He is the new judge on the block, but St. Clair County Drug Court Judge R.O. Hughes is certainly not new on the bench.“We’re really, really fortunate to have someone of his caliber out here and willing to help when needed,” said St. Clair County Presiding Circuit Court Judge Charles Robinson. “I’m tickled to death to have Judge Hughes.”
Hughes, a retired Jefferson County District Court judge, was appointed by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb to serve as the new St. Clair County Drug Court judge at the recommendation of Robinson.
Hughes, 75, replaces former St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge William “Bill” Hereford, who recently announced his candidacy for Pell City mayor.
Robinson describes Hughes as a compassionate man who will make an ideal drug court judge.
“He’s compassionate, but he’s also strong when he has to be,” Robinson said.
He said Hughes’ character is beyond reproach, and the veteran judge was the first person he thought of as a replacement for Hereford.
“I’ve known him for years,” Robinson said. “He’s an excellent judge.”
Hughes is a Birmingham native, but he knows east St. Clair County and Pell City well. He bought a lot along Dye Creek and in 1970 built a summer home there.
“I had a few cases up here when I was practicing law, but not many,” Hughes said.
In 2003, he and his wife of 53 years, Mary Ellen, sold their Birmingham home and permanently moved to Logan Martin Lake.
“I thought he was a terrific choice,” Hereford said.
He said Hughes is a veteran judge with an excellent record, who also resides in Pell City — an ideal situation for the St. Clair County court system and the people it represents.
“He was just a perfect choice,” Hereford said.
Before becoming involved with the practice of law, Hughes served a four-year stint with the U.S. Air Force. While in the service, he played for the Air Force baseball team.
He earned a baseball scholarship at the University of South Carolina after one of his engineering professors found out he played for the Air Force baseball team.
But Hughes was reluctant about playing college ball.
“I told him I didn’t have the time,” Hughes said, adding that his professor was insistent he play for the college baseball team.
So he did until he met his wife.
“I came back to Birmingham to visit and met my wife,” he said.
After that, the University of South Carolina was history. He transferred to Samford University and later attended and graduated from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham.
Hughes began practicing law immediately after graduating from law school.
In 1993, Gov. Guy Hunt appointed Hughes as a Jefferson County District Court judge. He was one of three judges assigned to the Birmingham District Court, Criminal Division.
Hughes was re-elected as a Jefferson County District Court judge twice. He made an unsuccessful run for a spot on the Alabama Supreme Court in 1998.
Hughes officially retired in February 2003 and moved to Pell City.
“It’s quite an honor to be elected or appointed to the bench, at least it is to me,” Hughes said.
During his career, Hughes practiced law for 25 years and served as judge for 10 years.
He also worked as an industrial engineer for a large engineering company in Birmingham while attending law school.
“I was well into my life before I started law school,” he said. “I didn’t start law school until I was 32. I finished law school when I was 36.”
Hughes said drug court, which is a part of the county’s community corrections program, is vital to the community and St. Clair County. He noted that many crimes committed in St. Clair County are drug related.
“It’s a viable alternative to prison,” Hughes said, adding he would like model the drug court here after the one in Shelby County.
The white-headed judge is sincere when he talks about the defendants who appear in his drug court.
“I want to help them,” Hughes said. “I’ll do my part, if they do their part.”
He said it is frustrating at times when someone is repeatedly given the opportunity to clean up their life, but they fail to seize that opportunity.
“Some people just don’t want to be helped,” he said.
Robinson described Hughes as a man of faith and someone the community would most assuredly embrace.
“I tell you, I love it here,” Hughes said. “Pell City is a wonderful place to live. We have a lot of development going on, and it’s going to get even better.”
He said people at the courthouse are wonderful to him, and Hughes himself is also receiving high marks from court personnel.
But it’s not all about work — his hobby is flying.
“I don’t hunt or play golf,” Hughes said. “I love flying.”
He is also a Sunday school teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Eden.
Hughes is a family man with two sons, Richard and Mark, and four grandchildren, including one granddaughter, Jessica Herbinger, who works in the St. Clair County District Attorney’s Office.
“Next to God, my family is the most important thing to me on earth,” Hughes said.
Hughes said he is uncertain how long he will continue work as the new St. Clair County Drug Court judge.
“I’m here as long as they need me,” he said.
