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Division 2 judge retiring after fourth term
18 years make for many happy memories
Sun, 05/30/2010 - 00:01
By Jonathon Shacat /Herald/Review
BISBEE - On Feb. 15, 2009, Stephen Desens made a decision to retire as Cochise County Superior Court judge at the end of his current term.
That was the date when his granddaughter, Isabelle Desens, turned 3 years old.
"I decided I wanted to spend more time with family," he said in a recent interview. "I have been very happy with what I have done. It is just time for a change."
Desens, 61, is completing his fourth four-year term as Division 2 judge. He will retire effective Dec. 31, although he will stay in office for the first few days of January, until his successor is sworn in.
He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1970 and then earned his law degree from the University of Arizona in 1973. He was admitted to the Arizona Bar in the fall of that year and began practicing law in Bisbee.
In 1993, he was appointed judge pro tempore of Division 4. After two years, he was up for election. Division 2 Judge Richard Winkler was not running again, so Desens ran for that position and won.
Over his 18 years as a judge, he has dealt with a variety of cases, including juvenile delinquency and dependency cases, as well as divorces, and criminal and civil matters.
Desens said divorces are difficult. But, equally tough are the juvenile dependency cases, which are clearly focused on the best interests of the children.
"If I make a mistake on that, I can impact their entire adult life and put them on a wrong path, or create an emotional problem for them that will take years to resolve," he said.
Some of the juveniles involved in dependency cases have since contacted him either in person or in writing to express gratitude for his work and to tell him what they have done with their lives. Those times are some of his fond memories.
For criminal cases, his sentencing philosophy is simple. He said he reviews all the facts and circumstances and then considers whether the defendant is a danger to the community.
"Some things are stupid kid tricks, and some are very serious," he said, adding, "If I don't want this person in my driveway, then you don't, either."
Desens won't forget Dec. 23, 2007. It was the day a young man came to his office to thank him for having sent him to prison for 21/2 years.
"I said, 'You want to thank me for sending you to prison?' " recalled Desens. "And he said, 'Yes, I do. When I was 18, you sent me to prison. You told me you hoped it would be therapeutic, and I decided I did not want to live my life that way.'"
Desens said the man told him he ended up graduating from Arizona State University and he was going to get married and he would start a job at the beginning of 2008.
"That was one of my fondest moments," Desens said.
(Cutline information: Cochise County Superior Court Judge Stephen Desens is retiring after 18 years as a judge. (Jonathon Shacat Herald/Review))
Sun, 05/30/2010 - 00:01
By Jonathon Shacat /Herald/Review
BISBEE - On Feb. 15, 2009, Stephen Desens made a decision to retire as Cochise County Superior Court judge at the end of his current term.
That was the date when his granddaughter, Isabelle Desens, turned 3 years old.
"I decided I wanted to spend more time with family," he said in a recent interview. "I have been very happy with what I have done. It is just time for a change."
Desens, 61, is completing his fourth four-year term as Division 2 judge. He will retire effective Dec. 31, although he will stay in office for the first few days of January, until his successor is sworn in.
He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1970 and then earned his law degree from the University of Arizona in 1973. He was admitted to the Arizona Bar in the fall of that year and began practicing law in Bisbee.
In 1993, he was appointed judge pro tempore of Division 4. After two years, he was up for election. Division 2 Judge Richard Winkler was not running again, so Desens ran for that position and won.
Over his 18 years as a judge, he has dealt with a variety of cases, including juvenile delinquency and dependency cases, as well as divorces, and criminal and civil matters.
Desens said divorces are difficult. But, equally tough are the juvenile dependency cases, which are clearly focused on the best interests of the children.
"If I make a mistake on that, I can impact their entire adult life and put them on a wrong path, or create an emotional problem for them that will take years to resolve," he said.
Some of the juveniles involved in dependency cases have since contacted him either in person or in writing to express gratitude for his work and to tell him what they have done with their lives. Those times are some of his fond memories.
For criminal cases, his sentencing philosophy is simple. He said he reviews all the facts and circumstances and then considers whether the defendant is a danger to the community.
"Some things are stupid kid tricks, and some are very serious," he said, adding, "If I don't want this person in my driveway, then you don't, either."
Desens won't forget Dec. 23, 2007. It was the day a young man came to his office to thank him for having sent him to prison for 21/2 years.
"I said, 'You want to thank me for sending you to prison?' " recalled Desens. "And he said, 'Yes, I do. When I was 18, you sent me to prison. You told me you hoped it would be therapeutic, and I decided I did not want to live my life that way.'"
Desens said the man told him he ended up graduating from Arizona State University and he was going to get married and he would start a job at the beginning of 2008.
"That was one of my fondest moments," Desens said.
(Cutline information: Cochise County Superior Court Judge Stephen Desens is retiring after 18 years as a judge. (Jonathon Shacat
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