Candidates make cases for judge seat

Four candidates for the Associate Circuit Division III judges debated for the first time last week, highlighting their experience, temperament, and views on criminal justice issues facing Howell County, including jail overcrowding, treatment courts, public trust and courtroom transparency.

 

The candidates — Marty Simpson, Lyndell Beard, Heath Hardman and Larry Burton II — opened by describing the backgrounds they said would prepare them for the bench. Simpson, an Ozarks native who returned to the area after practicing in Illinois, said voters should distinguish between the skills of a trial lawyer and those of a judge. A judge, he said, must remain impartial until all evidence is heard and the law is applied.

 

Beard stressed life experience, independence, and community ties, saying an associate judge must apply the law with common sense, discernment, and respect for the people who appear in court.

 

Hardman, a Marine Corps combat veteran and former Howell County assistant prosecutor, highlighted his work in criminal prosecution, defense, and civil matters, noting that Division III handles a heavy share of criminal and traffic cases as well as probate matters. Burton, a Mountain View attorney, said 10 years of daily practice in criminal, family, probate, civil and other associate court matters have prepared him for the job.

 

Professional discipline

 

Asked whether they had ever been disciplined or reprimanded, Burton said he had an admonishment from the Missouri Bar related to trust-account funds that, he said, remained in the account too long before he paid himself. Simpson said he was briefly suspended after failing to complete continuing legal education requirements during a period when he had stepped away from practice, and he also mentioned a resolved delinquent tax issue. Hardman and Beard answered no.

 

Legal experience and courtroom record

 

In a résumé-style round, the candidates summarized their courtroom and trial experience. Simpson said he had not handled a criminal preliminary hearing in many years, had about four courtroom hours in the past month and had tried one criminal jury trial to verdict. Beard estimated he had handled hundreds of preliminary hearings and about 11 courtroom hours in the past month. Hardman reported many preliminary hearings, thousands of traffic matters, 25 to 30 courtroom hours in the past month, several appeals or writs and 22 jury trials to verdict. Burton estimated 100 to 150 contested preliminary hearings, 10 to 15 traffic matters a month, 100 to 120 courtroom hours in the past month, no appeals filed and three criminal jury trials to verdict.

 

Relationship with law enforcement

 

The candidates also described their relationships with law enforcement. Hardman cited his prosecutorial and defense experience and said he has treated officers respectfully as witnesses. Burton, a former police officer, said he has a strong relationship with law enforcement and generally trusts officers’ testimony while still reviewing allegations carefully. Simpson described his relationship with law enforcement as good, while Beard said his ties to local officers go back decades and include past support for equipment and work with law enforcement agencies.

 

Asked how they would support police assaulted in the line of duty, Hardman and Burton said judges must follow the law and noted that police officers can be treated as special victims under Missouri law. Simpson said such offenders should be dealt with as harshly as the law allows. Beard said that, if the law and charging decision supported it after a guilty finding, he would impose the maximum sentence.

 

Howell County’s criminal justice system

 

Many reader-submitted questions focused on the criminal justice system. Asked about the perception that Howell County has a “catch-and-release” system, Burton pointed to overloaded dockets and said treatment court should be expanded to address substance abuse, which he said drives many cases. Simpson said judges are doing the best they can within a crowded system. Hardman said residents had repeatedly raised the concern with him and described how Department of Corrections policies can lead to shorter actual prison stays. Beard said the issue involves both corrections policy and bail rules, including constitutional limits on detaining defendants before trial.

 

All four candidates expressed at least some support for a justice center combining jail and courtroom facilities rather than a stand-alone jail. Beard said such centers work better in other counties and argued Howell County missed an earlier opportunity. Hardman cited the current jail’s limited space, infrastructure problems and prisoner-transport safety concerns. Simpson said a justice center would likely be the better logistical solution. Burton said justice centers elsewhere offer better courtrooms, meeting space and security, though funding would need to be addressed.

 

On jail overcrowding and alternatives to incarceration, Simpson said he would support work release for nonviolent offenders with guardrails. Beard, who raised the idea at an earlier event, argued that work programs could save tax dollars and provide community service. Burton said he would need to see specifics before forming a firm view. Hardman urged deference to the sheriff, warning that supervision, liability and staffing could create new burdens.

 

Questions about addiction drew broad agreement that substance abuse is a central challenge, though the candidates differed in emphasis. Burton again called for expanded treatment court, saying he helped launch the program in the 37th Circuit. Simpson said addiction is difficult to overcome and called for community resources to work together. Beard favored early intervention and said spiritual-based programs can be important. Hardman said addiction cases are highly individual and require identifying whether a person needs housing, mental health care, medication, counseling or other support.

 

The candidates supported Missouri’s automatic change-of-judge rule, saying it helps litigants feel they have a fair shot. On probation violations, several said they could not ethically promise specific outcomes because each case depends on its facts. Burton, Simpson and Hardman emphasized case-by-case review. Beard said jail time becomes appropriate when a defendant is abusing the probation system.

 

All four rejected the idea that Howell County’s criminal justice system is corrupt. Beard praised the consistency of local prosecutors and judges. Hardman said law enforcement and attorneys generally act in good faith. Simpson said transparency and education could address misperceptions. Burton said he had handled thousands of cases and had not seen impropriety from prosecutors in the circuit.

 

Flock cameras and Fourth Amendment rights

 

The debate also touched on Flock cameras and Fourth Amendment concerns. Beard said cameras viewing what is already public generally do not violate rights, though he said he disliked similar surveillance tools. Hardman declined to give a view, saying such an issue could come before him as a judge. Burton said he would uphold the Constitution but did not take a specific position. Simpson said systems that track movements and license plates raise constitutional concerns.

 

Closing

 

When asked why voters should choose them over the other candidates, the four hopefuls returned to the central themes of their campaigns: experience, judgment and temperament. Hardman pointed to the breadth of his legal background, saying his mix of criminal, civil, probate and appellate work suits a judgeship that could involve a wide range of cases. Burton emphasized that his daily practice for the past decade has mirrored the work of an associate judge. Simpson argued that the role requires more than trial experience, stressing open-mindedness and the ability to listen before applying the law. Beard cast himself as a tested and independent candidate, saying his life experience, legal training and willingness to stand up to pressure make him the best choice.

 

Election day is August 4. There are no Democratic challengers to face in November. The winner of next week’s vote will be Howell County’s next judge. 

 

Exit poll results can be found HERE (CLICK). Sample ballots for this race and all questions before Howell County voters can be found HERE (CLICK).