THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 31, 1997 TAG: 9701290154
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 103 lines
HE'S QUICK. He's quirky. And laughter is an inevitable sentence.
One joke from Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Robert F. Babb, and you're history.
Since his appointment to the bench in 1990, Babb has established himself as a patient, fair and impartial judge who is well-versed in the law.
But the soft-spoken, balding, bespectacled man is most fondly known for his easygoing judicial temperament and quick wit, all of which have has earned him a sizeable flock of admirers.
``My biggest problem is thinking of something funny (on the bench) and not saying it,'' Babb said. ``My sense of humor has been refined by associating with some of the characters in the legal profession for forty-some years.''
But now, at age 69, Babb is retiring at the end of the month after serving one six-year term on the bench. Judges are required to retire after they reach 70.
``But I still have to show up on Feb. 2 because they haven't got anybody to take my place yet,'' Babb joked.
He will continue to serve on the bench until state legislators choose his replacement. Members of the General Assembly are expected to appoint a new judge by the end of February.
``I`m going to miss it,'' Babb said, during an interview Tuesday from his office. ``The hours that you spend on the bench are not nearly as long as you spend practicing law, and the pressure you have is a lot greater.
``But I don't know of any day I would have swapped places with any lawyer in town,'' he said.
A graduate of Wake Forest University in North Carolina and the University of Richmond School of Law, Babb began practicing in Portsmouth in 1949.
He worked in several local practices, finally ending up as a senior partner in the law firm of Babb, Oast, Hook and Crowe. He later served as a substitute judge in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court for 20 years.
In the early years of his legal career, Babb said, he was too poor to buy a second car, so he and his longtime friend Judge William Oast bought a Ford Falcon together.
They lived half a block apart from each other and took turns using the car each week.
``One week he would have the car,'' Babb said. ``The next week, it was my car, and I drove him to and from work as an accommodation. We must have done that for 10 years.
``Once we could afford a second car, we didn't buy it. It got to be comfortable, and we enjoyed riding back and forth to work together,'' he said.
And today, more than 30 years later, he has no problem recalling his humble beginnings from the bench.
``We're treated with a great deal of respect, but judges have to remember, that respect is not really for them, but it's for the office that they hold,'' Babb said. ``The minute they begin thinking that people are paying homage to them, then they've got a case of `robe-itis'.
For example, Babb recounted how he gave an elderly woman custody of her great-great-grandchild during a hearing.
``She turned around and said, `Thank you, sweet Jesus'. But I had no inclination to say, `You're welcome,' '' Babb said, chuckling. ``I went home and told my wife (Mary Evelyn) about that one.''
Over the years, his rulings in custody battles, child support cases, domestic disputes and child abuse cases have touched thousands of lives and affected thousands of families.
In 1990, the average caseload for a judge in Portsmouth's Juvenile and Domestic Relations court was 4,641. Now, it's leading the state, with 5,974.
``Things have expanded since I've been here,'' Babb said. ``And I've seen a number of cases against juveniles . . . and the nature of the crimes is becoming more violent.''
``I've seen children who've been abused by adults, and the pictures will just shock you,'' he said. ``I had one victim who was shot - it was a domestic affair - and they had to roll her in on a hospital bed. That got my attention.
``The myriad of problems that people have - it's unbelievable, Babb said. ``I don't know that I could do this job for 25 years. I think it would wear on you.''
To his successor, Babb counseled: ``Listen as carefully as you can and let your heart get into your decisions, along with your mind.''
For the past six years, prosecutors and defense attorneys both have said that Babb truly practices what he preaches. In his courtroom, proper judicial conduct is the norm. His humanity and compassion are instinctual. And the tragedy and suffering of victims and defendants alike does not go unnoticed.
``Judge Babb is the one who hands tissues out when people are crying,'' said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Helivi Holland, who has prosecuted cases in Babb's court for five years.
``He will interrupt the proceeding to ask if the person needs some time - often before the attorney asks for a recess.''
``He has such a calming demeanor,'' Holland said. ``Never in five years have I ever heard him raise his voice, even when defendants are nasty to him.''
His colleagues and other staff members agreed that they will miss the good-humored, soft-spoken man who easily charms everyone he meets.
``He has such a wonderful sense of humor,'' said Chief Deputy Clerk Sadie Jordan. ``It's been a real pleasure working with him.''
``He's just the dream judge,'' added Deputy Clerk Neka Thorne. ``He's always willing to listen and give advice. I'm going to miss him.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos including color cover by MOTOYA NAKAMURA
Judge Robert Babb is nearing mandatory retirement. He will continue
hearing cases until a replacement is picked.
The Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge is retiring. And,
much to his colleagues' chagrin, he's taking his quick wit with him.