Judge Simpson retiring at month's end
<p>First District Court Judge Benjamin Simpson talks about his experience in the Idaho court system on Thursday in his chambers in Coeur d’Alene. Simpson, 66, is retiring at the end of the month.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - It's time for 1st District Judge Benjamin Simpson to relax and do more sailing.
He is retiring April 30 and plans to spend more time on his 26-foot wooden sailboat on Lake Coeur d'Alene.
"I'm retiring because I'm 66 and that's enough," Simpson said Thursday.
He was a magistrate for 10 years and spent the past five as a District Court judge.
In addition to being thoughtful and fair on the bench, Simpson will be remembered for pioneering a program that changes the way courts deal with child-custody cases.
He developed the Informal Custody Trial civil procedure, and got it adopted by the Idaho Supreme Court.
"It's just a better way to deal with families and kids," Simpson said. "It allows the parties to waive the rules of evidence in custody cases and just come in and be conversational with the court about what's good for their kids."
Informally, he started taking that approach 10 years ago. The state formally adopted it in 2008.
"I'm proud of that," Simpson said.
He trained judges in Utah on the procedure. Last year, he spoke at a judicial conference in Alaska, which also has adopted the procedure.
On the criminal side, Simpson said he always strove to craft sentences that help people rehabilitate.
"I always try to treat people with respect," Simpson said. "I call people 'sir' and 'ma'am' as I sentence them. I think it's important to do that, to respect the human dignity."
Beginning in July, Simpson will serve part time as a senior judge. He will work 35 days a year for five years.
Simpson attended Gonzaga University's law school. He practiced law for 16 years in Wallace before becoming a magistrate.