Scott County judge faces election challenge from assistant prosecutor

Scott County Associate Circuit Judge Scott Horman faces an election challenge from assistant prosecutor Zac Horack who bills himself as the �law and order candidate.�

Scott Horman

But Horman, who has served as Division 5 associate circuit judge since 2007, said he has far more experience than his opponent.

The Chaffee, Missouri, Democrat said he has 18 years of legal experience while Horack, a Scott City Republican, has three years experience, all as an assistant prosecutor.

The position carries an annual salary of $137,745, according to the state manual.

Both men outlined their views in emailed responses to the Southeast Missourian�s candidates� questionnaire.

Horman said he practiced probate, civil and criminal defense law and served as a municipal prosecutor before being elected to the bench.

�Having a background that consists of many areas of practice and hearing many different case types as a judge over the past 12 years gives me the experience to be fair and objective as opposed to being one-sided,� Horman said.

Zac Horack

But Horack said his experience prosecuting cases makes him the best candidate for judge in the Nov. 6 general election.

�I understand what it�s like to be in the trenches of trial and how important it is for all sides to have a fair shake. It is vitally important that our trial judges have that experience, too,� Horack said.

He added he is �the only candidate with experience prosecuting felony cases before juries� and the only candidate who can �bring change� to Division 5 court.

Horack said, �Beyond experience, I understand that many people are tired of the �good ol� boy club� that exchanges popularity for results in the courtroom.�

He said, �Our judges must be able to stand on the law alone, swayed only by facts and not those presenting them.�

Horman, on the other hand, stressed his experience in presiding over both civil and civil criminals cases and issuing arrest warrants.

A judge must be fair and impartial, he said.

�Litigants must have confidence they have a forum wherein disputes can be decided solely on the facts and laws that apply,� Horman said. �Partisan politics have no place in the courtroom; judges wear a black robe, not one that is red or blue.�

Horack said, �Trial judges are to apply the law, not make it.�

He added, �Beyond the robes, trial judges are simply attorneys who play referee in the courtroom. Calling balls and strikes is a majority of the job and nobody gets it right every time.�

Horman said he has been a proponent of using technology in the court system.

�We have saved the citizens of Scott County thousands of tax dollars through our implementation of electronic court files and electronic mail notices,� he said.

�I will continue to use technology to run a more efficient and cost-effective court,� the judge said.

Horman said he also would seek additional funding for drug-treatment courts.

Horack has called for changes in releasing defendants on bond.

�It is inconceivable that defendants charged with felony domestic violence, child pornography or armed criminal action should be released from custody without having to post any bail and without any notice to victims,� he said.

Horack said, if elected, he would use a bond schedule for felony offenses that other judges in the region use.

He said he would bring an �open-door and open-phone policy� to the bench.

�It is important that attorneys and law enforcement feel comfortable addressing concerns to judges directly,� he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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