FROM THE JUDGES DESK Musings Upon Retirement

Musings Upon Retirement

In February, when I signed up to write this article, I had a plan: we would take a quick stroll through Montgomery County Court history from 1987 when I was appointed to the bench through 2020, as I retire. Then COVID-19 hit. A leisurely stroll through anything does not now seem to be relevant. But what to write about? As may be the case with some of you, my brain is a bit addled with a combination of working from home and at the Courthouse – with masks and chapped hands, Zoom meetings, remote dockets and hearings, missing out-of-town grandchildren, and not seeing people that I am used to seeing regularly. We’ve all been there; we’re still there.

So, instead of my planned memory stroll, these are just some musings by a retiring Judge.

Perhaps it is part of “America’s story” that an Italian girl from the Bronx, whose dad and grandparents literally “came over on the boat” and through Ellis Island in search of a better life for their families, came to Dayton by way of Milwaukee, and served on the Montgomery County Common Pleas bench for 33 years.

My grandparents were neither educated nor wealthy. My grandfathers both worked as bricklayers eventually going into business together building houses in the Bronx. My dad, who came to America when he was about 6 years old, became a citizen on his father’s papers and served in the U.S. Army. He married my mom and with her raised four children, living in a house built by my grandfathers, all while he became a successful neighborhood doctor – and I mean neighborhood doctor – his office was the first floor of our home. America’s story.

Back to Dayton

In 1974, the University of Dayton reopened its law school. I was a member of that first class. Our law school “facility” was the basement of the university’s library. Even that wasn’t ready for classes, so we spent our first two weeks going to random classrooms around

By The Honorable Barbara P. Gorman Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas barbara.gorman@montcourt.oh.gov | 937. 225.4392

campus. From that modest beginning, the school has grown in so many ways, becoming a moving force in the community. Today’s students don’t have to roam campus, but instead have the opportunity to pursue their education in the state-of-the-art Keller Hall.

For those in the first class, we took a chance on the law school, and the law school took a chance on us. We all seemed to survive and prosper. Through my time as an adjunct professor and as the mentor of several student ex-terns, I have seen the continued growth and excellence of the young lawyers being trained at the law school. I am a proud alumna.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of Montgomery County as a Common Pleas Judge for over three decades. My husband, our children and their families, our extended families and friends have made all the difference. This journey would not have been possible without the support of so many people.

To the members of the DBA – you rock! I often praise the attorneys of Montgomery County. That praise is well-deserved. When it comes to our lawyers and how they interact with the court and each other, they are second-to-none for courtesy, professionalism, and ethical conduct. Our attorneys also give back to the community by giving volunteer hours to the Volunteer Lawyers Project and serving on non-profit boards, whether law related, social-service oriented, or focused on the arts.

Since March, lawyers have found even more unique ways to work together and represent their clients as “normal” fled our consciousness. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the country and the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court is no different. The cooperation of lawyers working together and on behalf of their clients has been exceptional – but I wouldn’t expect less. We now hold remote proceedings. Face-to-face hearings are being held in courtrooms where masks, social distancing, Plexiglas and loud room air purifiers are the norm. All of these adaptations have been met with patience and grace by our legal community.

FROM THE JUDGES DESK: Musings Upon Retirement continued from page 16

Since the start of the state of emergency declared by Governor DeWine, the County’s assistant prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers have stepped up as they deal with unique, critical problems such as speedy trial issues, jury trials in the time of pandemic, and defendants in jail under the specter of COVID-19. Our civil lawyers have demonstrated true professionalism in their willingness to cooperate with the court and each other when new deadlines and dates have needed to be set while continuing to zealously represent their clients.

The Court Itself

It has been an honor to begin my tenure with the likes of Carl Kessler, Bob Brown and Dick Dodge and leave the Court in the capable hands of our newest Judges, Gerald Parker, Mary Montgomery, and Helen Wallace. Without going over my word allotment, I cannot name every Judge I have served with on this bench. I, however, remember them all, as well as each Judge’s willingness to work together, to help each other out, to be part of something bigger than the individual judgeship, and to give up a part of his or her ego for the greater good of the Court.

The Employees

I cannot talk about the Court without talking about our employees. The citizens of Montgomery County cannot truly understand the dedication and devotion of the Court’s staff towards the mission: Together we provide fair and efficient justice under the law for all.

This is not just a motto. It is a driving philosophy. Everyone from administration, the individual judicial offices, the magistrate’s office, case management services, support services, probation and pre-trial officers, IT staff, the civil stalking office, maintenance, and housekeeping services works towards this goal. Know that you are appreciated. I will miss you all and only ask for a cup of coffee if I stop by to visit. Best wishes to you all.

Of course, my own staff is part of the bigger constellation of employees, but they are personal to me. Starting with Michelle Roberts as my bailiff and ending with Diana, Amanda and Candee, I have been so fortunate for all the bailiffs, court reporters, judicial assistants, law clerks, and staff attorneys that worked with me over the years. Quite simply, I could not have done it without all of you.

Looking to the future, my husband and I would like to spend more time visiting with our out-of-town grandchildren. Hopefully, science will control the pandemic so that we can visit their homes in New York and Wisconsin in the not too distant future. Tutoring our clients at the Day Reporting Center will keep me in contact with the Courts. I will also remain active on the Boards of the Dayton YMCA, the Volunteer Lawyers Project, and the Bruner Literacy Center. Taking some classes at U.D. sounds like fun, and I like the idea of being able to sleep in when I want to do so.

Meanwhile, thank you all for my memorable experiences.

And for now, keep working hard, have some fun, mask up, wash your hands, social distance, and take care of yourselves. See you around. Maybe at a DBA meeting!