Experts Concerned About Experience Of Newly Elected Judges

Soon five new district judges will preside over courtrooms in Mecklenburg County.

The worry with some residents is there is going to be some on the job training, which could slow down the judicial process in the county and create a backlog of cases.

“In my 29th year, I've never seen anything like this.” George Laughrun is a longtime attorney in Charlotte.

Laughrun is nervous about all of the new judges elected last night and he says the local legal community is baffled.

“We lost a lot of judges with a lot of years of experience on the bench,” he said.

Theo Nixon was unseated by a candidate who never openly campaigned for the job and many say expressed no interest in the job.

15-year veteran Ben Thalheimer was beaten by Bill Belk but a few years ago Thalheimer handled Belk's divorce case.

“We're ecstatic, we're very pleased.” Natalie Bingham is with a court advocacy group who worked to oust some of the incumbents.

“We have a courthouse here that's supposed to be for the people. It has not been functioning for the people or for the best interest of families,” she said.

In fact, people on both sides admitted that in these nonpartisan races it came down to one thing -- change.

“If you're in power now or some position of authority then it’s time to sweep you out, a new regime and new day, change,” Bingham said.

No matter how you feel about the election, these judges will be up for re-election four years from now.