Clint Lancaster of The Lancaster Law Firm, PLLC, in Benton, has partnered with MySaline.com to write about law in Saline County. This is the first of his posts. Clint and Jennifer Lancaster own and operate The Lancaster Law Firm. Contact them at 501-776-2224 or visit www.TheLancasterLawFirm.com.
Judge Barbara Webb
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Someone, probably lots of someones, want to know why Governor Hutchinson appointed Barbara Webb as a circuit judge. The plain and short answer is “because he can and he wanted to do so.” The next thing they want to know is what kind of job is Judge Webb doing.
Well, that is one I can answer. I think there are only a few other attorneys who have been in front of Judge Webb as much as I. I have tried hard cases and I have tried easy cases in front of Judge Webb. I think the new judge is doing a good job.
Being a judge is not easy. It is mentally exhausting. It is time consuming. It can, at times, be emotional. People who cannot agree among themselves and who would fight adamantly about an issue involving their lives or children ask a total stranger to listen to their story and decide something that will have a lasting impact. Getting it wrong can really hurt people—including the person who made the decision. I know judges who are haunted by their past decisions.
Judge Webb’s approach is not unusual. She does not always come up with an immediate ruling on tough issues but is more thoughtful about her decisions. Some people criticize this approach. I don’t think it’s fair. Give me a thoughtful person over a rash one any day of the week and twice on a Sunday. If it involves a child, I’ll take it three times on every Sunday.
I have seen Judge Webb rule right off the bench and get it right. I have seen her take her time to sort out complex issues.
I have heard concerns that Judge Webb has little experience in domestic relations but that makes up the majority of her caseload. I don’t know what her experience is in domestic relations litigation. However, alleged “little experience” does not equate to “little understanding” or “little ability to decide.”
What I have seen from her bench is thoughtfulness, patience, understanding, and reasoning. I have always found that those are the most esteemed qualities for any judge.
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