Judge Steve Benton

Judge Steve Benton

By Suzanne Haberman Friday, 12 June 2009

Judge Steve Benton, Precinct Three

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in studio art from Southwestern University
• Experience: State trooper, deputy sheriff, officer, detective, real estate, gallery and frame shop owner
• Took office: January 2000
• Contact: 943-1501 • www.wilco.org

How do you describe your job?

The main [responsibility], of course, is taking care of Class C misdemeanors. Class C includes traffic, truancy cases, civil and small claims and justice court cases with a monetary limit up to $10,000.
We do an occasional wedding. It’s something we can do if we feel like doing, if it doesn’t interfere with our core duties.
We do death inquests. We’re on call 24 hours a day for our precinct. Any unattended death anywhere in my precinct, I get called out and pronounce the person dead, do the paperwork, get an autopsy if I feel like it’s needed, determine the cause of death and get the certificate.
We cover truancy, sign warrants — felony and misdemeanor — for law enforcement agencies in the county. I think last year I signed something like 2,800 warrants. That’s a lot more than I want to. [I also set] bonds for the warrants, work with the District Attorney’s office, the county attorney’s office and, of course, the other judges, too.

Why did you want to be a judge?

I’ve got about 26 years in law enforcement as a state trooper, deputy sheriff and detective in the Georgetown Police Department. It was kind of like a stepping stone going from that. The older I got, the quieter I wanted my life to be. I had looked at this particular position for 30 years. I visited with the past judges, including Jim Bitz. When it got time, he decided he was going to retire, he called me over to his office at the old court house one day and he asked me if I would be interested. [Benton was appointed to office when Jim Bitz retired and was later elected.]

How many cases do you preside over a year?

When I first got in — it went from 750,000 to 800,000. Last year, I think we booked in something like 2.4 million. I would, probably back when I first started, be in court two and a half days a week, maybe three. Right now I’m in court five days a week.

What is a common misconception?

We’re mean. We’re trying to put everyone in jail. That’s the last thing I want. Will I put you in jail because you mess up? If you mess up, yes, I will, but I’ll do everything I can to keep you out of jail first. I have complaints that, “Well, you’re creating the law.” No, I’m enforcing the law. People think I can do anything I want, because [I’m] the judge. No, I don’t. I don’t want that power. I guarantee that I’m not going to abuse it.

What characteristics are the most important for a judge to possess?

Just be honest and fair. That’s the bottom line. Honest and fair and treat people the way I want to be treated. Be compassionate. Sometimes I get too compassionate and I almost cry in court. [I think about] my Rotary creed: Is it truth? Will it build goodwill and better friendships and is it fair to all concerned and will it be beneficial to all concerned? Everything I do pretty much ties into that.