The candidates for a Sangamon County judgeship both say there is no double standard for justice in local courtrooms... even as both acknowledge that there is some subjectivity to the decisions they make, particularly in sentencing.
Incumbent Judge John Schmidt was appointed to the bench two years ago, and is now running for a full term against Democrat Tim Londrigan.
Schmidt says in sentencing decisions, he looks at the life and achievements of a defendant, saying the things you do in life matter.
Londrigan agrees with Schmidt that judges do strive for fairness in their decisions, but believes there is a perception in the community that justice isn’t always dispensed equally.
