As of May 13, 2009, George Johnson was terminated by AHA as the Judges and Stewards Commissioner. According to Glenn Petty, the passage of resolution 35-08 at the convention last November has changed the job description of the Judges and Stewards Commissioner. “Basically, what has changed is that this job has moved from being an attorney position to a senior judge position, similar to what is in effect with the AQHA. It requires someone who is either a senior judge or steward with the knowledge and respect of their peers. This individual does not need

to be an attorney, but would have to know when to solicit legal action.”

 

RESOLUTION:
Whereas, Under the original 5-90, the Commissioner was empowered to take action which he deemed appropriate in any matter in which the Commissioner considers, in his sole opinion, that failure to act immediately will result in immediate and irreparable harm to the public or exhibitor’s confidence in the conduct of the Judges or Stewards of an AHA approved competition; and
Whereas, This empowerment was removed by resolution 16-00 which shifted said responsibility to the competition officials or management; and 
Whereas, In the opinion of the proponent, the Commissioner needs the authority originally created by 5-90 restored so as to effectuate the original purpose and intent of 5-90; and
Whereas, That the Commissioner’s office should be responsible for the ongoing evaluation of Judges and Stewards in terms of their actual judging performance and compliance with the class specifications and procedures and all other matters involving a Judge’s or Steward’s performance; and
Whereas, the Commissioner needs the authority to convene peer review panel(s) to assist the office in evaluating judges’ performance; and
Whereas, the Commissioner should have the authority to warn, suspend, require more education of, or remove a judge or steward from the AHA Approved Judges and Stewards List, subject to a review by the Education and Evaluation Commission if so requested; Therefore Be It
Resolved, That the Commissioner’s office shall be responsible for the ongoing evaluation of judges and stewards in terms of their actual judging performance and compliance with the class specifications and procedures and all other matters involving a judge’s or steward’s performance; and, Be It Further

Resolved, the Commissioner may establish a Peer Review Panel(s) to assist in the ongoing evaluation of judges and stewards at any AHA recognized competition. Said Panel Review members must consist of National/Regional level judges or stewards and be approved by the Education and Evaluation Commission (EEC). Furthermore, any compensation or expense for said panel(s) is to come from the 5-90 budgets; and,
Be It Further 
Resolved, That Resolution 5-90 (1) 14 be amended to read: The Commissioner is empowered to take action which the Commissioner deems appropriate in any matter in which the Commissioner considers, in his sole opinion, that failure to act in a timely manner will result in immediate and irreparable harm to the public or exhibitor’s confidence in the conduct of the Judges and Stewards of any AHA approved competition;

RESOLUTION 35 - 08

and, Be It Further 
Resolved, That the Commissioner be empowered to warn, to require more education of, to suspend, or remove a judge or steward from the AHA Approved Judges and Stewards List, as appropriate. Said action subject to a de
novo review by the Education and Evaluation Commission, if so requested by the judge or steward, and such review shall require a 2/3 vote of the entire EEC to overturn the actions of the Commissioner. Policies and procedures for the review process, with input from the EEC, to be created and implemented by the effective date.

 

Stan Morey, Chair of the Education and Evaluation Commission and member of the 5-90 Task Force, agrees that with the implementation of 35-08, the position will require that the Commissioner have a strong judging background and be able to understand what judges do in the ring and the pressures they face. Internet chat has mentioned Morey as a leading candidate for the position. “I’ve heard that my name has come up on the Internet,” said Morey. When asked if he would be applying for the position when it is announced, he replied that he needed to see exactly what was required and then would examine his options.

Bill Melendez is a member of the Education and Evaluation Commission and a National/Regional judge for many years. He supports having someone in the job who understands what judges do. “The position needs to be filled by someone in touch with what we do, and who has the respect of the industry. It is not necessarily going to be a judge they will be looking for, but perhaps someone with a strong judging background. Judges will work most readily with someone who is a peer and who they respect. Someone who might come to me and say, ‘Hey Bill, you seem to be picking hunter horses that are more in the country English pleasure frame — what can we do to help you come more into line with what you should be looking for in hunter horses?’ We need an individual who has both the knowledge and the respect of the judges so that they would listen to that type of correction.

“Our first commissioner had absolute power,” Melendez continued. “And absolute power has faults. However, one positive result was a superior education system. But we need someone who has walked in the shoes of a judge and can understand how to work with judges and with exhibitors. Someone who can take judges in the correct direction.” A daunting task that is not for a mild personality. “As I always say,” said Melendez, “If I’m going to herd cats, it’s better to do it uphill.” When asked if he would consider applying for the position, He said, “Not at this time. Whoever takes the position will not be able to show, and I don’t want to tell my son he can’t show any longer.”

It is expected that AHA will have the job description and requirements of the position up soon on their Web site, www.arabianhorses.org.