3 seek magistrate post
Three local attorneys interviewed with the Hamilton County Commission on Wednesday for an open judicial commissioner position.
Commissioners are looking to replace former magistrate Stuart Brown, who was fired for poor performance earlier this month.
The three candidates were Blake Murchison, Robert “Bob” Widerkehr Jr. and Bob Davis.
Murchison reminded commissioners he had applied for the position earlier this year when Brown was hired. He has practiced criminal law in Hamilton County for 15 years, including a stint in the public defender’s office.
Widerkehr (pronounced WIDD-a-ker) has 30 years’ experience in Hamilton County, focusing on personal injury, worker’s compensation and criminal defense.
Davis, who also applied earlier this year, has previously served in the position both full time and as a part-time fill-in. He has been in practice since 1973 in a variety of roles.
Commissioners questioned all three about their understanding of the job, particularly whether they were detailoriented, could handle multiple issues at once and work well under pressure.
Those are key attributes for the magistrates, who work at the Hamilton County Jail issuing search warrants and setting bonds after defendants are arrested and booked.
The county commission created the program in 1999 as a way to speed up processing and ease jail overcrowding. There are four full-time magistrates and some part-time fill-ins.
Earlier this year commissioners voted to boost the magistrates’ pay from less than $65,000 a year to $80,000 and, over four years, to $92,000. They also extended magistrates’ terms from one year to two, and then opened up the application process to see who might be interested.
Out of 10 applicants, they chose Brown and Lorrie Miller, naming Miller chief magistrate. Within just weeks, Miller reported Brown was having trouble with the job. She said he was filling out forms wrong, misplacing or misfiling important paperwork and was unable to keep pace with the demands of the job.
After giving him more time and extra training, commissioners fired him Sept. 12.
All three candidates Wednesday said they were organized, detail-oriented and able to focus on the job and get it done in the time available.
Commissioners also questioned the three on topics such as excessive bail, the importance of criminal history, and what role magistrates could play in helping steer arrestees with mental health or substance abuse problems to the proper courts.
They also emphasized the job requires night, weekend and holiday work.
“It’s a grueling position, I’ll say that. It’s a very difficult position that requires some grit,” said Commissioner David Sharpe, chairman of the Security and Corrections Committee that conducted the interviews.
The commission is set to vote on a nominee Oct. 3.
Contact Judy Walton at jwalton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6416.