Editor’s note: Monday Conversation is a question-and-answer interview with a local person. This week’s interview is with Jeff Larson, who will be sworn in Tuesday as the newest district court judge for Lyon and Chase counties. Larson spoke on Friday.
Q What kind of preparation have you been doing to get ready for your new job?
A In order to get ready for the next week, I have been closing down my office and working with my partner. This week, there has been some lapse of coverage down at the courthouse so I have been filling in on a couple of dockets as a pro tem judge. That has helped me get acclimated to the courtroom.
Q What will your approach or philosophy be on the bench?
A My goal is for everyone that comes into my courtroom to be as comfortable as possible. Obviously any time someone is going into court they will be nervous. I also want them to leave the courtroom feeling that, even though I may have ruled against them, that I was fair to them and that I listened to all of their arguments and that they had plenty of time to present their case.
Q How do you feel about hearing a death penalty case and would that be a challenge?
A That would definitely be a challenge. We all hope that never happens in this district, but if it does happen we will deal with it the best we can.
Q Do you bring in your own staff or how does that work?
A It’s my option. But Judge Sanderson’s staff will be there for a couple of weeks and then my staff. Trish Olson will be joining me down at the courthouse toward the end of February.
Q As a judge, how much studying will you have to do?
A It depends on what you are going to be hearing that day. A fair amount of what we do is pretty routine and doesn’t require much studying. But there are times when we get an issue that needs research. As a lawyer, I was researching what the best argument would be for my client and now it is researching what the right answer is. I enjoy the research.
Q Do you worry about making mistakes?
A I am not going to say that I don’t worry about making any mistakes. But I am not going to let that paralyze me when I am making decisions. I think it is important to make the decision as fairly and quickly as we can and move on. One good thing about being a trial judge — if you happen to make a mistake people have appeal rights and the appellate courts in Topeka will send it back.
Q How does our courthouse compare to others you have practiced in?
A I have been to 25 or 30 other courtrooms. We, by far, have the nicest facilities. Now I haven’t been to Butler since they have redone theirs. But the technology we have and the surroundings — the courtrooms — are beautiful. It is very comfortable to be in.
Q Any other thoughts that you want the community to know?
A I think it’s important for the community to understand that just not me but all of the judges and court personnel really want the community to get to know the court system and feel like we have the best court system in the region. I know our judges work hard to convey that feeling and so do the clerks. It’s a team effort and I am really excited about joining that team.