A Conversation With ... Jason Brown

We do a whole variety of both civil and criminal matters. That includes small claims, landlord-tenant matters, traffic matters; it includes misdemeanor trials and felonies up and through the preliminary hearing stage; and it also, on civil matters, includes matters where less than $25,000 is in dispute. … We also have the same powers as a circuit judge, and it’s not uncommon for us to handle circuit-level cases if all the circuit judges have been disqualified or have disqualified themselves. We also have been assisting our Family Court judges in some uncontested divorces and some contested temporary visitation and custody matters.

What is your workload like?

Workload is probably best defined in the amount of files. It’s not uncommon on any given morning to go through about 150 files. We start court either at 8:30 or 8:45 (in the morning) and we end when the days are done. ... But then, of course, there’s office work to do – issuing warrants and going through files – and then a lot of administrative work. There are some days that we get done before 5 o’clock; there are some days that we’re here long after. It just depends; every day is different.

What drew you to the legal profession initially?

Initially, I went to law school not necessarily with the intent to be a lawyer, even, but for the great education. It’s a balanced education that I think prepares you for many aspects of life, whether it be business or law or something else. There are a lot of famous people around who have legal educations: Tony LaRussa, Howard Cosell, a lot of congressmen and senators, a lot of real estate developers. Law is a very good education background for many fields. But once I went to law school, I really liked the mock trial classes … and really liked litigation and the courtroom – presenting the facts and arguing law. … I was a lawyer for 16 years before I took the bench on Jan. 1 of ’05. It is my first judgeship. I initially was appointed, and I was elected last November.

What is the thing you like best about being a judge?

The variety of cases. No two days are alike, and I like the fast-paced excitement. We all have to switch very quickly and very often throughout each day from a criminal matter to a civil matter and back to a criminal matter. ... I like the interaction with the people and their lawyers, and the excitement of trials and hearing the story of every case. … I like ferreting out and getting to the bottom of what’s the story here, what really happened, and what’s the fair resolution of it.

What is the hardest thing about being a judge?

Everything about it is a double edge. The fast pace keeps things exciting and fresh; on the other hand, it’s challenging to give each case the amount of time it deserves, given the amount of volume. … I need to move things along and get through everything and not have people wait forever; on the other hand, I don’t want to cut short somebody who thinks they have something important to say about their case.

What about the future? Where do you see Judge Jason Brown in the next five years?

My term now is four years, and I certainly intend and hope to be elected again. I love what I’m doing and hope to keep it. Whether or not there’d be any opportunities for different types of judgeships in the future, it’s just pie in the sky at this point. For now, I just hope to keep on doing what I’m doing.

Tell me a little bit about your family and your spare time pursuits:

My wife (Julie Brown née Turner) is a lawyer at Carnahan Evans, and she does corporate banking and estate planning work. We have two kids – a seventh-grade boy and a fourth-grade girl – who attend school in Springfield. I play basketball, tennis and ice hockey. … I’m also a volunteer judge at Greene County Teen Court and coach my daughter’s basketball team.