By Emily Burton
Register News Writer
RICHMOND —
(Editor’s note: This story is part of an occasional series chronicling “a day in the life” of Madison County residents.)
For Charles Hardin, being a district court judge in Madison and Clark counties is the fulfillment of a personal goal, one of service to his community.
Hardin was appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear to fill a vacancy created when Judge Bill Clouse was elected to circuit court. Hardin is running unopposed in the general election to keep his seat.
“I hope to be around for 20 more (years),” he said.
Being a judge is not always like what is portrayed on reality television shows, he said. It can be a bit like being a referee, he said. The judge hears all sides, and then based upon the law, makes a decision.
Hardin’s day begins before 8 a.m. with his arrival at the courthouse. On Mondays, he hears arraignments, and then travels Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to various courts throughout the 25th judicial district to hear cases there. Wednesdays are designated as in-office days, he said.
“Every day is different,” he said. Other judges, who have been judges longer than Hardin, have suggested he keep a journal to keep track of the unique experiences he has in the courtroom.
On Monday, Hardin heard 95 arraignments, most on traffic-related charges. One man’s charge set the courtroom giggling, when he stood to face a citation for taking in a fish under the legal size limit. (He caught a 10 and-one-half inch bass; smaller than the minimum size of 12 inches long.) A harried mother brought laughter to the courtroom when her two young sons asked for ice cream and one attempted to climb into the witness stand as she faced a traffic citation.
Hardin typically hears arraignments in the morning, and then if the docket is not too lengthy, breaks for lunch, returning in the afternoon to hear other cases.
He also is on call every 10 days. If any of the seven arresting agencies within Madison County need an arrest warrant signed, they can call on Hardin any time of the day or night, even when he isn’t on call, he said. Agencies in Clark County also call on Hardin for a signature.
Judges also sign search and mental health warrants, he said.
“You may have an officer come to your house at 2:30 a.m.,” he said. Hardin, who is the assistant coach of his son’s football team, said officers have come to the football field in search of his signature.
However, it is service to his community that keeps Hardin going every day.
“I think that’s what I like the best, is you’re doing a service for the community and helping oversee the judicial system, to be able to be a judge in your local community and keep it safe and clean,” he said.
The most difficult task is handing down a verdict that will make at least one party unhappy, he said.
“It’s making a decision in a case where you know you’re going to make a party upset, to make a decision that’s going to make at least one party unhappy — you’ve got to make a decision based on the law,” he said.
Judges must be able to deal with people’s varied emotions.
Some upset people have punched holes into courtroom walls, tears are common, as is fear, but there also can be joy, he said.
After being a prosecutor for 13 years, Hardin said he was ready to make a switch to being a judge.
“As you practice over the years it is always something you want to be,” he said. “The longer you practice, becoming a judge is your ultimate stepping stone. After 13 years it was something I wanted to do and actively pursued when the opening became available.”
Hardin, a native of Martin County, graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in political science and then studied at the Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, where he earned his law degree. Hardin is married and has two sons, ages 6 and 11.
Becoming a lawyer was for Hardin, a way to give back.
“When you pick a profession in college, I thought it’d be something I’d be interested in, because I’d be able to give something of my time back to the community,” he said.
And for Hardin, although his schedule varies, no day is ever the same.
“There’s something that entertains you every week in court,” Hardin said.
Emily Burton can be reached at eburton@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.
