David C. Payne has been elected as Circuit Judge for the 6th District, 2nd Divison, beating challenger Leigh A. Jackson.
Payne received 20,108 votes, compared to Jackson’s 14,491. The Circuit seat was left vacant after Lisa Payne Jones was appointed to the Court of Appeals.
During an event prior to the election, Payne, a district court judge with 25 years on the bench, cited his deep judicial experience as a key asset. Payne highlighted his long tenure presiding over thousands of cases and his ability to balance strict sentencing with compassion for rehabilitation efforts, such as drug treatment and mental health programs.
“I’ve shown the strength to send people to jail when that was the right thing to do but also have shown compassion to help people stay out of jail,” Payne said at the event, emphasizing his commitment to fairness and professionalism.
