Daviess Circuit Court Judge Robert L. Arthur announced his retirement from the bench this week, effective April 27.
Arthur, who was appointed after his father James retired in 1982, has served as judge for 24 years. This will be the first time in 37 years that someone other than a Arthur will be on the circuit bench.
“There are places to go and people to see,” Arthur said. “It’s time.”
Arthur has sent his letters of resignation to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard.
Daviess County Prosecutor Byron Overton said Arthur’s retirement was a loss for the county.
“He’s fair to all sides and he’s been an outstanding judge,” Overton said. “Somebody’s going to have some big shoes to fill.”
Judith Dwyer, former Daviess Superior Court judge and colleague to both Arthurs, said Robert has “the perfect temperament to be a judge.”
“He is always courteous to the bar, their clients and unrepresented people who come to his court,” Dwyer said. “He has been most helpful to me to work with Judge Arthur and his father, James Arthur, through all the years I was also a judge.
“In the words of my father, they were both gentlemen and scholars. To me, it is the end of an era,” Dwyer said.
Another judge Arthur helped was Martin County Circuit Judge Joe Howell. When Howell took to the bench in 1993, Arthur was his mentor judge as assigned by the Indiana Supreme Court.
“He’s probably one of the most patient, even-handed judges in the area,” Howell said. “I hold him in the highest regard as a judge, attorney and as a person. As he leaves the bench, the Indiana judicial system is losing a real asset.”
Mike Steiner, Martin County Prosecutor and president of the Daviess-Martin County Bar Association, said Arthur was easy to work with local attorneys.
“About the best compliment I can give a judge is that I got fair hearings,” Steiner said. “I didn’t necessarily agree with the end result but I always got a fair hearing.”
The retiring judge said he and his wife, Jo, were planning to travel and visit old friends. They have three children: Neal, Brent and Ann.
He also will continue to serve as color commentator for Washington Hatchet basketball for WAMW-107.9. But, there will be times he will don the robe for a little while.
“I am going to be a senior judge,” Arthur said. “(A senior judge) steps in when a judge has conflicts.”
As to whom will step in for Arthur in the circuit court is up to Daniels. Steiner and Overton hoped that someone local would be appointed to the bench.
“The new judge will have to stand for re-election in 2008,” Steiner said. “There are several local lawyers that are more than qualified to fill that position.”
State Rep. Dave Crooks, D-Washington, is Arthur’s broadcast partner on WAMW. He learned about Arthur’s retirement after Washington’s game on Saturday and was surprised. But, he did not know who could be named as the new judge, but hopes to help with the nominating process.
“I’m sure we’ll be able to give our opinions to the Governor,” Crooks said. “I’ll offer help if I’m asked.”
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