Circuit court judge candidates seek to better serve college students - Frances Hill

Having taught at the IU School of Law, Frances Hill said she feels she has some sense of students' mindset. \n"While they might be 19, 20, 21 years old, they may not realize the full impact of their decision," said Hill, the Republican nominee for Monroe County Circuit Court judge, seat three, about legal problems college students run into. "A lot of what happens to students is they're in a new situation and make a one-time problem." \nHill said she is adamant about keeping students informed of their rights, especially with landlord negotiations, the kind of cases over which she would preside. \n"Landlords are used to coming to court," she said. "Students coming to protest damage charges don't know (their) rights." \nFurther, Hill said she is supportive of a possible partnership with IU Student Legal Services, perhaps in the form of a forum panel relating to student needs. \nTo combat the problem of overcrowding in the Monroe County jail, Hill suggested alternative punishments.\n"It's not just based upon those awaiting trial," Hill said, explaining that the overcrowding problem is not caused by judges not doing their jobs.\nAlso, by combining cases in family court, Hill hopes caseloads will be expedited, alleviating some of the overcrowding, she said. \nAs another strategy for speeding up the legal process, Hill said she is more than willing to preside over night court, a program that would allow Monroe County residents to take care of their court cases in the evening in order to help work around their schedules.\n"People are already stressed," Hill said. "Now they have to miss work for court." \nShe noted, however, that by holding trials at night, the need for baby-sitters might also arise. Hill's plan is to watch progress of a similar program in Marion County and examine the finances involved in the implementation. \nFor the past seven years, Hill has worked as a consultant to the Supreme Court of Indiana, creating and managing the Indiana Family Court Project, particularly with an idea known as "one judge." This program allows one judge to preside over every case involving a particular family. She hopes to implement this program in Monroe County to make families' experiences more standardized.\nHill said she feels that her depth in child and family law makes her a qualified candidate. \n"You, as a judge, have to do a lot to make people comfortable but not jeopardize the sanctity of the court," Hill said.\nShe said she is dedicated to keeping this balance, through set policies and procedures. \n"Predictability leads to justice," Hill said.