Judge Jack Rosen is pretty sure his record won't be broken:

        “Most of the judges here don't like to do weddings. I do and perform them whenever I'm available. Since I've been keeping track — I started counting a few years into it — I've done 1,262.”

Judge Jack Rosen is retiring (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        That's a lot of I-do's and a record that earned Judge Rosen the nickname “the marrying judge” in his 29 years in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

        Memories of those 29 years are neatly packed in boxes and spread all over his chambers. Judge Rosen, 70, retired Friday.

        “I'm really going to miss the weddings. People are so appreciative and so happy. And face it, in my line of work people aren't always happy to see me. And they aren't always smiling when they leave.”

        But Judge Rosen, well, he's smiling, delighted at the prospect of spending lots of time with his wife, Rachel, his two daughters and four grandchildren.

        “It's important that I get to do that. Even if my retirement weren't mandatory, I think I probably would have left. I had bypass surgery in October, and although I feel fine now, I don't feel as immortal as I used to. So I plan to get in a lot of family time, although I can't rough house with the grandkids like I used to.”

        Getting settled

        Between visiting with the grandkids, there are chores at home: “First thing will be to unpack boxes. We downsized and moved into a smaller home in Montgomery three years ago and I still have boxes to unpack and pictures to hang.”

        Then there's his volunteer work schedule to manage — Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Cincinnati for 20 years, American Legion, Cincinnati Union Bethel (a Headstart program) — and still more courtrooms.

        Huh? “I'll be a visiting judge, but in short stints, maybe a week or two on, then off again. Fairfield, Hamilton, Clermont County, Lebanon all need to use visiting judges to cover vacations and illnesses. That would be all on the municipal level.

        “And I do love the job. I guess I would be considered a tough judge, though I like the term "firm' much better. I will say that I don't think anyone I ever sentenced would call me unfair.”

        Second chances

        Some would even call him, well, a sweetheart.

        “I do believe in giving second chances. You do that by getting people help. Send DUIs for intervention. Send abusers to one of the very good programs operated by the Y and by Women Helping Women.

        “That's the main reason moving up to Common Pleas court never interested me. Those are hard core cases with hard decisions, and though they don't scare me, I really feel I can do more for people in this job.

        “Judges moving up to Common Pleas is another reason I think my record will stand. Municipal judges can marry people, but Common Pleas can't, and judges move up so fast anymore. I don't think anyone can touch my numbers.”

        Before anyone tries, how about 10 fill in the blanks?

        “Go for it ... ”

        For me, the worst possible cases are ...

        Child abuse cases. I see enough of them to really get upset. It's something that was never part of my life before the bench. Justifiable discipline, I can see that. But not abuse.

        One thing I've always wanted to say from the bench but couldn't ...

        Why don't you grow up and act your age.

        The best piece of advice I could give my successor ...

        To listen carefully to what people have to say — all of them, the attorneys, witnesses, defendants, everyone.

        The case I'll never forget ...

        It was one where a woman was accused of child neglect. She had left two children under 3 alone, and the police were called. In court that day everyone said she was such a good mother and that things like that never happen. So I sent it for pre-sentence investigation and let her go home. That was a Friday. Two days later, driving home from (Air Force) reserve duty in Indiana, I heard a report on the radio of two children killed in a fire when they had been left at home alone. It was her. I should have locked her up.

        The strangest thing I've ever worn under my robes ...

        Oh, that was a cast on my left leg when I broke my foot.

        When I want to laugh out loud in court but can't, I ...

        Just bite my tongue. It never ceases to amaze me.

        What I'll miss about performing weddings ...

        The people and their warmth. They're happy, they're smiling. It's the only time two people walk away from me smiling.

        One thing I'd like people to know about the judicial system ...

        It works. It really works.

        What I'll miss most at the courthouse ...

        The people, especially my bailiff, Mary Jo Storm. She's been with me 11 years and is so incredibly good at dealing with people. She's become a friend, too.

        One thing I wish you had asked me ...

        Who was the biggest character you ever ran into? It was my bailiff before Mary Jo. He was Bull from Night Court. He said and did the same things without even knowing who Bull was. I even wrote to the show asking for an autographed picture. It came back saying, “To Bob Schueler, the bailiff I tried to emulate.”

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