Pfister, Lloyd vie for Probate Judge position

Aug. 01--WARRENSBURG -- Attorneys Chad Pfister, 33, and David Lloyd, 51, seek election to associate judge of the probate division of the Johnson County Circuit Court to replace longtime Probate Judge Robin Crouch, who is retiring.

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The probate judge handles cases involving the estates of minors, the deceased and those unable to manage their own estates; litigation involving wills and trusts; civil commitments to treatment facilities for mentally ill people or drug addicts; and sexually violent predators. The office also handles cases transferred by other judges due to issues including conflicts of interest.

Pfister is employed with the Harris, Harris & Gilbert law firm in Warrensburg. He moved to Johnson County in 1993 with his Air Force family, which elected to remain here after his father retired from service. Pfister attended school in Warrensburg and graduated from Knob Noster High School as class salutatorian. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Missouri, he entered law school at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

After graduation, he returned to UMC, serving as a project specialist under the vice chancellor of administrative services. His duties included overseeing emergency management for the campus and managing a portion of the university's contracts.

He returned six years ago to practice law and said Johnson County is now his home.

Lloyd is in private practice in Warrensburg. A native of Sedalia, he graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in 1981 and received a bachelor's degree from DeVry Institute of Technology. Following graduation he worked in the electronics field for 12 years, the last seven as a technician on anesthesia machines in western Missouri and Kansas.

With a growing family to support, he decided he needed more education, and he returned to school in 1996. Lloyd received a law degree in 1999 and settled in rural Johnson County. He worked for the Public Defenders Office in Sedalia for about a year before opening his law office here in July 2000.

The candidates answered these Star-Journal questions:

Why are you running?

Pfister said he hopes to help the judicial system "take great steps forward" if he wins the Republican nomination for associate judge of the probate division of Johnson County Circuit Court in the August primary election.

"We've got a great system here, and we produce great judges," he said.

Serving as probate judge, "would be an opportunity to continue the great work all the people before me have done," he said.

"Johnson County is my home. ... I would love to serve the people of Johnson County," he said.

Lloyd said a group "who wanted an alternative" asked him to run.

"I always had a goal to be a judge. I feel my personality is more suited to being a judge than an advocate. In most cases, I want to know who's right and wrong. I've always tried to work with reason," he said.

Lloyd said the election seemed an opportune time to seek election.

What makes you the best-qualified candidate for the position?

Pfister said he focused on business law, estate planning and the probate process in law school at Valparaiso University, Ind.

"It's something I've always found very interesting," he said.

He said his experience growing up in a military family, his education and his professional experience have prepared him for the job.

During his tenure with Harris, Harris & Gilbert, he said, "I've had the opportunity to help thousands of people in Johnson County," both private clients and in cities the practice serves as city attorney.

"I understand the issues people in Johnson County face," Pfister said. "I grew up in the military and I understand the troubles ... and the struggles they deal with," such as fathers and mothers deployed to war zones.

Personal and professional experience, he said, has given him the experience to maintain a fair and impartial courtroom "and guarantee everybody a fair shake. ... That's what I will provide if elected."

He said, "People will know they have a good, fair, impartial judge."

Lloyd said his 14 years running his law business and his life experiences "and the way I deal with people" make him the best-qualified candidate.

"I have a lot of sympathy for people," he said. "My father died when I was 5, and I've seen what happens to widows and fatherless kids. I've based a lot of decision on caring for people, not money."

Lloyd said, "Most of the people who support me are people I met in the law business. ... I think I would give people a fair shake and let them say their piece in court and not be biased. ... I'd be fair and even-handed.

"I believe I am the people's choice candidate because people drafted me to run."

What issues face the court?

Pfister: "One of the issues facing the court system here is the implementation of e-filing."

Attorneys and the public now file court papers in person at the Justice Center, but once e-filing is implemented fully, he said, attorneys or staff members will file electronically from their offices via Case.net.

The system will not be completely paperless, he said, because some things, like original wills, will have to be paper-filed. Pro se parties involved in divorces and other court actions also will bring in paper filings that will be scanned into the system, he said.

"That's the biggest change we'll see in courts in Johnson County," he said. "Every other county around already has (e-filing)."

Lloyd said, "Judge Crouch has done an admirable job as judge of the Probate Court. I'd like to carry on the tradition of excellence. ... I think all the judges of the Johnson County Court have maintained a high standard of excellence and I'd like to fit in with that tradition.

"I'd be happy to get the job and assess later if changes need to be made."

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