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Saline County Circuit Court Judge Robert “Bob” Garrett, who is leaving the bench at the end of the calendar year, was honored Friday at a retirement party at the courthouse in Downtown Benton.  Retiring Circuit COURT Judge Bob Garrett, left, is hugged by his lifetime friend, Saline County Clerk Freddy Burton, during a retirement event Friday at the courthouse in Downtown Benton. Burton commended Garrett for his 24 years of service. Both grew up in Benton. (Courier photo by Lynda Hollenbeck)
Appropriately, the event took place in a courtroom at the county courthouse, where Garrett has been hearing cases for the past 24 years.
According to friends and colleagues of Garrett, he’s presided in more proceedings than anyone would have dreamed at the time he decided to try for the judgeship.
Garrett defeated Wendell Hall, a respected Benton attorney, when he won the office.
At the farewell reception, Garrett, speaking briefly, thanked those responsible for the celebration and expressed appreciation to all of those in attendance.
He recalled the words of his predecessor, the late Judge Mel Carden, who advised him to perform his duties in the courtroom and then “leave it there at the end of the day.”
At the event, his longtime friend, County Clerk Freddy Burton, re-called Garrett’s decision to seek the office.
Noting that he and Garrett have been friends since “before the first grade,” Burton said he didn’t think it possible for Garrett to defeat Hall.
“It was more than a long shot in my mind,” Burton said. “Surprise to me and a lot of others, he won, and more surprising is the fact that he has made a great judge.”
Burton pointed out that Garrett made a personal decision “to hear most of the divorce and custody cases,” an arrangement greatly supported by other judges in the district.
“It’s been hard, day after day, for 24 years,” Burton said. “He’s heard it all — over and over and over. Nothing is new, except the names and faces. Personally, I don’t know how he’s done it day after day. Without God’s grace, he couldn’t have.”
Burton said one thing in particular “stands out to me about Bob. While others are always positioning themselves politically when they make decisions — making sure they don’t get an opponent at the next election and thinking that they are just being politically shrewd — Bob never has thought this way.”
Burton added, “Oh, it might have crossed his mind — he’s not a saint — but I believe it did just that, only crossed his mind. To Bob, it was what’s right, what’s legal.”
Garrett’s way of thinking, according to Burton, has been, “It’s what’s right, what’s legal. That’s my job and what the people elected me to do.”
This attitude isn’t a common trait among politicians, particularly today, Burton said. “Bob has never been real concerned about his image. To Bob, his principles — to do what he was hired to do — were his guide and not his political future. Pearl and Robert Dee (Garrett’s mother and father) taught him well.
“If it meant getting an opponent and being voted out of office, I believe Bob would follow his principles and do what was right and what his job called for. That’s called courage.”
Burton called Garrett “an example of how it should be done.”
“My prayer is that God will reward him with a fulfilling retirement and he will bless him greatly.”
Benton attorney Meredith Wineland provided barbecue meats for the retirement party and courthouse employees brought other foods to share for the event. A cake depicting the county courthouse was made by Lisa Montgomery, a deputy clerk in Burton’s office.
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