odem of Lauderdale County. We predict an especially bright future for John.

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We understand a certain Colbert County Baptist minister has been researching our family tree. We apparently have cousins of which we were not aware--either that or the minister is, uh, mistaken...


Shoalanda

Titanic Tuesday

No, we don't think the state is sinking like a certain ocean liner from the last century; we feel this is one of the largest and most important elections for Alabama and its Northwest counties in many years, if not decades. We urge everyone to vote today. It's your future--take control.

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Good luck to all those whom we endorsed. We also wish the best to Chad Coker, James Hall II, John Odem, and Billy Jackson--all fine candidates who, if they should be chosen by the electorate, would make great District and Circuit judges.

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Our poll in the Colbert County District Judge's race closed at 1:59 this morning. With 549 votes cast, the results were as follows:

Parker - 198
Coker - 187
Ruggles - 70
Milam - 51
Johnson -43

We look forward to comparing our results with tonight's actual tabulations.

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In the next few days we will be launching a blog directory for the Shoals Area. If you have a blog not currently listed with us, please email us the pertinent data. All listings are free.


Shoalanda

Lauderdale District Judge? A Hard Decision

The Lauderdale County District Judge's race has been overshadowed by its sister contest in Colbert County, where it seems anything goes as far as campaigning. This is not a bad thing at one level, but perhaps many voters in Lauderdale County have not looked at this county's race with the thoroughness it deserves. Below is an updated profile of Democratic candidate John Odem:


* POSITION SOUGHT: Lauderdale County District Judge
* PARTY: Democratic
* AGE: 30
* OCCUPATION: Attorney
* RESIDENCE: Killen, Alabama


Q. WHAT IS THE KEY ISSUE IN YOUR CAMPAIGN?

A. Judicial campaigns are quite unique. All candidates must be attorneys in good standing with the State Bar Association and they must reside within Lauderdale County. The key issue for this campaign is who is the best candidate to serve the people of Lauderdale County as District Judge for the next six (6) years. I believe that candidate is me. I have the education and the background to fill this position. I have the experience necessary to render fair decisions in accordance with the laws of this state. I am old enough to know how to do the job and young enough to get the job done.

I will treat every party with fairness and impartiality according to the law. I will uphold the dignity of the court and continue bringing honor and justice to the courtroom. Decisions rendered by the court effect everyone involved. Every judge wishes to have the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job. When these characteristics fail to materialize, the judge must rely on good common sense and proper temperament. A judge must rule on the evidence presented and testimony of the witnesses. I will look for the truth. Sometimes the tongue lies, but the eyes do not.

Q. PLEASE EXPLAIN IN DETAIL THE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS OF THE DISTRICT COURT. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THIS SYSTEM IF ELECTED?

A. While there are three Circuit Judges in Lauderdale County there is only one District Judge. This judge is responsible for certain types of both criminal and civil cases. The District Court has jurisdiction over civil lawsuits up to $10,000.00. It also has jurisdiction over small claims disputes, also known as the people’s court, where citizens present disputes to the court without the assistance or expense of an attorney. As District Judge I promise never to be influenced by who their attorney may be or the fact that they have chosen to pursue their argument without counsel. Lawyers, money and politics will never effect my decision, only the evidence and the facts.

The District Court also has jurisdiction over all misdemeanor cases arising within the county. These cases include domestic violence, assault, misdemeanor drug possession, DUI, theft and criminal mischief. Although these crimes are simple misdemeanors they need to be dealt with using a firm hand of justice. I believe that domestic violence violators should be jailed. Particularly when women and children are involved. It has been my experience in District Court that counseling and court ordered programs have very limited success. Furthermore, DUI and misdemeanor drug offenders should be punished in accordance with the law. I believe in particularly firm treatment for habitual offenders. Everybody deserves a chance, however, jail is the only thing that will get some peoples attention. I promise to be firm, fair and consistent while hearing these cases.

It is essential that the District Court has a smooth working relationship with the clerk’s office, Sheriff’s Department, the office of the District attorney and State Troopers throughout the county. I will maintain a healthy relationship with these entities. If elected, I plan to meet with the heads of these departments to inform them of my procedural plans as well as open my door to suggestions and new ideas to make our system run more efficiently.

I work hard and I like staying busy. This job calls for proper temperament and good common sense. As Judge, I am prepared to hear the evidence, locate the problem and solve it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I will render nothing but fair and impartial decisions on each and every individual case.

Q. AS JUDGE WHAT OTHER PLANS DO YOU HAVE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY?

A. I believe most of our legal problems start at home at an early age. As District Judge I will invite every Lauderdale County classroom, teacher and student to visit my courtroom and our county jail. I want our children to see the consequences of making poor decisions. My motto will be “Look Before you Leap.”

I have always been an advocate for Judge Jones’ program in which he assigns a portion of a state or county road to be kept clean by a person granted probation or a suspended sentence. I would like to incorporate this program into the District Court. If a person is found guilty of a crime but spared jail time, I think the proper punishment would be to have that person help keep the litter from the streets in the community where they live. This imposes punishment and allows for physical exercise. It is a win/win for the community.

I intend to follow the good examples of previous local judges such as Judge Tease, Judge Leslie Johnson, Judge Pasuer and Judge Carpenter, all of whom had limited experience and were about my age when elected. Experience does not determine success. After all, it was experienced ship builders that built the Titanic but amateurs that built the Arc. Sometimes proper inspiration and willingness to always do the right thing prevails.

Q. YOU STATED TO THE TIMES DAILY THAT YOU ARE NOT ASKING FOR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. WILL YOU EXPLAIN?

A. There’s no substitute for honest and integrity. Judges are in a unique position in our legal system. A judge’s decision must be fair, impartial and without outside influence. A judge must avoid even the appearance of impropriety. I feel it is beneath the dignity of the court for a judicial candidate to ask for campaign contributions. As Judge I will not be influenced by any person and will make all decisions in accordance with the evidence and the law. I simply will not open the door for some campaign contributors needing a favor to remind me of their past generosity.

John S. Odem

-()-

Both candidates in this primary are more than qualified. Florence Municipal Judge James Hall II has more experience, while Odem has an abundance of energy and enthusiasm on his side. In short, one cancels out the other.

While I personally support Judge Hall because of issues relating to the campaign that do not affect others, we here at Shoalanda do not feel that we can endorse one candidate over the other. We ask that voters in Lauderdale County research all issues and ask God's guidance in their selection of the next Lauderdale County District Judge.

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The Lauderdale County Commission has just recommended our friend Sandra Killen-Burroughs for the Florence-Lauderdale Tourist Board. Congratulations, Sandra!

We had announced several weeks ago that there would be big news coming from the eastern end of Lauderdale County, and this is it. We doubt that the Florence-Lauderdale Board could find anyone more qualified than Sandra. We trust her approval will be forthcoming shortly.


Shoalanda

More About John Odem

Florence attorney John Odem is a remarkable man with a brilliant future. We first profiled Odem when he announced his candidacy for Lauderdale County District Judge several months ago. Odem, the son of Dennis Odem and his wife Carolyn, is not only a busy lawyer, but also a musician and a helicopter pilot--the youngest ever licensed in the state of Alabama.

Those who have seen John perform with his band the Cadillacs say he would have little problem making a living with his music, yet the second-generation attorney is serious about his law career. He practices criminal law as well as being an expert in pre-nuptial agreements--something he advocates for all future marriages. John is also staunchly against the death penalty. From a 2007 TimesDaily interview:

Florence attorney Dennis Odem, who represented Riley and Waldrop during their murder trials, contends the death penalty does not deter homicides."I don't think people who are committing a capital crime give one thought to, if I do this, I might be sentenced to death," he said.Odem said he expects Alabama will abandon the death penalty as a form of punishment.

When recently interviewed by the ShoalsInsider, Odem promptly answered questions concerning his relative youth:

A new broom sweeps clean. In my private practice of law I have handled hundreds of cases as plaintiff’s attorney in District and Circuit court. I have been specially appointed as a Prosecutor for the District Attorney’s Office in Lauderdale County as well as the City of Tuscumbia. Between all these fields of practice I find myself in the District Court on a daily basis. I believe this experience makes me very qualified for the job. My friends Judge George Carpenter and Judge Ed Tease were 29 and 30 years old when elected to the bench. Debra Bell Pasuer was also elected at a very young age and the county benefited many years of her presiding on the District Judge bench. Decisions rendered by the court effect the lives of everyone concerned. I feel privileged to be in a position to continue the precedent of honor and dignity of the court set by previous Lauderdale County Judges.

Obviously, whether John Odem is the next Lauderdale District Judge or not, he's becoming a political force in the county. Kudos to Odem for having accomplished so much at such an early age and for having shown such integrity in his campaign. He will face Florence Municipal Judge James Hall II in the June 1st Democratic primary.

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Looking for a new vehicle? Hate the thought of trudging to local dealerships and paying extra for all your trouble? Then you need to check out Shoals Auto Finder. Beside cars and trucks, Shoals Auto Finder also showcases boats, motorcycles, and parts. The site administrator is Wayne Nix of the ShoalsInsider. We can promise that Wayne will bring you the best personalized service possible.


What's up with this: Those Sheffield merchants still displaying portable signs are now not only in violation of the city's sign law, but owe a total of $800.00 plus court costs. The total fine will rise $100.00 per day. Well, no one ever said civil disobedience was cheap--or intelligent.

Shoalanda

Darby Aviation Loses License...Again

Photo courtesy of the FAA

Darby Aviation of Muscle Shoals has lost its operations license for the second time in five years. Pictured at right is the Teterboro, New Jersey, plane crash that caused the private company, d/b/a Alpha Jet, to lose its license in 2005.

Darby Aviation was founded by the late Elton Darby Sr., father-in-law of State Senator Roger Bedford. No word if Bedord may see this as a foreshadowing of his re-election bid.

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Sources close to the Red Bay family visited recently by "Jesus Christ" a/k/a "Elvis," say contrary to reports in the TimesDaily, the intruder did disrobe completely--this was after consuming the entire contents of their refrigerator. He was probably hungry since deputies theorized he had walked from Gun Town, Mississippi. At least he went to jail on a full stomach.

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Props to James Hall II and John Odem for their clean campaign for the Lauderdale District Judgeship Democratic nomination. Our sources show Hall leading slightly, but no matter the winner, Carole Coil Medley is sure to provide stiff Republican opposition in the general election.

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Our sympathies to Mrs. Chad Coker in the recent loss of a family member. Chad, along with Tina Miller Parker, is one of the two front-runners in the Colbert County District Judge's race, and we look forward to hearing more on his platform in the immediate future.


Shoalanda

Bill Batson, Trevor Stokes, and Who's on Second?

Bill Batson is the Chairman of the Lauderdale County Republican Party; Trevor Stokes is a reporter for the Florence TimesDaily. Either one, or both, of these gentlemen is very confused.

Yesterday, we published John Odem's announcement of his candidacy for Lauderdale District Judge--an office currently held by appointed Republican Carole Coil Medley (pictured). Also publishing Odem's announcement was the TimeDaily. In an article written by Stokes, the TD announced the names of three current District Judges, all of whom are actually serving as Lauderdale Circuit Judges.

Perhaps the most startling aspect of Stokes' article was the quote by Bill Batson that no Republican has yet announced his or her intention of running for District Judge. In fact, Ms. Medley announced on August 13, 2009, that she would be seeking four more years of the district judgeship, a fact recorded in the TD by Stokes' fellow journalist Bernie Delinski.

And Lauderdale County often wonders why it's ignored in Montgomery?


What's up with this: Sources familiar with the now infamous Cherokee Council scuffle (dubbed Thrilla in the Kee by one local wag) are stating the Lansdell's son, known as Char-Char, will definitely be involved when all charges are finalized.

Shoalanda

John Odem Announces for Lauderdale District Judge

Florence attorney John Odem has officially announced his candidacy for the position of Lauderdale County District Judge. Odem will run against James Hall II in the June Democratic primary.

John Odem, 30, is a Lauderdale County native and a graduate of the University of Alabama and Miles Law School. Odem has a private law practice in Florence specializing in Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Estate Planning, and Family Law. He is a partner in the firm Odem & Odem with his father, Dennis Odem.

The Lauderdale District Judge deals with Civil Litigation up to $10,000, evictions, traffic violations, misdemeanors committed in the county, as well as felony cases in their pre-indictment phase. While there are three Circuit Judge seats, only one District Judge is responsible for the entire county caseload at the District level, geographically reaching from Rogersville to Waterloo. Odem is running on a platform of Judicial Efficiency.

“We are on the brink of substantial State cutbacks and proration. Statewide, our court system faces serious and immediate financial challenges. The courts are responsible for efficiently utilizing the taxpayer’s money without costing citizens their constitutional right to a speedy and fair trial.” Odem says, “I have the experience and knowledge required to implement this and a plan to make these things happen now. I have an open door policy and welcome any questions or suggestions. My two primary interests are making the district court run efficiently and ensuring that everyone is treated fairly.”

Odem is a legal enthusiast and trial lawyer. He is also seasoned in the field of aviation, piloting both commercial helicopters and airplanes. An accredited musician, he performs with his family band The Cadillacs. John plays banjo, guitar, and bass. The band is known for playing local shows and benefits.

The Primary election will be held on June 1, 2010, and the General Election will be November 2, 2010.

Correction: While Cherokee Mayor Chuck Lansdell is Cherokee's Fire Chief (and a member of their EMS), he works for the fire department gratis, receiving only the official salary from the mayor's office. He is, still, his own boss it seems, not only in one, but two other city departments. While this may be common in small towns, it is not sound practice.

Shoalanda