Thanks, Judge Stern

When most judges leave the bench, they leave with a sense of accomplishment for having adjudicated thousands of cases, having applied the law properly and given those who have come before them a fair shake.

When Judge Rebecca Stern left her post on the Hamilton County Criminal Court bench Friday, she left with all that and also with well-deserved thanks for keeping afloat the county's drug court program.

Since the program began in November 2005, she has helped shepherd more than 100 people through the minimum 14-month program. Area residents who never thought they could beat their addictions have done so, served their time, paid their fines, taken jobs, gotten their families back and become productive members of society.

Stern, according to Times Free Press archives, was skeptical of the program when first asked to participate by former Hamilton County District Attorney General Bill Cox.

"I thought it was ridiculous," Stern said. "I just felt that people should just say no to drugs. I didn't really understand addiction."

She had to find grant money to run the program and choose a staff to coordinate it. Nevertheless, she did it, remained on the bench and saw it through its first decade.

Thanks, Judge Stern, for helping give scores of people a new lease on life.