I've decided to run for office

Well okay, it’s been a minute or two hasn’t it?

My apologies. 
Sincerely. 

It’s just, I’ve been a bit preoccupied:

A more fitting song I can’t imagine, but I realize it may be a bit . . . cryptic, so . . .
In a word (or more)
and after a long period of debate
and waffling back & forth
I’ve decided that I’m going to run for public office,
Circuit/Family Court Judge, to be precise.

(Get it now?  “candidate?” “Joy Division?”)

Truth be told, I’ve been a bit torn.
While I’m convinced I’m qualified:
I’ve got the right temperament and mind-set, and I’ve been practicing all aspects of family law for over fifteen years now;
and I’m confident I can do the job, and perhaps excel at it,
still I’ve got some reservations.
It’s not that it’s a ton of work. 
It is.
I can live with that.  I don’t mind hard work, and I dislike being idle as much as I’ve been.
It’s that it NEVER ends.
While it’s true that I’ve been making my living trafficking in the human misery that is “family law,” for this long, I’ve also got a criminal law & general civil litigation practice, which provides a nice break.
And I enjoy the occasional “down-time” day or two, where not much is going on, and I get to do things like this, i.e. blog.
On the bench, however, it’s a never ending stream.
For every case you finalize (as much as these cases are ever, truly, “final”) there’s four more waiting to take its place.
It’s grueling and emotionally draining. 

There’s that (but again, I’ve developed and cultivated the right temperament to handle it).
And,
regardless of how good of a judge I believe I could be,
I know
I’m going to prove a horrific politician.

There’s few things I like less than talking about myself, and the idea of being out there, glad handing, fund-raising *shudder*  and making small talk makes my skin crawl.

But, as I’ve said,
I’ve decided to do it.

I believe I can help the families of this community.  I also believe I can effect a positive change in the family court experience, giving all participants an equal and fair opportunity to litigate what must be litigated, while encouraging an air of civility in order to promote amicable and reasonable outcomes, and thereby deter unnecessary litigation. 


Wish me luck.