Judge Richard J. Talbot of the Keene District Court retired June 30, after serving 36 years as a judge in the Keene area. He is to be honored at a farewell party at Keene State College on July 8.

Talbot, a graduate of Boston University School of Law, was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1967. He was appointed to the district court on May 29, 1969, as a special justice and was made a presiding justice in November of 1984.

A man not prone to spectacle, Judge Talbot has a reputation not only for calm, sincere professionalism at all times and under the most trying circumstances, but also for his even-handed administration of justice, area practitioners said. "Everyone gets a fair shake," said William W. Cleary, Cheshire County Attorney. "People trust him because he truly cares about defendants’ rights and rehabilitation, as well as victims’ rights and needs, police, probation and even attorneys’ needs."

With the press of the docket to contend with, fully-negotiated pleas would usually fly by in Talbot’s court. "But if he had concerns about a victim’s safety or a defendant’s rehabilitation, things came to a screeching halt until those issues were addressed," said Cleary. "Keene District Court is like all district courts—great theater. Most people and attorneys are fine. But there are lots of crazy people, posturing attorneys and the like. He never broke a sweat."

Much of what a district court judge does goes unseen and unnoticed by the public, but it is just as important as what goes on in the courtroom—perhaps even more so. This behind-the-scenes work is especially important in those "169" areas of the law, such as delinquency, CHINS (Children in Need of Services), abuse and neglect.

"In these areas Judge Talbot leaves behind a legacy of surpassing concern for the welfare of children," said Edward J. Burke of Bragdon & Berkson in Keene. "As we who work in these areas know too well, not all of these cases have satisfactory outcomes, but Judge Talbot took every opportunity to give every case, and every child involved, the opportunity to succeed." A former county attorney, Burke said he knew that Judge Talbot could be counted upon to be receptive to proposals for alternatives to the standard sentencing schemes—"Even if there was no money to support them!"

"Judge Talbot is a model of composure on the bench," said Patrick W. Ryan, Keene District Court Clerk. "I believe that he has a true understanding of human nature. He knows people."

Ryan said once while still in private practice he had appeared before the judge with a client who was out of control. "She started yelling at the judge for letting drug dealers go, etc., etc. He listened for a while, then asked me if I’d gone over the waiver form with my client. I said I had. My client continued to rant at the County Attorney.

"Some might argue that the Judge should have held the defendant in contempt—but he did not; he knew her background and did what he thought was appropriate for that defendant, regardless of what others might have thought."

Judge Talbot viewed each defendant as an individual and not just a case number, crafting bail orders and sentences specifically for each person, said Ryan. He connected with the community by establishing relationships with Beech Hill Hospital, a substance abuse treatment facility, and with Monadnock Family Services. He helped establish Cheshire County’s alternative sentencing program and the Mental Health Court.

In small claims cases, Judge Talbot always took the time to write out a full decision. He did that so that each party would know that he or she had been heard; he let each speak his or her piece. "From the standpoint of a clerk, that can become problematic, as other cases back up; however, it couldn’t be more important to the litigants—knowing that the judge has listened to them," said Ryan. "For many, this will be their only experience in court. They may not agree with his decision, but none of them can say that he didn’t listen."

In addition to listening and taking the time to write out an order, Judge Talbot would spend countless hours on research—and not just for cases in which litigants had representation, but for pro se cases as well.

"He is truly an "institution" in this area and June 30th will be a very sad day," said Ryan. "We hope that new legislation will allow him to sit on occasion. He truly cares about this court and the community it serves.

"Personally, I consider myself lucky to have worked with and for such a man. He is one of the people I respect most in life and I am proud to call him my boss, my mentor—and my friend."

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