Before I made the decision to run for judge, I had to figure out for myself why this position held such significance for me.

Every summer for the last 9 years my husband and I have gone to his family's cottage on Crystal Lake, in Michigan. One day, as I stood at the end of the dock, I looked down at the water. The water was completely calm. No wind . . . no ripples . . . just smooth as glass.

While I stared at the water, a dragonfly landed on the surface of the water. That action caused a ripple effect, sending ripples from the end of the dock, all the way to the shore. Any other insects, laying on the surface of the water, were affected by that dragonfly's decision of landing on the water.

When a judge makes a ruling from the bench . . . it has the same ripple effect throughout society. For when a judge rules for or against a person, in whatever subject matter before the court, it does not just affect that person. It affects that person's lawyer. It affects that person's family. It affects the victim's family. It affects the opposing party.

A ruling from the bench has the power to cause strong and wide reaching ripples. You may not realize this, but a splash of water from a ripple has already touched your feet.

Maybe a DUI driver can no longer drive in your neighborhood where your children play because of a judge. Maybe you saw a friend, or co-worker, or family member gain or lose access to their children because of a judge. Maybe a judge did not take the time to listen to a person, and that person was so frustrated by that action, that person did not concentrate while driving and got into an accident . . . with you.

The ripples can be small, and merely dampen your toes, or they can be big, and splash up upon you like a wave, when you least expect it. That is a significant position to hold . . . to be at the center of that ripple pool.