Greene County Courthouse bids farewell to visiting Judge Carpenter during Law Day
Visiting Senior Judge Hiram Carpenter addresses a crowd at the Greene County Courthouse for the annual Law Day celebration Friday while President Judge Farley Toothman, center, and Judge Lou Dayich listen.
Visiting Senior Judge Hiram Carpenter looks closely at a framed picture with old photos and newspaper articles of Carpenter’s family history. The picture was given to him by the Greene County Courthouse staff Friday during a Law Day celebration.
Visiting Senior Judge Hiram Carpenter stands behind the bench with his 2-year-old grandson, Liam Tanyatanaboon, on his lap and President Judge Farley Toothman at his side during a Law Day celebration in Greene County. Carpenter spent the past year filling in on the bench after the retirement of Judge William Nalitz.
WAYNESBURG – Hiram Carpenter sat with his 2-year-old grandson on his lap in court Friday for the annual Law Day festivities, which turned into a surprise celebration to honor him for the past year he’s spent working as a visiting senior judge in Greene County.
Two of Carpenter’s children also attended the ceremony and several court staff members spoke about Carpenter’s positive influence in the community and the courtroom.
“I don’t know how we would have survived this past year without him,” Court Administrator Sheila Rode said.
Carpenter, a retired Blair County judge, has been spending 10 days each month in Greene County to fill a judicial vacancy in 2015. Judge William Nalitz retired in December 2014, leaving the seat open until Lou Dayich was elected in November to fill the vacancy.
“I didn’t know how long I’d be here,” Carpenter said. “This was so nice of them to do for me.”
President Judge Farley Toothman presented Carpenter with a framed picture with old photos and newspaper clips of Carpenter’s family history, including a historic bridge built by his grandfather that spanned the Ohio River near St. Marys, W.Va.
Retired Greene County Judge H. Terry Grimes spoke about his longtime friendship with Carpenter and about their days working as a dishwasher and cook’s assistant in the U.S. Army.
“I’m proud today to be here to help honor Judge Carpenter,” Grimes said.
Carpenter was the keynote speaker for Law Day, which was established in 1958 by President Dwight Eisenhower, on the anniversary of the Magna Carta.
“Law Day is subtle because on Law Day we celebrate a choice,” he said. “There’s two ways you can be governed. You can be governed by force or you can be governed by law. We made that choice back in the 1700s to be governed by law.”
Brandon Meyer, president of the Greene County Bar Association, awarded Carpenter with Pittsburgh Pirates tickets and a signed baseball. Several members of the court staff thanked Carpenter and hugged him.
Carpenter said he plans to return to Blair County and work as a senior judge there, being called upon whenever needed to temporarily fill a vacancy.