I’ve always wanted to be a judge…

One time I was standing in line at a restaurant when I ran into a very good local judge.  We talked about the law and life and what is what like being a judge.  I mentioned to the judge that I thought it would be great to be a judge and get to do what I thought was right.  It was then I learned a lesson.  The judge told me that being a judge wasn’t always about doing what we know is right…it’s seeing that the law is followed.  Here was his example:  Earlier that week the judge had to order the eviction of an 80 year old lady who had been renting the same apartment for 25 years.  She was 4 months behind on her rent.  The judge said doing what was “right” was finding a way to let her stay in the apartment.  She had been an excellent tenant for a quarter century and was going through a rough patch.  But the law says the landowner could evict her…and that’s that.  I could tell that he was aggravated and heartsick about having to sign the eviction order.  But he understood his job and he is an excellent judge.

The good thing about my job is that I get to take a side.  Sometimes I take a side even when I know the odds are stacked against me.  It doesn’t make for good business sense, but it’s good for the soul.  It’s good to fight for causes we know are “right” even when the law is stacked against us.  It’s an honorable fight.  At this firm we believe the privilege of practicing law should not always be about money…it should be about right.

Maybe I don’t want to be a judge.  I like being a fighter.

The Law Office of Keith Short, P.C.  618-655-9499 or 618-254-0055.