At the announcement in the Trigg County District courtroom Tuesday, Jan. 31, Redd introduced McCaslin to the standing-room only crowd as “a man who has served our circuit for many years” who “is allowing me to come and take his place for a little while and is willing to train me up on some on-the-job training.”
McCaslin’s term, for which Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed Redd to complete, expires in December.
With a simple wave and a vow to “[keep] on keeping on,” McCaslin exited through a side-door to the offices of the circuit clerk. It was, quite literally, out with the old.
Redd began his speech proper by recounting a trip to Frankfort he’d made a few days prior.
“When I drove up, I parked right in front of the Capital building — as if no one was there but me, even though the legislature was in session,” he said.
“And I walked up those steps and it was just a tremendously emotional and joyful moment for me … my only regret was that I was all by myself, I didn’t have my friends and family to share it with,” he said. “That’s why I’ve asked you here today.”
Redd said his family’s make-up, one of civics teachers and tobacco farmers alike, instilled in him a great love of democracy and history with a work ethic to match.
Redd said the nature of the district court system will allow him to have a great impact on the lives of others.
“In the district court system, we have over 80 percent of the interactions of the public with the courts,” he said. “It is my desire to simply impart to each person who comes to me that love of people that I have and also a desire to treat everyone with respect and dignity — even lawyers from time to time.”
“My only other goal would be to work with Judge Clark (who also presides over the 56th District), whose been working hard to establish drug courts in our area,” he said. “I’m very excited about that.”
Redd’s steady voice became slightly shake once, as he stood with his wife Kendra and their three children.
For the rest of this story, please see this week's edition of The Cadiz Record.
