Brewster city judge values connections over collections

Judge Alex Thomason

MIKE MALTAIS/WARD MEDIA

BREWSTER—After listening to Judge Alex Thomason's approach to citizens who appear in his chambers at city hall, one almost wants to get a citation just to experience the creative and engaging manner he adopts with locals and visitors alike.

Judge Thomason of Valor Law Group in Pateros has presided over Brewster’s city court for more than two years now. While he jokingly refers to his office as “the world’s smallest and least influential position,” it is an important position “because I get a chance to interact with citizens and visitors,” Thomason told councilmembers.

Thomason is astutely aware of the influence his decisions have over the attitudes of both residents and visitors regarding the law, the city, and even themselves. 

“I run a court not for purposes of making a collection around but an education around,” said Thomason.

As an example, Thomason explained that when a visitor is cited for a vehicle infraction, he not only takes the time to learn more about the out-of-towners but also the oversights that led to the citation and how the city can provide greater clarity for future visitors. He often reduces payment for an infraction to a minimum for an offender who acknowledges the city’s costs for policing and signage in fairness to both parties of the issue.

“Every single person has thanked me because we get the chance to walk through the law and municipal code,” Thomason said of what is a valuable teaching tool he uses for his high school cases.

Thomason highlighted one occasion with a student where his investment in explaining the law and prompting reasoned defense produced enlightened results. The student protested his citation for driving without headlights after dusk. Thomason had a suggestion. 

“Let’s read the statute,” said Thomason.

Together they reviewed the applicable Brewster Municipal Code. Thomason asked for specific details:

What time was the ticket? 

What day was it? 

What time was sunset?

Revisiting each detail the student discovered the time of his citation was at 8:15 p.m.

“Oh wait,” he noticed. “Hey, sunset wasn’t until 8:17!”

“What’s your point?” Thomason asked.

“That means I couldn’t get a ticket because it wasn’t after sunset,” the student said.

“Do you have a motion or request of the court?” Thomason asked.

“Yes, I don’t think I should have a ticket,” was the response.

“Why don’t you rephrase it in a way that I would consider it,” Thomason asked.

By the end of the exchange, the student realized that he could not only work with the legal system but also liked it, enough so to consider it a career path.

“I think I want to be a lawyer,” he told Thomason.

“That turns your head,” Thomason told the council.

He noted that the county is reconsidering some practices to reduce financial hardship cases.

“It used to be that if you had your license suspended third degree, it was a crime, an arrestable offense,” said Thomason. “Here we don’t charge that way…and the county is actually switching that very shortly, and the county prosecutor’s office is not going to charge that either.”

Thomason explained that the old process perpetuates cases where people are stuck in a cycle of poverty, no auto insurance, and penalties that endlessly repeat. He cited his own efforts to break that cycle as an example of a more positive outcome.

“I have people I have been able to…continue their hearings every few months and walk them through how to get their license and how to get their insurance,” said Thomason. “Now they are driving with licenses, with insurance. We have four or five of those people who had never had a license before, and now they have it.”

“I like your approach,” said Mayor Art Smyth. “Nobody is looking for a court or local tickets as a cash cow. We want to educate and change behavior.”

Thomason said he encouraged any feedback from his audience.

“I serve at the pleasure of the council and the mayor,” said Thomason. “I see this as a way to interact with people and make them come into the city. I welcome any thoughts that you want the court to focus on.”

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media