Page 8 October 2011 This month’s report from Judge Sarkis There are many instances when serving as justice of the peace is a dif fi cult task. The main reason is because people often look to the judge as the last resort. Also, many people come to court under the assumption that a judge can and should twist the law to help them. People are often convinced that their speci fi c situation warrants not only special attention, but a special outcome. What people fail to realize is that a judge takes an oath to follow the law, not to bend it, twist it, or rewrite it. Individuals often come into court, begging and pleading for leniency in one form or another. They ask the question: “Isn’t there anything you can do?” Unfortunately, the answer is no. In Arizona, the law does not recognize fi nancial hardship as a valid legal defense. Yet even a crystal clear piece of legislation does not make the dif fi cult task of personally enforcing the law any easier. For instance, it is hard when a single mother comes into court, children in tow, and as a result of her fi nancial struggles is being evicted for non-payment of rent. In the same case, I also realize there is a landlord who is now struggling to pay his own mortgage based upon his tenants’ failure to pay rent. Although in my heart of hearts I would like to do something for this single mother, this is not what I have been elected to do. I have been elected by the people to uphold and enforce the law, not to arbitrarily decide who is deemed worthy of a break. However, rest assured that in cases such as these, information and resources are given to the struggling individuals that can assist them in getting fi nancial assistance or, in the worst case, shelters. Lastly, try to imagine a legal system in which judges simply used their discretion in every single case. A scary thought. There would be no reliability, no consistency, and likely no faith in the legal system. Thankfully, the law does not allow a judge the discretion to pick and choose who is deemed worthy of leniency and who is not. Steven Sarkis is the justice of the peace for the Arcadia Biltmore Justice Court. lence • • • tifulness • bounty • caritas • c ti i i if fulness • bounty • caritas • c c c owship • generosity • goodness • goodwi ow w w ws ship • generosity • goodness • goodw w w wi maneness • humanity • comfort • kin ma a a an neness • humanity • comfort • ki i in n n y • love • magnanimity • mercy tenderhe y y y • love • magnanimity • mercy tenderh h h he e ring • caring • loving endowment • a r ri i ing • caring • loving endowment • a a a tribution • help • love share • car t tr r r ribution • help • love share • c ca a ar ection • agape altruism • amity • at ec c ction • agape altruism • amity • a a at evolence • benignity bountifulness e ev v v volence • benignity bountifulness s s itas • clemency • fellowship • gene it t t ta as • clemency • fellowship • gen n n ne ss • goodwill • grace • humaneness • s s ss s • goodwill • grace • humaneness • • • t • ki love share • care • love • affe love share • care • love • aff f f fe e altruism • amity • attachment • be al l ltruism • amity • attachment • be e g g gn n n nity b THINK PINK o o ss en y • love • mag or ort t • • ki kind ndli lin ness • l lenity • love • mag cy tenderheartedness • sharing • c cy tenderheartedness • sharing • c endowment • assistance • cont b endowment • assistance • contrib l lov ove h share s o ort • kindli l lov ove e sh shar are e • • care l l o ort • kindli love share PINKLIGHTDISTRICT.ORG Apparel Shoes Accessories The hottest Fall styles The hottest Fall styles at super-low prices right at super-low prices right in your neighborhood! in your neighborhood! ( (Psst! If you like H&M Psst! If you like H&M & Forever 21, check out & Forever 21, check out The Clothing Co.! The Clothing Co.! )) THE CLOTHING CO. 3833 E. Thomas Rd. Suite A4 ~ Near PetSmart 602.273.9794 Hours: 10-9 M-Sat, 11-7 Sun Now Available! Now Available! Medical Uniforms Dickies Medical Tops $5.99 Must present coupon. Expires 10/31/11. Reg. $8.99

2601 E. Indian School Rd. Phx, 85016 4 M-F 10am - 6pm 4 Sat 10am - 5pm 4 We will be open Sundays starting 9/25 11am-4pm 4 602-840-7387 Come and see why our customers are saying there’s no other place like it! The SECRET Village Dear Neighbors, mers r r r r r r r r r oth t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t he th h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h er p pla l l l p it! t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t ce e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e lik i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i lik lik l Rd hx P sto n c n ge cu e e T T T Th h T T T T T Greeting Cards Stationary Home Accents Furniture Table Top Apparel Hand Bags Costume Jewelry Sunglasses & Readers Dog & Cat Boutique Lighting Florals Bath & Body Garden Baby & Kids Holiday Bridal Registry Expires 11/2/11. Not valid with any other promotion. Coupon will be redeemed at time of purchase. Greeting Cards Stationary St Home Accents Furniture Table Top Apparel Hand Bags Costume Jew wel lry y Sunglasses & & R Rea aders Dog & Cat B Bou utique e tique t q Lighting Florals Ba at th & Body y Garden G G G Gar a a a a a Ga Baby & Kids Ba Holiday Bridal Regi str 25% off any one piece of furniture or table lamp from our great selection! It’s exciting going into our seventh month of developing a new concept of retailing for today; the receptive acceptance offered from our customers has been very inspiring. We really do listen to what our customers are saying, and with their comments the fun atmosphere and assortment of products keeps getting better and better! Our vision from the beginning was to establish a friendly neighborhood surrounding of retail stores that would sell unusual merchandise along with everyday fine products at reasonable prices. As buyers we shop the globe for fun and useful gifts that will appeal to even the most particular customer. Come in to see our specialty departments and all of our new exciting holiday items arriving daily. There are many gifts to choose from; we even offer bridal registry for that special encore bride! Now that the holidays are fast approaching, consider our easy layaway program, we will store your gifts for your family member, friend, or you. Soon our third 10,000 sq. ft. building will be open with an expanded selection of modern home accents, an innovative book department, more women and men’s apparel and a large selection of children’s educational books, toys and games. The new children’s department will have baby registry and birthday registry available for that special little one in your life. A new gift wrapping department will also be unveiled in the new building which will have everything you will need to give that gift “WOW! is that gift for me?” factor. The additional building will also have much, much more-- and all at reasonable prices. So if you’ve never been here or haven’t visited us in a couple of months you are in for a surprising treat! We hope to meet you soon! Frank & Bonnie Mineo egi str ry y reas even ven Com Co C C C daily. Th daily d bride! No brid b b b br b b store your g Soon ou home accent selection of c ha have baby re A new gif whic for me al a l at reas couple of