Hello Everybody,
Someone on Facebook asked me why I became a judge. I knew I had addressed it in my book so I thought I would go there and just re-write what I wrote. Funny thing was I summed it up in just a couple of sentences, and I must say it wasn't very lucid.
So I will try again here. The thing is I don't like to claim grandeur when it just isn't the way things are. So I have no profound answer. I had no great calling or socio-political awakening that drew me to my job. Nor was it a life long dream.
As I have always said, and will continue to do so until new facts come in that make me change my mind, I am an accidental over-achiever that never planned to do the things I've done.
Truth is, I ran for judge because of circumstances. I was a 33 year old exhausted new mother who was working rough hours at a law firm when one of the partners at my firm said the judge in my municipality was retiring after 18 years on the bench and he thought I should run for her seat. He thought I would make a good judge and I thought a lot of him.
Not only that, the court house was just blocks from my house and judges work regular hours. Sounded like a plan to me.
I always considered myself level headed and understanding, not just about the law, but about people as well. I had appeared before a lot of judges in court and I felt I could do just as well, if not better. So I thought it was a good idea.
I won by 6 votes on election night and 6 years later I was re-elected with 80% of the vote. I worked hard there. Not just on the bench but at community out reach and with kids. My plan was to help people not come to me in the first place.
It was, I believe, a good fit. But I was getting a little bored by the end – considered running for a higher court when 20th Television called. You know the rest. Yet again, circumstances conspired to take me places I had no intention of going.
My mother said then, and still claims to this day, it was not a good move. She says my job is silly – and her position is not without support. But she is good humored about it and I enjoy my life. I also try to insert something meaningful in the midst of the voyeuristic madness.
That reminds me – someone asked me my judicial philosophy to put in an article but they never used it. It was supposed to be a light hearted article and they wanted a short pithy quote. I did the best I could but they just didn't use it. But since I wrote it I thought I might as well share it.
MIND YOU this is not the sum total of my judicial approach – it was just a short hand statement to give them an idea of what I was like. Being a judge is a hard thing if done well – complicated and filled with room for error. I used to stay up nights wondering if I did the right thing . E used to call me The Night Stalker. So for what it's worth:
Judicial Philosophy
Lynn C. Toler
While on the bench in Ohio my judicial philosophy was two fold: “the law almost always allows you to do the right thing but sometimes you have to work hard to make that happen and . . . . incarceration without elucidation is pointless.”
Now that I am on television dealing with matters of the heart and arguments over who gets the big screen TV my philosophy is: at some point before the end of the show I need to say at least one thing that has some socially redeeming value even if it’s as simple as ‘don’t get pregnant by a guy who doesn’t support the kids he already has.' You wouldn’t believe how many people get that one wrong.
Peace.
Judge Lynn, you forgot to mention that the person that talked you into running for judge said that you wouldn't even win.
When you mention that your mom thought that your job was silly, I thought about what Boomy said to you.Do you remember? I still chuckle when I think about it. But, that's my boy.
I love your philosophy!! Especially the ones about procreating!!!
Have a good day everyone. The next 2 weeks are going to be crucial to me. I take Praxis II on Saturday.
Good Morning All,
Been a busy couple weeks. hope all is well.
I missed the chat your Honor, but from the blog all went well.
when is the next one?
You always say something folks can walk away with, and if they are truly wanting to change, there is no excuses(tools of the weak).
Took a tour over the weekend in Greensboro N.C . went to the site of the famous Greensboro 4 sit in at the woolworths counter,was very exciting to stand where they sat. Honestly don't think i could have withstood all that back in the day.
Our youth think they are tough today, but i don't think they could have either.
Peace & Blessings
Morning all,
Judge you are a woman of wisdom, and I believe your mother is very proud of you, what mom wouldn't be?
You have made some extraordinary choices(moves) in your life with carrer and family.
You think before you speak and even while speaking you are very careful about what you say, a woman of style, class and integrity.
Last thursday I had a cortizone shot in my back because the pain is more aggressive tha in the past, i cried like a baby, it hurt badly, the medicine that was put in did a job, OMG. Severe arthritis is no joke.
While my husband and I were waiting, (needed a ride after the shot, couldn't drive, doc. prearranged things) There was people my age younger and older walking with kanes, walkers and walking bent over. These people aren't exercising, probably because it hurts really bad, guess I should consider myself blessed, none of that is going with me.
I walk almost everyday, and do hip hop abs, which requires you to move your body which is necessary, if not there's going to be some serious issues. Got to move the body.
Well, needless to say, the shot didn't work, relief was short lived, within 1 1/2 the pain was creeping back up, it's back in full blast. Please yall, don't ever hurt your back, it's never the same after that. If you get better, it's a miracle.
However, this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
All of you enjoy the rest of your day!
TOP OF THE DAY TO EVERYONE!! . JUDGE WHERE IS THE APRIL SURPRISE. WAS IT THE LIVE CHAT OR AM I SPEAKING TOO SOON? DID I MISS SOMETHING ON THE BLOG PAGE? I'M JUST ASKING LOL. THEN AGAIN, APRIL STILL HAS LIKE 20/21 DAYS TO GO. EITHER YOU ARE STILL WORKING ON IT OR I MISSED. NO FACEBOOK NO MY SPACE I'M JUST A STRAIGHT BLOGGER. IF LIVE CHAT WAS THE SURPRISE…OH WELL. COME BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH ME,70′S/80′S MUSIC. ALREADY LISTENED TO SPINNERS..MIGHTY LOVE, GLADYS KNIGHT..MY IMAGINATION(LOVE THAT TRIBAL BEAT)SHANNON.. LET THE MUSIC PLAY..LARRY GRAHAM'S ONE IN A MILLION STEVIE'S I WISH(THOSE WORDS ARE SO TRUE
AND MANY MORE TO COME BEFORE THE BOYS COME HOME COMPLAINING!!
***ARNELL,HER'S WISHING YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY!!!
A.Rogers, thank you, working on it. i see you are a old school music fan, like me.
Hi judge I love your show i watch it ever day but i need you help I have a questoin that i need help with my sister is married and her husband is in the navey he is suppose to be sending her and her baby money but they dont get any we have learned that he just had a baby buy another girl and she have been calling every where to get help and noone is trying to tell her anything i just need to know what should she do in her case he came to milwaukee and told her land lord that she was moving out of her house and she didnt have a house to go to so of course i took her in but its been almost 2 years of the same thing we need your help. thanks alisha johnson
Hello Judge and crew,
Judge Lynn what you consider as circumstances may be God's plans accomplished.
"The path we take, the road we travel, and those whom we choose to take along are all part of life's decisions that guide us and place us where we belong."
Hope you get better Arnell
You're such a woman of wisdom JLT! And Ms. E is right … except I call it God's Work-In-Progress. I think we have all ascertained that you are NOT DONE — that's why we stay tuned to the Toler channel!!
O-HEY THERE CREW!! Everybody hanging tight … irrespective of all of life's dramas?!
your honor,I watch your show and I relize it is about divorce, but what I would like to ask you is,I love my wife with all my heart and soul, but I feel there is a better word then Love, I show and tell her everyday how much I do love her but I also feel there is a better word then Love,I have tried worship, addore, honor, respect, charrish, they all sound the same how can I really explain my true Love for her thank you for your time tom
Dear Judge Towler,
Divorce Court teaches a lot about law and allows people to see the consequences of not "Looking Deep before you Leap" as I heard you say on one of your shows.
Your lesson "Look Deep before You Leap" is a definite Truth. People do not ask enough questions when dating. What they dont realize is people do not change much after marriage. I have learned from many of my married friends that they are less apt to divorce regardless of how much money they make because they will argue over a fee as cheap as $100 to get the divorce. Usually this lets you see that they either dont really want a divorce or they are as guilty as the other and what they are telling you they are argueing about is really not the problem.
Many people really do not know what true Love is and because they are not Committed to God in belief and worship, they lack true Love and committment to each other.
After getting married-they see that the partner is not actually going to change much. The problem that surfaces was there before they met, they just failed to ask more questions of each other. A husband-on the down low- was gay before marriage- the woman saw the signs- but failed to ask-why did you peirce both your ears? Is it really just a fashion statement? A woman has children-a man feels disrespected if he has to care for her children before the marriage or does nothing and becomes a kid himself-but failed to ask-do you need me to take care of the kids or you or are you plainning to quit the job once we marry?
Again- people are not communicating and getting to really know each other. They are not making mature decisions on why they Love someone and are too desperate to have an inadequate love.
Love evolving from activities that are free-regardless how rich you are is better. Both partners have to WORK and INVEST in the relationship enough to create a BALANCE of Trust between sex and money which are evidences of LOVE.
If God is not put first in the relationships- either can become INFIDELs. A man or a woman can neglect caring for the other when they betray the trust of the other with adultery, cheating stealing or spending the money outside the marriage,and not caring for the children joined by marriage or created together by the marriage.
Again-"Look deep before you Leap" means that instead of you chasing a "Yes" person maybe you should investigate a "No" person. The people you have more in common with are not always easy-but someone you have to work harder for.
Also- if you put God ahead of your union- then God will provide all the desires of your heart in the union. Too many people do not even consider or believe in God in getting married so- God is definitely not a consideration in their divorce. If God were the consideration-then many of the Committed to God first would be as committed to each other as they are God single first then married together- thus there would be less divorces.
So in your looking first before you leap first-put God first so you will make a good decision. If there is no understanding of what God requires for forgiveness-then if sin takes place between the couple-or outside the couple and they are not forgiving and long suffering- the marriage wont work even if they think they love each other.
True love forgives over and over and strengthens to abstain from sinning against the other to remain in committment with each other and under Covenant with God.
Hi Judge. One of your Fb fans. Your life is eerily similar to mine. I just don't think our mothers want us to leave them. Sad but I believe that.