Saint Croix County Branch 2 candidates debate judicial philosophy, bail, diversion and courthouse operations at New Richmond forum

A candidate forum at Friday Memorial Library in New Richmond gathered three contenders for Saint Croix County Circuit Court Branch 2 to describe their qualifications and to debate judicial philosophy, pretrial bail, mental-health and substance-use diversion programs, courtroom conduct and case backlog.

Moderator Monica Lavold opened the event and explained the format; candidates gave three-minute opening statements, answered a roster of questions and offered closing remarks.

The three candidates framed much of the evening around a shared theme: judges should apply the law neutrally and not use the bench to make policy. Brian Smithstead, deputy district attorney for Saint Croix County, said, "The first and most important thing is the judges should not be changing the law," and added judges must "follow the law as it's written." James "Jamie" Johnson, a longtime attorney and former school board president, described his approach as neither activist nor purely restraint: "I would say that I am neither an activist nor a total restraint," he said, adding he would "judge every case on its own merits." Heather Enos, who said she has served as the county's corporation counsel, echoed those points and said candidates and judges should be nonpartisan: "Being nonpartisan is the primary way that the judges should rule," Enos said.

Qualifications and backgrounds

Each candidate emphasized different career experience. Enos described 22 years in county government, including work on…