news-record.com

A judicial election was held in Greensboro Tuesday, and all the voters were well-informed. Which made it a rarity.

But this wasn't a public election where few voters know anything about the candidates for judicial offices. Instead, it was a gathering of the Guilford County Bar, where lawyers had the job of selecting three nominees for a seat vacated by District Court Judge Patrice Hinnant, who was appointed to the Superior Court bench by Gov. Bev Perdue last month. The governor will make this appointment, too, but she must choose one of the three submitted by the local Bar.

Some 500 lawyers attended Tuesday's meeting in the Old Guilford County Courthouse to consider 14 candidates for the opening.

"There was so much buzz, I was concerned there'd be chaos," Bar President Richard Manger said Wednesday.

Instead, the process was brisk and orderly. All 14 hopefuls made dignified presentations, touting their qualifications, experience and commitment to justice. Balloting began within an hour. The top three were:

l Jan H. Samet, a High Point attorney with 35 years of private-practice experience, 275 votes;

l Michael K. Troutman of Greensboro, an assistant public defender with 16 years of legal experience, 92 votes;

l and Susan Yu O'Hale of Greensboro, an assistant district attorney with 18 years of legal experience, 85 votes.

Samet's overwhelming support among his peers warrants the governor's attention. No one has a greater interest in seeing good judges than the professionals who work in the courts.

Samet, 64, said he's long wanted to be a judge, but he's never been interested in politics. He wouldn't be comfortable raising campaign money and "wasn't comfortable giving money to judicial candidates," he said Wednesday.

Many talented attorneys who would make excellent judges feel the same. Elections force jurists to become politicians -- and the public sometimes votes for the best politicians, not necessarily the best judges.

The voters Tuesday were more likely to know the difference.