- March 12, 2025
What is an example of a tough decision you’ve had to make that would illustrate your abilities as a judge?
I am assigned to one of the most serious felony divisions in the circuit. I advise persons on matters that will impact their lives for decades.
Regularly, I deal with persons who profess innocence and are accused of crimes with a possibility of life in prison. Often, the evidence is questionable, hinging on unreliable testimony. The state, recognizing the weakness in the case, will make what seems to be a generous offer — for example, offering to recommend a 15-year sentence rather than life. To have the sentence reduced, the young person is asked to give up his right to a jury trial and enter a guilty plea to the charge.
It is my responsibility to recommend the best course of action under the circumstances. It is incumbent on me to be prepared in every case. I must educate myself on the facts and applicable law, be a good listener and evaluate the credibility of witnesses. Only then can I give my best professional recommendation for the client.
These decisions are made against a backdrop of my handling numerous (other) serious cases at the same time. These are the types of decisions I will be dealing with as Judge. I will continue to work diligently, to know the facts and law in each case, to listen to both sides with an open mind and then make the proper and fair decision required to do justice.
What evidence can you provide that shows you have the right demeanor to be judge?
Judicial demeanor is one of the most difficult qualities to measure in an aspirant to the bench.
For the most part, everyone is respectful in court. To really know a person’s true temperament, one would need to know how the candidate treats everyone — opposing counsel, clerks, bailiffs, witnesses and clients — while not in open court. I encourage (anyone) to speak with as many persons as possible in the Volusia, St. Johns and Flagler judicial systems concerning my potential judicial demeanor. I feel most, if not all, will say that proper judicial demeanor is one of my strongest attributes.
Why should people vote for you instead of your opponent?
My life’s experience has prepared me to be Flagler County’s next judge. I was raised here and my parents and teachers instilled in me the importance of treating everyone with respect. From childhood I have been surrounded by and mentored by the most gifted and respected judges and attorneys in our community.
I have “real world” experience that permits me to bring to the bench a unique perspective. Before starting my law career, I worked with construction workers helping to rebuild the Pentagon after 9/11. I obtained my Master’s Degree in Education and worked with troubled teens and their families in a tough school system near Atlanta. Over the past six years, I have handled more cases (4,000) than most attorneys handle in a lifetime.
Most folks in the legal profession, having gone straight from the ivory tower of academia to the ivory tower of the courthouse, remain insulated and isolated from the “real world” and become insensitive to the challenges facing folks who struggle every day to make ends meet and provide for their families. These lawyers can be oblivious to the impact the system has on people’s lives. A common example is seen in the person subpoenaed several times for a case that will be continued on a whim, resulting in a job lost, a financial disaster for a family and a small business needlessly impacted.
I have the integrity, intelligence and industriousness needed to deal with our ever-increasing caseloads. I have the experience and temperament to be the fair and firm judge needed to serve the citizens of Flagler County.
Following the questionnaire, we had each candidate come in for a follow-up interview, a sample of Atack’s responses is compiled below.
“The real job of a judge … is to be able to work with the plaintiffs, (and I have) experience as an assistant public defender. (I have experience) experience teaching at-risk kids, high school kids. (I have) experience working on a labor crew. (I have) experience working in restaurants. I’ve had a number of jobs and real-world experience that make me prepared.
“(Experience) could be the most important thing about a county judge. … People consider county court the peoples’ court. … When I say my real world experience is important, I think the most important thing for any county judge is to be able to have some amount of compassion and relatability with everyday people who maybe didn’t just go from high school to undergraduate school to law school, like a lot of lawyers do. … As an assistant public defender, my experience has really been accelerated. I’m in the court room all the time, which is different than some lawyers.”
Less valuable than experience, Atack says, are certifications.
“The reason you would (become board-certified) is so you can say, ‘I’m board certified; you should hire me.’ I understand from a lot of peoples’ perspectives how the court system affects people. … I think the distinction) would be … I’ve had other jobs, and that’s important to presiding over people who come from a wide array of life experiences.”
The “real job of a judge,” according to Atack, is to be able to work with plaintiffs. He also sees one of his strongest attributes as being his work ethic, which he says has been exemplified in his campaign for judge.
“Since January … I’ve walked (to) almost 4,000 different houses. (That’s how) I spend my weekends. I go there after work. I walk neighborhoods.”
