A political question-and-answer session isn't usually the first thing one would expect to find at a Downtown nightclub.
Three district judges up for re-election in Bernalillo County fielded questions from young people at Sauce on Saturday.
The three judges aren't running against each other and say the biggest difference between them and their opponents is qualifications.
"All three of us have gone through the judicial selection process, which is made up of a bipartisan group of 20 individuals who reviewed our qualifications," said Linda Vanzi, a civil judge in Division 4. "Our opponents just meet the minimum constitutional requirements of being 35 and an attorney for six years."
Valerie Huling, Nan Nash and Vanzi handed pamphlets out and talked to the crowd one-on-one before standing together to answer questions.
"Everybody is underestimating what the young people are going to do in this election," Vanzi said. "You guys are going to make the difference."
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Division 13 Judge Huling said she is worried people are only concerned with the presidential elections, not local contests in which candidates have a more immediate effect on their lives.
"We appreciate that people let us speak and want to find out about what we do and who we are because we know that you will go down the ballot and vote for judges," she said.
Nash, a family court judge in Division 17, clarified which cases are handled in civil court.
The court handles name changes, class-action suits, property disputes, medical malpractice, personal injury and voter ID cases.
Nash told audience members they should be aware of their options if they show up to vote and are turned away because of voter ID laws.
She said there is a huge push under way to have poll watchers available at poll sites for voters to talk to.
Vanzi said students can participate in local elections by signing up to be watchers.
Regarding sentencing procedures, Nash said throwing people in jail just isn't a viable option all the time.
"Whatever your moral position or political position, we can't afford to just lock up all our people," she said. "We need to look at different sorts of programs."
Vanzi mentioned a progressive drug treatment program that mixes rehabilitation with punishment.
Huling said she would like to see more people take advantage of public courthouses. Anyone interested in how elected judges operate can attend court sessions open to the public.
"The courthouse belongs to you," she said. "I tell people all the time it's there."
Defend America and the League of Pissed off Voters put the event together. County Clerk Mary Herrera, Dist. 31 House Rep. candidate Michael Corwin and Public Regulation Commission candidate Jason Marks also attended.
