Odem not soliciting campaign contributions

Judicial candidate John Odem
Staff Reports • Sun, May 09, 2010
FLORENCE-- The Shoals Insider interviewed Lauderdale County District Judge Candidate John Odem on Friday. Odem had some very interesting things to say.

NAME: John S. Odem.
POSITION
SOUGHT: Lauderdale County District Judge
PARTY: Democrat
AGE: 30
OCCUPATION: Attorney
RESIDENCE: Killen, Alabama
BIOGRAPHICAL: Son of Attorney Dennis N. Odem and Carolyn Odem. Attended Mars Hill Bible School, Brooks High School and is a graduate of the University of Alabama and Miles Law School. At age 18 John was the youngest licensed commercial helicopter pilot in the United States.

FAVORITE INTERESTS: Law, Aviation, and Music.

SHOALS INSIDER-WHAT MAKES YOU THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE?

ODEM-.I am eager and humbled to serve the citizens of Lauderdale County. All the court clerks will be a part of my team and we will work well together making the court more efficient and less time consuming for everyone. I will work with the DA’s office, lawyers and the citizens of this county and will render nothing but fair and firm decisions from the bench.
There is no substitute for common sense and proper temperament. I will treat every party with fairness and impartiality according to the law. I will uphold the dignity of the court and continue bringing honor and justice to the courtroom.

SHOALS INSIDER-AT AGE 30 AREN’T YOU A LITTLE YOUNG FOR THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT JUDGE?

ODEM-Absolutely not! A new broom sweeps clean. In my private practice of law I have handled hundreds of cases as plaintiff’s attorney in District and Circuit court. I have been specially appointed as a Prosecutor for the District Attorney’s Office in Lauderdale County as well as the City of Tuscumbia. Between all these fields of practice I find myself in the District Court on a daily basis. I believe this experience makes me very qualified for the job. My friends Judge George Carpenter and Judge Ed Tease were 29 and 30 years old when elected to the bench. Debra Bell Pasuer was also elected at a very young age and the county benefited many years of her presiding on the District Judge bench. Decisions rendered by the court effect the lives of everyone concerned. I feel privileged to be in a position to continue the precedent of honor and dignity of the court set by previous Lauderdale County Judges.

SHOALS INSIDER-DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR IMPROVING THE COURT SYSTEM?

ODEM-I have several improvements in mind. Foremost, I will invite every classroom, teacher and student in Lauderdale County to both visit my courtroom and take a tour of our county jail. My motto will be “Look Before You Leap.”

Also I plan to run the court room efficiently, saving taxpayers’ money and citizens’ time. I want to utilize the State’s E-File system which will greatly reduce the amount of paper used and the necessity for constant expansion for file storage facilities.


SHOALS INSIDER-YOU HAVE STATED THAT YOU HAVE NOT ASKED FOR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. WHY IS THAT?

ODEM-I feel it is beneath the dignity of the court for a judicial candidate to ask for campaign contributions. A judge’s decision must be made fairly and without partiality. As judge I will not be influenced by campaign contributors that may later choose to remind me of their generosity.

I simply ask for the support of voters and offer nothing in exchange except a fair and impartial court, which the citizens of Lauderdale County can be proud.

SHOALS INSIDER-Thank you for your time.
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