HANCOCK COUNTY — Jessica Lacy likes to approach things from a practical standpoint.
When she looks at the judge’s seat up for election in Hancock County Superior Court 1, she feels her experience and compassion make her well-suited for the position.
Lacy, a longtime lawyer, took a hard look at the majority of cases filed in the courtroom in 2018 and realized only a small percentage were actually criminal cases, less than 20 percent, she said. With 18 plus years of experience practicing in all areas of civil law, along with her business and managerial experience, Lacy said it makes her uniquely qualified to fill the judge’s role.
“I also believe that I have the right personality and disposition to be a judicial officer,” Lacy said.
Lacy is one of four candidates running for a six-year term in the June 2 Republican primary. The other candidates are the current Superior Court 1 judge, Marie Castetter, who was appointed to the position in December by Gov. Eric Holcomb; court commissioner Cody Coombs; and attorney D.J. Davis. The winner will move on to the November general election. Stories about the candidates have appeared this week in the Daily Reporter.
Amy Lester, a lifelong friend of Lacy’s who is the mediation coordinator in Lacy’s law office, said Lacy always showed signs of being able to reason with people. That ability to keep an open mind would make her excellent judge, Lester said.
“She’s always had such awesome, independent and creative ideas even as far back as the fourth grade,” Lester said. “She’s got big expectations for her community and life.”
Lacy’s willingness to always be open to hearing all sides of every situation before coming up with an answer or solution is one of her biggest assets, Lester said.
“She’s never one side and is always humble talking to other lawyers the same way she does the cleaning lady,” Lester said.
Lacy has spent time beefing up her social media presence, posting information on how she practices law and her feelings toward the judiciary. “I’m just continuing to do what I’m doing, letting people get to know me and ask questions,” Lacy said.
The most important work Lacy does is to champion families, she said. That’s the main message she is trying to convey to voters.
“I feel like I’m being called to do this for the right reason,” Lacy said.
Lacy has strong beliefs in her community and has been a resident of the county for over a decade. In addition to a law practice, she’s a wife and mother who volunteers her time as a court-appointed guardian representing the needs of children in high-conflict divorce and custody litigation.
She also serves on the boards of two local arts organizations. In addition, Lacy initiated free county Mediation Days in the county to provide pro bono mediation services to help families resolve their disputes, keeping them from spending time in courtrooms.
Family law is the center of her practice, but through decades of work in the courts, Lacy said she’s been able to help those in any and all type of legal trouble.
“Any type on conflict touches the whole family,” Lacy said. “My goal has always been to serve the family, whether that is a criminal need, a financial problem or a death in the family. Help them problem-solve.”
It’s that way of thinking, seeing the big picture, that Lacy feels would make her a good judge, someone in the courts who will keep the whole family in mind when rendering decisions and sentences.
“If I were to take the bench, I think focusing on the family unit is really important because strong families equal a strong community,” Lacy said.
Her tag line is family, community, justice.
Jennifer Ramo was a friend of Lacy’s husband and then met Lacy over a decade ago. They have been friends ever since, Ramo said.
Ramo likes the fact Lacy is level-headed and shares some of her life’s most important values.
“Plus, she’s very measured in her thought process,” Ramo said.
She also likes Lacy’s ability to strip the emotion out of decision-making and think things through logically while also being able to think about long-term effects.
“Those are important things for a judge to be able to do,” Ramo said.
Ramo also likes that Lacy cares passionately about families and likes the fact Lacy has her own daughter, as it helps make her more disciplined to go after higher, more positive changes.
Lacy, like Castetter, is hoping to be the first woman ever elected to a judge’s seat in the county.
“It’s time for our county to have a female judge,” Lacy said.
She has served as a judge pro tempore and presided over probate and family law matters. Over the course of her career, Lacy has tried hundreds of cases as well as mediated hundreds.
Her current law practice focuses primarily on family law, divorce, child custody and support, adoptions and other related matters. She also handles estate planning, probate law and guardianships as well as civil litigation, many of the types of cases that roll through Hancock County Superior Court 1.
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Age: 44
Party: Republican
Office sought: Judge, Hancock Superior Court 1
Political experience: No previous political experience; first time seeking office
Family: Husband, Scott Lacy; one daughter
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The Daily Reporter is presenting profiles of candidates whose names will appear on the primary ballot for county offices. This week, the candidates for Hancock County Superior Court 1 judge have been featured. Stories on candidates in all the other races in the June 2 primary were published earlier and can be found online at www.greenfieldreporter.com.
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