Meet the candidates for Justice of the Peace: Wanda James

Wanda James brings experience to the table

Originally, Wanda James intended to obtain a major in education. However, realizing she would have to go somewhere else other than Mineral County once she got her degree, she decided to switch and completed her studies in criminology, sociology and prelaw. During her junior year of college, she applied for the job of a judge at the court house, which she took in 1996. Then, when the Justice of the Peace at the time decided to run for sheriff, James was appointed to fill the position and since then has served the county. She is currently serving in her third term and couldn't dream of doing anything else.

"I love it. I do," she said. "I'm not burnt out. I'm not ready to quit."

James said she loves the environment of her job and that has what has kept her in it for so long. While it's demanding and requires a lot of energy, she said it is all worth it.

"I enjoy the diversity of people I encounter and the way the law is always changing," she explained. "I can't get comfortable and be like ‘oh yea, that will be forever.' It keeps my brain working and it challenges me."

James has 14 years of experience and 288 hours of training that she has had to complete while holding the position. Back in 2007, she was asked to attend a camp where she trained new attorneys and has also worked with new judges. She's served as a substitute for Sanders county, as well as acted as town judge for Alberton. During her time as the Justice Peace in Mineral County she has attended to several matters.

"We handle all misdemeanors, all citations, initial procedures for felonies. I do civil matters, $3,000 for small claims court, $7,000 for civil, search warrants. Some fun things I get to do, I get to do weddings and I really like that," she said. "But I interact with the public at the level they encounter justice. I always try to treat people with respect and dignity. I've never had a problem with order in the court and they say a good judge never has to use their gavel and honestly I haven't. I think it is a demanding position and it takes someone with an open mind and someone to remain neutral on things. We all know we come with a set of biases and prejudices and I know what mine is so I'm very careful to address that."

James said that when she started that they used spiral notebooks to docket tickets. She said one of her accomplishments during her time in office was to help bring the court into the 21st century with networked computers and automation. She feels that she wants to continue with that, but another larger issue will be working around the budget deficits that they face.

"I think it's going to be a challenge to get the job done just as efficiently with less money expended," she said. "So we're going to have to start looking for ways to economize."

James said that she's not nervous about facing an opponent in this election. She's run against opponents before, though in the last election she didn't face anybody. James said she feels that if the citizens don't decide to reelect her then that is their choice.

"I'm not nervous," she said. "I'll run a campaign, I'll hope to get reelected and if I'm not and the county's population doesn't want me here then I don't want to here. The county has given a lot to me. I raised my son here and I've been married to my husband for 37 years. I feel like I give back and give 110 percent and it's treated me well."

James said that she wants people to know that her door is always open and will continue to be open if she's reelected.

"I've always had an open door. People are always surprised when they come to talk to me. I can be reasonable and see their point of view," she said. "Even if they don't like what I've done and I haven't explained it thoroughly I'd much prefer they make an appointment with me and talk to me about it because at least that way I can remedy it or show them why I did what I did. I can revisit decisions I've made, I'm not perfect. I try to go by the law and treat everybody fairly."