I have watched closely the events surrounding the campaign for Lincoln County Circuit Judge pitting incumbent Marcia Buckley against newcomer Amanda Benjamin. I am urging you to vote for Marcia Buckley as the only clear and honorable choice.
I crossed swords with Marcia in court many times when I practiced law in Lincoln County, and in the process we became good friends. I know firsthand her professionalism, legal acumen, sense of fairness, and her unwavering commitment to do the right thing in every situation. She was a brilliant advocate, and now she wears the black robe with distinction and honor.
In contrast, I have been deeply troubled by the behaviors of presiding Circuit Court Judge Tom Branford and Judge Sheryl Bachart during this campaign. Their cynical machinations to install the candidate they hand-picked and groomed, and their mistreatment of Judge Buckley while she has served on the bench, have been distressing to watch and are far beneath the dignity of the offices they hold.
I worked with both of them over the 17 years I practiced in Lincoln County, and it’s hard to believe they would work in such a deceptive, underhanded way to thwart the democratic process and undermine the integrity of the Lincoln County bench. I’ve read their statements, seen their arguments, and heard from my friends in the legal community about the unseemly methods they’ve employed to get their candidate into office. Frankly, they should both be ashamed of themselves.
The voters of Lincoln County deserve a judge who doesn’t have an agenda or an ax to grind. They deserve a judge who will reject personal differences and work for the good of all who come before them in the courtroom. And they especially deserve a judge who won’t bend their official role to engage in petty vendettas and unfair slander.
For Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge, there is only one candidate who deserves your vote, and that candidate is Marcia Buckley.
— Scott Beckstead/Roseburg
