Jurists honor judge

BROWNSTOWN - Memorial services often tend to be a bit on the solemn side.

That wasn't the case, however, Wednesday afternoon as judges and attorneys from throughout southern Indiana gathered to celebrate the life of Judge Jonathan J. Robertson II. The Brownstown man died Oct. 13 at the age of 76.

"He wrote more opinions than any other appellate judge in the state, but I think that one of his greatest assets was his humor," Senior Judge Robert R. Brown said of Robertson, who served as a judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals from 1971 to 1997. Robertson began his career on the bench in January 1965 when he became Jackson Circuit Court judge.

Robertson's humor came up often during the service, which was sponsored by the Jackson County Bar Association and held in the circuit court room.

Brown said he worked with Robertson when both were young.

"We were considered the Young Turks," Brown said. "I campaigned for him when he was running for circuit court judge. He campaigned for me when I was running for judge."

John G. Baker, chief judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals, talked about the years he worked with Robertson on the appeals court.

"He always told me it's a great job," Baker said of being a judge. "He said, ‘It's not a hard job. You're not outside and there's not any heavy lifting.' Well, it's a lot harder lifting now without him."

Baker, who joined the appeals court in June 1989, said Robertson, who wrote more than 3,000 opinions while an appellate judge, was a practical joker who sometimes accompanied Baker when he was a new judge to events he really didn't have to attend.

Washington Circuit Court Judge Robert L. Bennett was one of many judges and members of bar associations, including Robertson's own son, Joseph M. Robertson II, to speak.

"He wrote some of the clearest opinions, and yet he gave us guidance," Bennett said.

Jackson Superior Court I Judge Bruce Markel III joked he didn't like it very well when Judge Robertson served as senior judge in his court in recent years.
"My staff never got anything done," Markel said. "He had them in stitches."

Attorney Karen Mellencamp Davis of Seymour, president of the Jackson County Bar Association, read the group's resolution honoring Robertson.

It praised Robertson's dedication to the legal profession and his service to the community, state and nation.

The resolution and others submitted by judges and other bar associations will be entered into the Jackson Circuit Court's official record.

After Robertson retired from the appeals court, he served as senior judge in many of the courts throughout the region.

He also was named a Sagamore of the Wabash six times, a Kentucky Colonel and a Tennessee Esquire.