Tyler attorney and mediator Mike Patterson said becoming the next Smith County Court at Law judge is the next logical step in his 36-year legal career.

“I have been lead counsel in over 100 jury trials and mediated almost 2,000 civil cases. This experience in both civil and criminal matters is what sets me apart,” Patterson said announcing his run for the office soon to be vacated by the retiring Judge Thomas Dunn at the end of 2014.

Patterson is hesitant to talk about any changes he would make to the court if he were elected to that office. “I have a lot of respect for Judge Dunn and it would be presumptuous of me to talk about changes,” he said. Because everyone does everything differently, there would be some differences, Patterson said. “Most importantly, I will have an open mind and will fairly and expeditiously handle cases before me,” he said.

Patterson, a Republican and a Tyler resident since 1980, has a wide range of experience and community involvement, according to his news release. He served four years as a prosecutor in Dallas and Smith Counties, 15 years in civil practice and for the past 17 years as a mediator.

The SMU School of Law has served in leadership roles for legal and community organizations, including president of the Association of Attorney Mediators, and is a member of the Tyler 1st Steering Committee as well as a volunteer mediator with the Better Business Bureau. Patterson has been president of the Smith County Bar Association and the Smith County Bar Foundation as well as Chairman of the city of Tyler’s Historic Preservation Board.

Patterson said he has been humbled by the bi-partisan support that he has received from a large cross-section of the community. He said he agrees with U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ assessment of a judge’s role when Roberts likened a judge to an umpire.

“Umpires don’t make the rules; they apply them,” Roberts said. “The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules. But it is a limited role. Nobody ever went to a ballgame to see the umpire,” he said.

Mike and his wife Penny, a physical therapist, have five grown children and 11 grandchildren.