It’s not often I chime in on state and national politics, but the recent nomination of Elmore County’s Bill Lewis to the federal bench has me breaking my own rule.

In my time covering crime and courts in Elmore County, my admiration for Lewis has grown. I’ve been in the gallery for a number of trials where he has been on the bench. Almost every single time he knows all the players from prosecutors to defense attorneys, law enforcement and more. Even if they don’t know him, Lewis makes everyone feel welcomed.

Cliff Williams is the news editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.’s Elmore County newspapers. He can be reached at cliff.williams@thewetumpkaherald.com.