Bazzoli ready to take seat on bench

Six years ago, on June 12, 1999, Aaron Bazolli first took his seat as Elmore County prosecutor. Today he is preparing to leave that office to take a new seat -- this time a seat behind the bench as he succeeds Judge John Sellman to the magistrate court.

Preparations are already underway for the swearing in ceremony on June 24 at 3:30 p.m. in the Elmore County Courthouse. His first day on the bench will be July 1.

"I've enjoyed the prosecutor's office. It has been fun," said Bazolli. "But, I have wanted to be a judge since I was about 10 years old."

As he looked back over the past six year Bazolli noted the prosecutor's office has seen a great increase not only in the number of cases, but in the complexity of cases. Six years ago the prosecutor's office was handling about 110-115 felony cases a year. "Now we are seeing 230 to 250 cases a year," he said. While some of that increase may be due to the county's population growth, he feels the surge in violence reflects the changing nature of society. "Domestic violence is up. We are seeing increasing trends of violence" across the lines, pointing out it is likely due to the biggest increase his office has seen -- drug-related crimes.

Bazolli explains the need to find different ways to look as part of the solution. "We can see that jail and fines don't work in many cases. So we need to deal with these problems in other ways. There are many options out there. We just need to find one to serve the best interest of the community and of the defendant."

Working with the Community Justice Coalition, he said the group tries to come up with programs and ideas to treat people before they must face the courts and possible jail sentences.

"Judges are stewards of the community," said Bazolli. They may be bound by law, but they want to be involved in the community, he said, to help develop programs that will meets the needs of society. Once a person is in the court system, we hope to develop some alternatives that will meet the people's needs.

Criminal cases will not be the only thing to fill the new judge's calendar. Bazolli noted the magistrate court is truly the 'people's court.' The court is there to help find a resolution for disputes, to resolve conflict.

He feels his nine years as a lawyer have provided him with the experience needed to handle his new duties. "It has been an intense learning experience both with the number of trials and the types of cases. It has been a good training ground for the magistrate."

Still, he pointed out, it will be a challenge to fill the shoes of the legacy Judge Sellman leaves behind after his 29 years on the bench.

Now he looks forward to working together with Judge Epis in a different light -- not as the prosecutor, but as a fellow magistrate. Bazolli notes that for a while, Judge Epis will handle all of the active county cases so there will be no conflict of interest. Bazolli will oversee city cases and then gradually as new county cases come in he will begin hearing those.