Meet the Candidates: Jim Clark - Superior Court Judge Division 4
The Yuma Sun is spotlighting the candidates ahead of the Nov. 6 general election. David Haws and Jim Clark are the candidates running for Yuma County Superior Court Judge Division 4. Check out past editions of Meet the Candidates online at www.YumaSun.com /Elections.
Name: Jim Clark
Age: 66
Office running for: Yuma County Superior Court judge, Division 4
Family: Married to Lili Clark, two children, three grandchildren
Party: N/A
Education: Bachelor of arts degree and law degree, University of Arizona
Employment: Attorney in private practice
To what organizations do you belong? State Bar of Arizona, American Trial Lawyers Association, American Board of Trial Advocates
What in your past experiences helps qualify you for this seat?
• Graduated in the top 20 percent of my law class
• Former prosecutor in Yuma County
• Civil trial lawyer for the past 30 years in Yuma County
• Have tried hundreds of trials, jury and non-jury, to verdict
• Have handled over 20 appeals to the Arizona Supreme Court and the Arizona Court of Appeals.
• Have been recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Arizona
• Have acted as an arbitrator and mediator in numerous civil cases
• This experience has prepared me to perform effectively and fairly as a Superior Court judge in Yuma County.
If elected, what is the one issue on which you would focus to improve Yuma's quality of life? How? Yuma is growing. While growth is a good thing, it presents challenges. The court system must keep pace with the growth of the county and the challenges that growth presents. I would work hard to protect the rights of all persons as the county continues to grow.
What do you think is the biggest challenge right now facing Yumans, and how would you change it? The rapid growth of Yuma County presents a significant challenge to the administration of justice in Yuma County. My job as Superior Court judge requires me to fairly apply (not make) the law set forth by the Arizona appellate courts.
What would you do to make government more accessible? As Superior Court judge, I would maintain an open-door policy and make certain that justice is applied fairly and equally to all people.
Who is your personal hero, and why? My father. He was a man of great integrity and kindness. He met life's challenges, good and bad, without fanfare or complaint.
