news-record.com

District Court judges routinely deal with dozens, sometimes hundreds, of cases in a day. The pace can be hectic, with "things coming at you from all directions," says Polly Sizemore.

She stays anchored by taking notes during the day, making sure she's consistent in her decisions. She reviews them at the end of the day and, when she finds mistakes, corrects them.

Remarkably, she also seeks others' opinions of her performance and takes constructive criticism to heart.

Sizemore, 56, has proved to be a conscientious judge since her appointment to a newly created seat in February 2007. Her desire to get it right, intelligence and broad experience all recommend her election to a full, four-year term.

Sizemore began her career in the legal system as a juvenile court counselor. She earned a Wake Forest law degree in her mid-30s and became a leader within the Greensboro legal community. She's presided in every court in the past 20 months, is a certified mediator and is working on certification as a juvenile court judge.

Opponent Barbara Gore Washington, 60, is a lawyer with long and varied experience who's certified as an arbiter. She also was elected Guilford County's clerk of court in 1986 but voted out in 1990 amid complaints of disorganization in the office. Still, she would bring plenty of legal knowledge and a positive demeanor to the bench.

Nevertheless, the case for Sizemore is stronger. Someone who evaluates herself every day with the goal of getting better is a judge worth keeping.