Attorney Jacqueline Buyze running for County Court judgeship

Jacqueline Buyze knows how important it is for the regular folks frequenting county court to have confidence in the person in the black robes sitting behind the bench.

While Buyze, 44, is a civil trial lawyer who represents mostly commercial construction and real estate clients, she has handled cases in county court, which is where defendants charged with misdemeanors and people who file small claims lawsuits have their cases heard.

So Buyze said Thursday she believes while a judge should command respect, he should also show respect for those who appear before him. She said she promises that as one of two people who have announced their candidacy for Collier County judge.

Buyze, who has been an attorney for seven years and a Naples resident since 1986, said she’s running for the newly created position because she wants to continue to instill the confidence of the public in the judiciary.

“I think they need to feel like they can bring their case to court and be treated fairly. That’s a fundamental constitutional right. But being in court can be intimidating. They need to feel like they can have their grievances properly addressed by the judiciary,” Buyze said.

Buyze, who is in private practice with the law firm of Grant, Fridkin, Pearson, Athan & Crown, has limited criminal law experience, having interned at the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office while in college. She handled juvenile cases there and since then has extensive civil court experience in state and federal court.

She’s also the outgoing president of the Collier County Women’s Bar Association. She also organized a statewide literacy and mentoring program, Breakfast & Books, which provides books and assistance for students at PACE Centers for Girls in Immokalee.

Buyze’s only opponent in the campaign to file so far is Naples attorney and former Collier County Republican Party Executive Committee Chairman Mike Carr. The election will be Sept. 5 on the primary ballot.

Buyze’s campaign has scheduled its first fundraising event for 5:30 p.m. July 13 at Zoe’s on Fifth Avenue South in Naples.