NORMAN — By Mick Hinton
Charles Broadway, who is challenging Cleveland County District Judge Lori Walkley in the Nov. 2 general election, says that the judge’s record shows she is “soft on crime.”
Walkley responds that her opponent is making judgments with only limited information about court cases where she has presided.
Broadway cited a case where a man was charged with several counts of possessing child pornography but never sent to prison.
“This was a case that bothered me the most,” Broadway said.
Walkley said that Broadway’s version of the case failed to tell the whole story.
“It’s a distortion,” Walkley said. “I have to go by what evidence is presented in each case.”
The man was also charged with distributing sexually explicit materials, but no evidence was presented to the judge that this had occurred, she said.
Two expert witnesses and a state Department of Corrections official testified that they considered the man a low risk to re-offend.
Evidence showed that he was an alcoholic who had abstained from drinking for a year before being sentenced.
Walkley sentenced the man to 65 years in prison, although she suspended the sentence, meaning that if he did not re-offend, he would not be incarcerated.
The judge said if the man re-offends, he can be sent to prison for the rest of his life.
The defendant’s name was added to the state’s Sex Offender Registry.
Walkley said living and working in the Norman community for several years has contributed to her being a good judge.
It is difficult for outsiders to understand what it is like being a judge and presiding over numerous adversarial cases, she said.
Walkley said it is difficult to be a judge and learn what can and cannot be done in cases.
If Walkley is re-elected, she will preside over a death penalty case in January. The judge said she fears that unless an experienced judge hears the case, a conviction could easily be overturned.
Broadway said he has practiced law since 1986. He served as an assistant general counsel at the state Department of Health for eight years.
New state health commissioner Terry Cline terminated Broadway and some other attorneys when Cline took over the agency this summer.
Broadway now works at the state Tax Commission assigned to collect unpaid withholding taxes for the state.
The candidate said it is hard to explain to the public what his administrative job is.
Gov. Brad Henry chose Walkley to fill a Cleveland County district judge post in 2003. The seat was created due to population increases.
Walkley said that the late Judge Alan J. Couch had urged her to run for the post.
In 2006, Walkley ran unopposed for a four-year term.
As of Aug. 8, Walkley had raised $18,825, including contributions from many attorneys.
Broadway said he hoped to raise about $5,000 and might have to put some of his own money into the campaign.
“I want to make it clear that my comments about Walkley are really oriented to her record and not her personally,” Broadway said.
Walkley said, “Ask any attorneys how I perform in the courtroom. The bottom line is accountability.”
Broadway, 55, and his wife Sherry have four children.
Walkley, 45, and her husband Bryan have three children.
