Judge Ashley reappointed
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Chandler resident Susan Ashley was reappointed as Municipal Court Judge on Tuesday, Sept. 11, for another two year term to end in October of 2009. Judge Susan Ashley will have presided over the Chandler Municipal Court for 12 years as of October.

Jim Moffeit, Chandler city administrator, said Ashley serves in court a few times a month, and mostly for traffic citations.

"Sometimes people think they're innocent and they want a trial," Moffeit said.

Moffeit also said the municipal court opens at 3 pm in the afternoon on days it meets.

"The court can see as many as 50-60 cases in a day," Moffeit remarked.

In August, the Chandler police department wrote 289 citations, Moffeit said.

"A good percentage come in and pay," Moffeit said, "but some want to see the judge."

Judge Susan Ashley herself, a full time employee at Southside Bank in Tyler, said she was hired as the Chandler Municipal Court judge after much prayer and consideration.

"It's my way of giving back to the community," Ashley said.

Ashley said she does not have a law degree, but she also said municipal court judges aren't required to have one. For Ashley, deciding matters of law is something done only part-time.

Moffeit said he thinks Ashley's reappointment is a good thing.

"You never want to give away 10 years of experience if you can keep it on the bench," Moffeit said. "Her understanding and interpretation of the law. you can't get someone off the street with that kind of knowledge. "

Ashley will serve the court system as her reappointments dictate, Judge Ashley said. When the city council stops reappointing her, Ashley will stop serving as judge.

The municipal court is already seeing a change in its operations, Ashley added.

"We're trying some new things. Instead of having court from 5 to 7 pm a few times a month, we'll be having it from 3 to 6 pm," Ashley commented.

Ashley also said she will strive to present the law as it is.

"It's all about trying to be fair. The law's the law, and everyone has to abide by it," Ashley said.

Chandler City Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in the Chandler City Hall.