Stanley adjusts to new role

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley helps administrative assistant Trenena Wilcher at the computer as he continues settling in at his new chambers at the courthouse. (Duane Sherrill photo)

With a flurry of activity around him as he continued moving into his courthouse office Tuesday, newly installed Circuit Judge Bart Stanley says he is looking forward to his new challenges.

“Don’t look for a lot of big changes in the way court is run,” Stanley said. “They’ll be some minor changes, like when court starts, but nothing major. The dress code will be the same and we’ll expect people to show the court the proper respect. We may also tighten security a little bit.”

Stanley, who was elected last month to complete the four years remaining on the term of former Judge Charles Haston, will begin daily court sessions at 9 a.m. He will also set aside 30 minutes before those daily sessions to hear uncontested announcements.

“By taking up uncontested matters 30 minutes earlier, we won’t cut into the time for the scheduled docket,” Stanley said.

The new judge said he will move criminal non-jury matters to the first and third Wednesdays, non-jury civil matters to the first and third Tuesdays, workers’ compensation cases to Fridays and regular grand jury meetings to the first Friday of the month beginning later this year. He will conduct court in Van Buren County on the fourth Mondays and during any other jury matters there.

Stanley said he has been helped in his transition to his new role by numerous experienced judges including judges Ashe, Turnbull, Rollins, Easter, Maddox and Haston.

“They’ve been extremely helpful,” Stanley said. “I feel very comfortable hearing cases given my legal background and the help they’ve given me. I guess the toughest thing will be making decisions about children and where they will reside. That always weighs on a person.”

Stanley said he has made preparations to transfer the cases from his private practice to either his law partners at Stanley & Bratcher or to other attorneys. A special judge will be needed to hear any cases he may have handled in his private practice. A special judge will also be used to hear cases handled by his father, County Attorney Larry Stanley; however, the judge pointed out most of his father’s case load is in federal court.

In the cases handled by Thomas Bratcher, Stanley said he will have to recuse himself in cases where he was present in the office while Bratcher was speaking with clients. However, Stanley said there would be no conflict in hearing any other cases represented by Bratcher.

Stanley will be assisted by administrative assistant Trenena Wilcher.