Retiring judge discusses life on the bench

Judge William L. Syler spoke before the Cape County Republican Women's Club on Friday afternoon to answer questions and share insights about his experiences on the bench.

Syler is presiding judge for the 32nd Circuit Court in Missouri. He was first elected in 1992 and since has won re-election every six years. He announced in January of his plans to retire after his term expires in December.

The 32nd Circuit Court includes Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Perry counties. Over the past 22 years, Syler said he's seen many changes in the courthouses of each county.

Among the most obvious changes is technology. He said carbon paper and typewriters have been replaced with laptops and tablets, and court files can be entered online rather than delivered to the court clerk by hand.

"We don't even accept paper [files] anymore," said Syler.

Judges can access and review case files of hundreds of pages in court from a two-screened computer. Reviewing them from home also is easier, he said, because judges can access the documents from personal computers.

Syler also discussed the basic requirements of the job of circuit judge. He said he's often on call over the weekend to sign documents such as search warrants and orders of ex parte, in which a judge can decide something without all of the parties present.

Throughout the week, he makes the "circuit" around the three counties, hearing civil and domestic cases, although he's sometimes he's asked to transfer and hear cases in other counties; the judge said he's tried cases in nearly every county in Southeast Missouri and in St. Louis.

When people ask Syler about his career as a judge, he said they often ask him how difficult it is to make decisions that come with such consequences.

"People say, 'Oh, how can you send someone to a long term in prison or jail?'" he said. "Well, that's not hard. If somebody's done something that deserves that, that's not difficult at all."

The difficult cases involve "choosing the lesser of the evils," Syler explained. That sometimes happens in child-custody cases when parents divorce and one remarries, then plans to move out of the area.

"Those are the hard decisions. Those are the ones where you're thinking, 'I feel for both of these people,'" Syler said.

Holly Lintner, who officially traded her title of Cape County Republican Women's Club president for club treasurer Friday, said these insights are why the club invited Syler to speak.

"We think it's very important for us all to be informed about exactly what [judges] do and what challenges they face to better understand the position," she said.

It's especially important because voters will select Syler's replacement later this year, she added.

But Syler doesn't plan to sit idly by once he retires. The judge said he's already begun classes to become a certified mediator to help parties resolve disputes out of court.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

236 Broadview St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.