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Name, age and address: Kevin T. McMurry, 37, Newnan.

Occupation: Senior assistant district attorney.

Education: Graduated in May 1997 from Baylor University with a B.B.A. in finance and entrepreneurship. Graduated in May 2000 with a juris doctorate from Georgia State College of Law. Graduated in May 2000 from J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University with a masters of business administration degree.

FAmily: Married to Carolyn for 10years and we have four children, ages 2 to 7.

Relevant Experience:

A superior court judge presides over both civil and criminal cases. Thus, it is important to have experience in both. As an assistant district attorney, I prosecuted and tried cases of murder, robbery, child abuse and other felonies. As a civil attorney, I tried civil cases and defended State entities on civil rights claims.

Why are you running?

As an attorney and a prosecutor with over a decade of experience in the practice of law, I have appeared before numerous judges and have had the privilege of serving our citizens as a prosecutor fighting to bring criminals to justice. I have seen good and bad judges. As to the bad judges, I’m running to bring character and fairness to the bench. I want to continue to serve my community only this time in a capacity as a judge.

I believe a judge should, above all things seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God. First, a judge presides over cases and he or she should seek to do justice in every one of them. Justice requires a fair hearing, impartiality and a strict adherence to the law. This effort to seek justice should be at the forefront of any judge’s mind.

Secondly, justice alone can be harsh. Justice demands punishment and payment for the debt owed to society or to others for wrongs that have been inflicted, but justice must be tempered with mercy. For every judge, there is within his power the ability to legally, fairly and rightly offer mercy when the circumstances warrant it.

Finally, judges must seek to lead with humility. All judges are servants of the people who elected them and the authority given to them is temporary; they are accountable to you. There should be in each judge a desire to bear this great responsibility with humility and with recognition that he does not have all the right answers. Wisdom comes from God. Therefore, a judge should seek the source of all wisdom daily as he weighs the matters before him.

What are the biggest issues in superior court right now?

In Georgia, 35 judges have resigned in the past three years due to ethics investigations. We have a crisis of character on the bench. This crisis shakes the public’s trust in our judiciary and must be remedied.

What can you do to address the issues?

I want to be part of bringing character, experience and fairness to the bench by working towards the goals I described.