Monday morning will bring a historic change for the Orange County Courthouse. 260th State District Judge Buddie Hahn will no longer be in his office. After serving 33 1/2 years in the position, he has retired.
Friday afternoon his friends, family, lawyers, and other judges honored him at a reception. If anyone said the word “judge,” in the room, several heads turned. Some of those judges drove from Beaumont or other out-of-town places.
Former District Attorney Jim Sharon Bearden said Hahn is the longest serving state district judge in the county’s history.
Hahn thanked everyone and gave a tribute to his staff, including his court assistant, Judy Mingle, who has been with him for most of those years. He called Mingle his “right-hand person”and said she is also retiring.
Current District Attorney John Kimbrough said he his first criminal trial before Hahn. Those were the days when Kimbrough was a young assistant district attorney.
“He’s been the best judge,” Kimbrough said. “I think everybody respects him, even if you don’t agree with one of his decisions, you can understand his reasoning.”
Hahn’s wife, Carol, and son Garrett, plus his brother and sister-in-law were also there. The judge said he took his oath of office in the 128th District Courtroom, where the reception was held. He recalled a 3-year-old Garrett standing by him, holding onto his leg. Garrett later told his mother that he liked daddy’s “dress,” referring to the robe.
Hahn will work as a visiting judge, officiating over trials when an active judge is absent or has recused herself because of a conflict.
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