Remember the picture of Lady Liberty, the one with the Statue of Liberty standing blindfolded holding the balance in her hand? The symbol of Justice.

I believe the two items in those balance trays represent the Law on one side and the Citizen on the other. All laws, as written, have both a letter of the law and also the intent of the law. The place of judgeship or the office of judge/justice of the peace in this great land of ours is that balance of weighing the letter and intent of the law versus the rights of the citizen (Godgiven, according to our Constitution and Bill of Rights).

Judgeship was never intended to be an extension of law enforcement but rather that fair and impartial balance between the letter and intent of the law, and the ability of the citizen to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness within the parameters of the law.

With our liberty being threatened severely at the national and global level, it is imperative that we do all we can to preserve liberty at the local level.

We are approaching the time when we will have the opportunity to exercise our right to vote for local and state political leaders, including justice of the peace. This is a great time for each and every one of us to brush up on the basics of the political documents that have served us and our forefathers before us for over 200 years. These documents have been the basis for what has won and preserved an environment of liberty like what we have enjoyed most of our life. No other country in the world even thinks about the need to build fences to keep undeserving people OUT.

I, for one, enjoy the liberty that was given to me as a legal-born citizen of this great nation and feel the need to research again to find those potential political leaders with a desire to perpetuate that liberty. That knowledge will hopefully give me the understanding to vote appropriately.

Dave Hamilton

Lometa