League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

Name James Snyder Phone (865) 981-4966

Candidate for General Sessions Judge, Division I

Please write your answers in the space provided or use a separate sheet, and return your survey in the enclosed stamped envelope. It is very important that you write legibly. Please consider e-mailing your completed survey by requesting an electronic survey at rderycke@bellsouth.net

The League of Women Voters will acknowledge receipt of your completed survey.

Explanation of my inability to answer certain questions:

Candidates seeking to be elected Judge are held to the Code of Judicial Conduct.

Canon 5 of the Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits a candidate for judicial office from "making statements that appear to commit the candidate regarding cases, controversies, or issues likely to come before the court."

It would, therefore, be improper for me or any other candidate to state or imply a position that will be "tough on crime" or in handling any other issue or type of litigant knowing that a judge's obligation is to faithfully and impartially perform the duties of the office by following the law.

Given the diverse types of cases that are handled by the General Sessions Courts of this county, I am unable to give my personal opinions regarding issues addressed in this survey. It is my pledge, however, to fairly hear all controversies, impartially apply the law and to treat all citizens with respect and courtesy.

A recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion as it applies to the Tennessee Code of Judicial Conduct has raised a significant legal discussion regarding the limits upon which a candidate for Judicial Office may answer some of the questions asked in survey.

After consultation with ethics counsel with the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, I have taken what I believe to be a very conservative reading of the law and answered all of the questions that I am allowed to answer. I realize that other candidates may apply a more liberal standard and answer some of the questions that I have not. I trust my caution will be viewed in the appropriate light.

I realize and appreciate that a lot of effort has gone into this candidate survey. And, the ultimate goal of the survey is something that the people of Blount County are entitled to: To be informed about each candidate’s qualifications. So, while I am prohibited from giving my views on issues that I will later have decide, I am answering questions that are allowed by the Code of Judicial Conduct (and that anyone could easily find the answer to by doing a Yahoo search).

I. Qualifications and experience:

Please list your diplomas and degrees, along with the areas of study.

B.S. in Business Administration (Cum Laude), Major in Public Administration, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 1982

Juris Doctor, University of Tennessee College of Law, 1987

Admitted to Practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Tennessee Supreme Court and the United States District Court (East Tenn.)

What relevant experience do you have, including previous public offices held?

Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Joe D. Duncan, the Presiding Judge of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. (1987 to 1990)

Blount County Assistant District Attorney General practiced primarily in the General Sessions Courts handling thousands of criminal cases on behalf of the citizens of Blount County, Tennessee. (1990 to 1996)

Blount County Juvenile Court Referee conducted hearings involving juvenile delinquency, dependency and neglect, unruly charges, child support hearings, custody and paternity hearings; as well as criminal cases required to be initially brought before Juvenile Court. (1996 to 2004)

Family Law Mediator facilitate the resolution of disputes concerning family law matters including child custody and child and/or spousal support issues. (2001 to Present)

Blount County Special Judge as needed by the elected Blount County General Sessions Court Judges when they are unable to sit due to illness or professional obligations. (1996 to Present)

Private Practice of Law with primary focus on representation of citizens in the Blount County General Sessions Courts. (1996 to Present)

Please list local service and civic groups in which you have participated, including when and for how long.

First United Methodist Church 1993 to Present

Blount County Bar Association 1990 to Present

Blount County Young Republican Club, President 1994 and 1995

Blount County Turnaround Achievement Awards

District Coordinator of Mock Trial Competition, Young Lawyers Division of the Tennessee Bar Association 1999 to 2003

Vigil Honor Member of the Order of the Arrow

Eagle Scout

Please indicate any business activities that could constitute a conflict of interest in the event you are elected.

This is governed by the Tennessee Judicial Code of Conduct. It could be considered improper for me to answer this question.

Name three leadership skills that you practice.

1. Active listening.

2. Identifying the Actual Problem, rather than the Perceived Problem.

3. Addressing the Actual Problem directly, rather than the symptoms of the Problem.

F. What unique qualities, besides the above leadership skills, do you have to contribute to this office?

In 19 years as an attorney, I have a proven record as prosecutor, a private attorney, and as a Judicial Officer with the ability to hear a case, apply the law and reach Just Decisions.

In applying the law impartially, a Judge is required to balance the protection of the community with the rights and freedoms that we each hold dear as Americans. This requires balance that comes both from prosecuting, defending and hearing cases as the Judicial Officer.

I have the balance of legal knowledge and life experience crucial to being an effective Judge.

My experience includes:

Blount County Juvenile Court Referee for 8 years

Blount County Assistant District Attorney General for 6 years

Successful Law Practice in Blount County for 9+ years

Family Law Mediator

Admitted to the Tennessee and the United States Supreme Court Bars

I have approximately the same amount of experience prosecuting crime in Blount County as all of the other candidates combined.

A General Sessions Court Judge, however, also hears divorce, custody, child support, collections, landlord-tenant, and other civil cases.

I have experience handling all the types of cases that are the responsibility of a General Sessions Judge.

As Blount County Juvenile Court Referee for 8 years, I was called upon to make the tough decisions that a Judge is required to make. I was rarely appealed and I am unaware of a single case I heard that was overturned.

No other candidate has the experience in Blount County that I have on the Bench.

I want to be your next Judge of Division I, General Sessions Court for Blount County because of my firm belief that the person you choose for Judge should be first and foremost Committed to Justice, not favoritism to either side or to any party.

My pledge is that every person who comes before me will be heard with respect and courtesy – regardless of who he or she are or who they have as an attorney.

II. Questions about your understanding of the office you are seeking:

What do you see as the three most important functions of this office?