Issues

Why do we need to consider a candidate with Experience?

When it comes to choosing a judge there is no greater requirement in our justice system than experience.  Experience with trials.  Experience with handling heavy case loads.  Experience with developing alternative resolutions so that the system can operate more efficiently.  Don Rizzardi is the only candidate for Madison County District Court (Place 3) that has the experience and credibility to serve on the bench.  Each District Court Judge is responsible for hearing around 11,000 cases per year. Any lack of experience in managing a large case load will cause the court system to become even more backed up than it is now.

Don Rizzardi has prepared over 10,000 cases for trial for the Madison County District Attorney’s Office since he was hired by former District Attorney, now Congressman, Mo Brooks almost 20 years ago. Don has the experience needed to step into the position on day one without slowing down to learn how to manage a large case load.  We can no longer afford the luxury of giving District Court judges a learning curve, they must be prepared to serve the moment they take the bench.  Don Rizzardi is the only candidate equipped with the managerial and case load experience to hit the ground running.

With the restrictive budgets coming to the courts, Don will make the Court more efficient by:

• Ensuring that indigent defendants are actually “indigent”, per the law, before taxpayers pay their legal fees.
• Re-instating a Called Docket system
• Requiring all parties to show up on time
• Requiring attorneys to file conflict notices with the court when their schedule does not work with the docket schedule, allowing for the docket to run without delay.

Don Rizzardi has the experience needed to run a court efficiently on a limited budget.

Why do we need a candidate for District Judge that exhibits Leadership?

At this time, the current role of the Place 3 District Court Judge is to set the rules for drug related offenses. We need someone who has direction and a vision to deal with drug use offenses in a way that makes the defendant take responsibility for their actions and get them the help they need to get off of drugs.

Don Rizzardi, as a member and Unit Supervisor of the District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, has travelled to other municipalities of the U.S. that have successful drug programs. He has found that the one thing that the one thing that they all have in common is that they all use a Team approach to dealing with drug use offenders. Don believes that implementing this Team approach, which consists of members from Therapeutic, Probation, Defense and Prosecution staff, to confer with him to outline on an individual basis the best method to:

• Protect all Victims.
• Insure that the Offender takes responsibility by paying all restitution to any victims.
• Find the appropriate punishment for the offense.
• Find the appropriate rehabilitation program for the Offender’s addiction.

Don Rizzardi is a Leader with a Plan.

Proven Integrity is a must for a District Court Judge!

• Met highest standards with Alabama State Bar Association for ethics and professional conduct for over 20 years.
• Nominated for "Assistant District Attorney of the Year for 2011."
• Will enforce civility and professional conduct amongst attorneys.