Subject:  Judge from JJ case retires |
Author:
Chris
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Date Posted: 02/ 9/07 1:50pm
I always like Schnelz!
Retiring judge recalled as witty, cranky but fair
February 6, 2007
BY L.L. BRASIER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Oakland County Judge Gene Schnelz, known for his quick wit and sharp temper, has announced he will retire in July.
"People always said it would be a cold day in hell when I retired and my God, it is," Schnelz quipped Monday, as temperatures hovered near zero. "I'm honored that they closed all the schools to mark the occasion."
Schnelz, 73, has two years left in his term on the Oakland County Circuit Court bench, but decided to leave before it expires.
He told colleagues the news in a written statement, saying he was leaving sooner to get a leg up on three other judges set to retire then.
"There is a rumor circulating that the reason I have decided to depart now is just so I can guarantee my own personal retirement party. The rumor is correct," he wrote.
Schnelz told the Free Press he has decided to leave to spend more time with his wife, Betty, and grandchildren. "I will miss it, but I've made up my mind," he said.
Schnelz was first elected to the Novi district court bench in 1974, after practicing law for several years. He moved to the circuit court bench in 1978. Over the years he has heard many high-profile cases, including the Jenny Jones talk show murder.
In the 1970s, Schnelz strapped on a safety cord when he visited the roof of the Renaissance Center while hearing more than 14 months of lawsuits involving the contractors who built it. The cases were so lengthy and complex, the attorneys involved presented him with a plaque for his persistence.
But it was the daily business of running a courtroom where he most made his mark, cajoling, lecturing and encouraging.
Attorneys who showed up unprepared, or with clients dressed in less than appropriate attire, got lectures on proper decorum.
"You never wanted to disappoint him," said Cheryl Matthews, a circuit court judge and former prosecutor who frequently appeared before Schnelz. "He was like a dad. Kind of gruff, but he's all mushy inside and everybody knows it."
He is also one of the few judges who could rein in attorney Geoffrey Fieger, known for his theatric courtroom tactics. Fieger said that's because he considers Schnelz one of the best judges in the state.
"I'm profoundly disappointed," Fieger said. "He has a wonderful judicial temperament because he tries to give both sides a fair shake. Although he can be cantankerous, there is never a feeling from either side that he is not being fair."
Schnelz said he will join his son Kurt Schnelz in the Birmingham law firm of Schnelz Wells, working mostly in mediation and arbitration.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm will appoint his replacement.
Contact L.L. BRASIER at 248-858-2262 or brasier@freepress.com. Staff writer John Wisely contributed to this report.
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