Circuit Court Judge Gotham announces retirement, marks 25 years on bench

By JAN TUCKER

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Ironwood - Roy Gotham is hanging up his black robes.

The Gogebic and Ontonagon County Circuit Court Judge, Gotham announced this week he is retiring Dec. 31 after 25 years as circuit court judge. The retirement also marks his 42 years in the legal profession in both Ontonagon and Gogebic counties.

Gotham expects Gov. Rick Snyder will appoint a successor in the next two weeks. He said both Mark McDonald and Michael Pope, area attorneys, have applied for the position.

"Both are long-standing and well qualified Ironwood attorneys," Gotham said.

He said he hopes the appointment will be made before he leaves office because there are issues outstanding that the new judge would be dealing with.

The circuit judge position will be up for election in November 2016 and that election would be for the remaining years of Gotham's term.

With the recent announcement by Richard Adams that he will leave the Gogebic County Prosecutor's office, the new judge would be expected to be a part of the selection of a new prosecutor, as well.

Gotham's said his decision to enter the legal profession was somewhat of a surprise to both his family and himself. "In high school, I was most interested in sports, but I had two teachers who had an impact on me," he said. "One was an English teacher and the other taught government."

In college, he began thinking about a sociology degree and possibly teaching at a college. "But these were the 1960s, when young people were idealistic and wanted to get out into 'the real world.,'" Gotham said.

He decided on the law, even though he entered law school without ever knowing an attorney.

After graduation from Wayne State University law school in 1973, Gotham and his first wife, Mary, decided to look for a job in the western Upper Peninsula. He received three offers for jobs and decided to accept the one from Ontonagon.

"It was the smartest move in our lives and so, six months out of law school, we settled in Ontonagon."

Gotham had a private practice in Ontonagon from 1973-80 and was elected prosecuting attorney in 1976 and re-elected in 1980. He was elected judge of Ontonagon Probate and Juvenile Court in 1982 and re-elected to that position in 1988. The Probate Court was then a part-time position and he continued his private practice, as well.

"They were exciting years in Ontonagon," he said, and through the Ontonagon County Economic Development Corporation, Gotham worked with Russ Wood, his partners, the county, union and state officials to re-open the White Pine Mine as an employee-owned mine. He also worked with Gov. Jim Blanchard and local officials in building the shipyard in Ontonagon.

"I had the opportunity to be associated with fine, capable, colorful people who became friends and mentors throughout my career," he said. In 1992. the Gotham family moved from Ontonagon to Ironwood.

He said he has been fortunate to have had wonderful staff in both Gogebic and Ontonagon counties through the years. "They have been diligent, capable, intelligent and made the jobs tolerable."

He said the people he has worked with have become family to him. One of those co-workers is Judy Hickman, who has been the probation officer for the court also for the past 25 years. "We always kidded that when one of us retired, the other would also because neither of us could work with someone else," he laughed. Hickman has also announced her retirement. "It is that kind of friendship I have had with the many people I have worked with. After my announcement of retirement, there have been many hugs and tears, lots of stories. The people I have worked with through the years have challenged me intellectually, and I have thrived on the challenge," Gotham said. "This is what I will miss the most," he added, "the people."

Sitting on the bench for 25 years, Gotham said he has seen woes and tragedies. He has seen child neglect and abuse cases, and in time, "those children grow up and many grow up as dysfunctional adults and the cycle continues." he said.

Through the years, cases of substance abuse also increased. Gotham cites the many avenues taken economically to lift abusers out of addiction. "It's frustrating. I have learned through the years you can't just punish these people to stop abuse. In the coffee shops, people will say 'throw the book at them,' but that is not the answer, either. We have more people in prison than any other state and more people in prison in this country than any other and we still don't have the answer. We look for a magic pill, but there just is none," he said.

What's next after Jan. 1? Gotham and his wife, Deb, hope to travel a little, but have no idea yet where. His love for the area mirrors his favorite activities. He likes winter skiing, snowshoeing, fishing and hunting.

He is wary about any bad weather that will keep him in the house. He also realizes he will want the stimulation that will keep his mind active in retirement and intends to keep his law license active and toys with the possibility of being a mediator in legal disputes. "I am leaving options open," he said.

Gotham hopes that as a judge he will be remembered as always trying to be even-handed, with no axes to grind. "I hope to be remembered as being fair and faithful to the law, but also diligent and willing to face, and make, the hard decisions," he added.

But in his 42 years as a lawyer, prosecutor and judge, Gotham will most remember the people who passed through his life.