For Dana Kuehn
By World's
Editorial Writers
10/20/2006
View in Print (PDF) Format
Challenger should be elected judge
In one of those unexpected oddities when judges are elected, an inexperienced unknown
candidate, Caroline Wall, beat a respected sitting judge in 2002.
In nearly four years on the bench, Wall has not overcome her inexperience. Because
of that and more, she should be turned out in favor of challenger Dana Kuehn, a
veteran prosecutor.
The post of associate district judge of Tulsa County is at stake. That position
is a holdover from early statehood. It is intended to assure each county a district
judge. The associate district judges are paid a bit less than district judges but
have the same legal duties.
Although reluctant to criticize a colleague publicly, most of Wall's fellow judges
and the lawyers who work with her agree that she has not performed well.
Kuehn has a sparkling record scholastically and professionally.
She has prosecuted more than 2,000 cases and has served as chief of the Juvenile
Bureau and as director of the district attorney's Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Wall's decisions have been "somewhere between questionable and breathtaking" said
one veteran jurist, but her work ethic is most often mentioned by observers.
"She gets here late and leaves early and is off an awful lot, and when she is here
she is maddeningly slow," said another.
Accused by her challenger of presiding over fewer trials than other judges, Wall
retorts that she has spent as much time in trial as other judges.
Wall claims Kuehn is sponsored by the district attorney, a charge widely discredited.
But Wall's undeniable leanings toward defense attorneys (who see slowness and ineptness
as an advantage for their clients) would indeed irritate prosecutors anxious to
put defendants in jail.
While she was in law school, Kuehn volunteered as a clerk in the DA's office under
the late David Moss, a Democrat, and subsequently served as an assistant district
attorney under District Attorneys Bill LaFortune and Tim Harris, both Republicans.
She also spent time in private practice.
She was one of three lawyers recommended to Gov. Brad Henry for a vacant judgeship.
If she and Wall were being considered by a nominating committee, there is little
doubt that Kuehn would get the nod.
We think voters should look at themselves as a nominating commission intent on putting
forth the candidate with the most ability and the best record.
That means Dana Kuehn should be elected on Nov. 7.
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