Tobey Bartee is one of the most well-known judges in the county. Over the years, he has been acknowledged as fair and consistent in each case he has come across.
While he has enjoyed his time as Justice Court Judge, he has decided that the time has come to lay down his gavel at the end of this current term and retire. A lot has changed over the years, and he feels that he has successfully completed his role as judge.
“I started praying last year because this term makes my seventh term. Biblically, number seven means complete. I’m tired, and I think I’ve lived up to my slogan when I first ran of being fair and firm. I think I’ve done it well, and I just think it’s time for maybe a younger generation because we’re living in a different time now,” explained Tobey. “It’s hard being a judge now with social media and is a growing concern of mine of the misinformation that is fed to social media. It affects us in the judicial system because , for example, dealing with bonds and stuff like that. People don’t have a clue of what our rules are on setting bonds. If a person is arrested, it doesn’t mean conviction. I’m often reminded as a child growing up, every child stood in the classroom with a hand over his chest to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. In that pledge, it says justice for all. It makes it hard for everyone to receive justice because of unfair opinions people are saying and premature comments put out on social media before anyone gets to court.”
There are a couple of things that Tobey will always remember and love about his time being judge.
“My favorite part of being a judge is being able to let people know that mistakes aren’t eternal. Mistakes can be corrected, and people can be given a second chance. That’s a good feeling,” declared Tobey. “Number two, I’ve done hundreds of weddings.”
He has loved performing weddings so much that he has found a way to be able to continue doing them after he is no longer the judge.
“I was regretting retirement because if I’m not a judge, I was thinking I could no longer do weddings,” stated Tobey. “I plan to become a notary, and I can continue doing weddings because that was a joy of being a judge.”
Looking back at his experience and moving ahead to finish his last year of this term, Tobey is appreciative of the people he has worked with and the advice that has been given to him over the years that has helped him be so successful.
“My office staff has been overwhelmingly supportive and protective of me being a judge. People often call and want to come out and see me, and they screen the calls if they know it is something I can’t talk about on a case,” proclaimed Tobey. “What I think has sustained me in being a successful judge is because I stuck to the advice given to me by Mayor Sam Box—plow a straight furrow. I’ve made decisions that has made people on both sides angry because I went down the middle of the road, and that’s what I’m hoping and praying for the person that will fill my shoes—someone to come in there and not feel like they have to be a friend or foe but be the judge and know that they have to make the decisions and not be afraid of social media. When I walk out of there in December, I feel like I’ve done exactly what a judge is supposed to do.
People will still see him around town once he is retired. He has plans to stay active and involved in the community.
“I’m looking forward to celebrating retirement, and we plan to move out of town into the country and start a new life out there. The number eight means new beginnings, so that’s what I’m focusing on now,” informed Tobey. “I’m going to continue working with the fire department and continue being an Emergency Medical Responder. I want to continue to do some things in the community. I joined the Chamber of Commerce because I want to help the community, so I plan to be a part of it to help it grow. Most of the time, I’m planning to be out on the farm. I’m still the president on the board for Outreach Health Services Medical Corporation. I don’t plan to ever leave that because that’s a passion of mine—making sure we have affordable healthcare for the citizens of this county.”
He plans to continue being the fair judge that the community has come to know and love as he finishes this last term.
