Friday afternoon marked a bittersweet occasion for those affiliated with the 12th Judicial Circuit as Judge Thomas E. Head, III, celebrated his retirement from the position of circuit judge.
After more than 32 years of dedicated service to the courts and citizens of both Coffee and Pike counties as a district and circuit judge, Head will be shelving his gavel to spend more time with family. His position has been filled by new circuit judge Sonny Reagan, who was sworn in on Thursday; though he did not take the podium during Friday’s retirement celebration, Reagan spoke highly of Head and the impact he made on the 12th Judicial Circuit during his investiture ceremony Thursday afternoon.
“That man right there, Tom Head, is the epitome of what a circuit judge is and should be,” Reagan said. “He will be missed by the Bar and this community, and I hope every day to be half the man that he is as a judge. He has set the bar very high, and I have very big shoes to fill.”
Other friends, staff members, and members of the Wiregrass legal community also offered their congratulations and spoke of Head’s influence on them and the court system he worked so hard to uphold. Among the speakers was James Tarbox, President of the Coffee County Bar Association.
“On three or four occasions, you called me after a day in court to say ‘Mr. Tarbox, I hope you know that when I said ‘X’ and it sounded like I meant ‘Y,’ I really meant ‘Z,’ and I really hope you weren’t offended or embarrassed; if you were, I’m sorry, it wasn’t what I meant.,’” Tarbox recalled. “You didn’t have to make those calls. You didn’t have to apologize. But I’ve grown to expect nothing less from a man that I look up to and respect. Judge, I’m going to miss you, miss practicing in front of you, and I hope that you enjoy all the time with your family and your grandkids. Thank you.”
Head’s judicial assistant Amy Heard and court reporter Dixie Boutwell gave emotional addresses from the podium, speaking to Head’s kindness, sense of humor, and dedication to those he served.
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“It has been my privilege to work for someone who is honest, kind-hearted, and puts others before themselves. You have a true servant’s heart. You may be retiring from this job, but you will never retire from my life,” Heard said.
“I’m pretty sure you all, like me, what we’re losing today: a man who will listen to both sides of a case without an opinion until both sides are done, one who will stay as long into the night -- no matter how tired we both are -- to make sure he’s got all the evidence he needs to make decisions, a judge who truly cares about the people he serves in this circuit, no matter how little or how much they have materially,” Boutwell added.
Attorney Dale Marsh also attested to Coffee County’s loss with Judge Head’s retirement.
“Coffee County and the State of Alabama are losing a great circuit judge,” said Marsh. “In the long history of the 12th Judicial Circuit, there have been numerous judges that have displayed many of the best judicial virtues: learning and wisdom, compassion and eloquence, diligence and common sense, robust independence and impartiality, leadership, and administrative skills. Few of the judges have had all of these qualities, and to the high level that has been demonstrated by Judge Tom Head in the 32 years he has served as our district judge and circuit judge and the chief judge of our circuit. There are few who have had such a significant impact on the law as Tom Head.”
After numerous presentations and well-wishes -- some humorous, some emotional -- Head himself took the podium to thank everyone who came out to support him, all those he’s worked and fellowshipped with over the years, and his family most of all.
“You know, the most appropriate thing I could do right now would be to simply say ‘thank you’ and take my seat. I’m not sure I’m really up to the task at hand,” Head said. ““I recognize that it sounds cliché, but I cannot forgo the opportunity to express to you what an honor and privilege it’s been for me to serve in combination as a district and circuit judge for 32 years. I’m not indispensable -- no judge is; we have relevance only for so long as we actively serve, and then new judges take over without missing a beat. But the judicial process will continue as though the retired judge has never really been there. Nevertheless, I have been tremendously blessed to have lived my dream, and for the most part I’ve looked forward to Monday mornings. It’s not been work, it’s been a joy. It’s been a great run, it’s been a real blast, I’ve loved my job, and I’m going to miss it.”
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