Judges don’t get much credit for things, mainly because they are members of a quiet profession. It’s probably best our judges don’t get caught up in media squabbles and political rhetoric.

Circuit Court Judge Jack Meigs is one of three that preside over Dallas County. He is joined by Marvin Wiggins and Tommy Jones.

Late last week, Judge Meigs did something in his Dallas County courtroom that gave citizens here a sigh of relief — not to mention security.

In the recent armed robbery of a Selma restaurant, two men have been arrested. One, apparently, has already told police he was involved. The other has a history of arrests.

Because fair trials are part of the U.S. Constitution, we are not capable of determining if the two men arrested for the armed robbery of Burger King are guilty. Both Kelvin and Andrae Ellis deserve a fair trial and should receive one.

A Dallas County grand jury was quick to indict the two, and there is probable cause that they may have committed the offenses for which they are charged. They are, of course, innocent until proven guilty.

After the arrest of both Kelvin and Andrae Ellis, the two men were given what seemed like relatively low bonds. Kelvin Ellis was given a $15,000 bond, while Andrae Ellis received a $10,000 bond.

After the grand jury indicted the two in the case, Meigs increased their bonds to $50,000 and $25,000, respectively.

By increasing the bonds, Meigs did not take away from the Constitutional rights of the Ellises. Rather, the grand jury’s indictment gave him the legal authority to make it a little more difficult for two suspects to leave jail.

Meigs also must have understood the public outcry of bonds that could have easily been made. He understood that law-abiding citizens of Selma felt a bit more frightened at the threat of having two suspects walking the street.

While the judge may have helped soothe the fears of citizens, his decision also says something to local law enforcement. When police and deputies make life-threatening arrests, they want the judicial branch of government to help keep those suspects detained until they can be tried.

Whether he intended it or not, Meigs offered support to our law enforcement, and his decision is appreciated by a majority of Selma citizens.