I have rarely, if ever, written about local office holders in these columns.

There are reasons for this reticence.

On the one hand, there is the fact that I know most of these folks. Many I count as friends, some as only nodding acquaintances. None would I count as implacable adversaries. I prefer to keep it that way.

On the other hand, most of these folks know me, if only peripherally. I’m the tall guy who used to smoke a pipe before I morphed into becoming the town’s pointy-headed liberal. If they know something unflattering about yours truly, I’d prefer they keep it to themselves.

Suffice to say, there are good and sufficient reasons for maintaining the status quo.

But I’m going to make an exception.

I saw on the front page of the local newspaper awhile back that Judge George Hopkins has announced his intention to retire from the bench in 2018.

Back in my prior life as an attorney, you had to be very careful about what you said about judges. Say something nice, and it could appear you were trying to curry favor. Say something not so nice, and it was, in the words of the song, like “tugging on Superman’s cape, or spitting into the wind, or pulling the mask off the old Lone Ranger.” None of these actions would be conducive to a constructive long-term relationship with the local judiciary.

However, my law license has been in “retired” status for several years now, and I suppose I can speak more freely.

I understand that George was, and is, a pretty good judge. I don’t think I ever appeared before him. I tried to keep out of courtrooms as much as possible, because bad things happened to me there. I would tell people that if I represented someone for jaywalking, the odds were they would probably get the death penalty.

People laughed.

I never did.

Anyway, back to George.

Frequently in these columns I mention that one can be partisan and yet have folks on the other side of divide with whom you can find common ground.

I hope I’m not “outing” him, but when I make such references, I often have George Hopkins in mind.

Over the years, and behind the scenes, I suppose George and I have solved the problems of the city, county, state, country, and universe, several times over.

George and I would often disagree, but George was never disagreeable. He would stake out his position and defend it. He did so with grace, wisdom, self-awareness, and a touch of self-deprecating humor.

The world could use more folks like George, and so could our politics—even if he is a diehard Republican.

At least he likes IU.

How do you honor a guy like George, beyond posting his picture on a wall in the courtroom?

Looking to the future, let me suggest a way.

The law is neither Republican, nor Democrat. It is, or should be, apolitical.

In Indiana, trial judges run under party labels, but party affiliation should be the least qualification for the office.

In the next several months, candidates for George’s seat will be coming out of the woodwork. I don’t know who they will be, but as sure as God made little green apples, they will be.

Pay attention to those races. Try to evaluate the qualifications and judicial temperament of all the candidates—from all sides of the political spectrum. Go to candidate forums. Ask questions. Ask around.

Winnow out the ones coming from so-so private practices and in need of the salary, the ones looking towards the pension, or in need of the health insurance.

Find the ones who are sensitive to the majesty of the law, and are willing to apply it based upon the facts, without favoritism, and without concern as to how their rulings will be perceived—even by the public.

If you want to honor George Hopkins, find a successor in whom he can take pride.