Baldwin County Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Wilters announced his retirement from the bench this week, closing out a legal career that spans nearly three decades in the county while leaving open the possibility he could seek the countys top prosecutor job next year.
Wilters, 60, made the announcement during a news conference at the Baldwin County Courthouse in Bay Minette, standing alongside his wife, Amelia, and courthouse staff. His retirement takes effect June 5. He said the decision comes down to wanting more time with family, including a daughter expecting her first child and a son preparing to begin Marine Corps Recon training this summer.
It is time to stop and smell the roses, spend some time with family, Wilters said, adding that his current workload as presiding judge leaves little room for that.
Wilters has been a judge in Baldwin County since 1993, first appointed to the district court bench by then-Governor Guy Hunt after serving as a chief assistant district attorney in the county starting in 1986. He was elevated to presiding circuit judge in January 2013 and has won multiple judicial elections since taking the bench. Before entering the judiciary, he worked in private law practice and served as a special agent with the FBI during the 1980s.
Speculation has circulated for some time that Wilters might run for Baldwin County District Attorney, a seat currently held by Hallie Dixon, who has served as the countys top prosecutor since 2011. Wilters declined to confirm or deny those plans directly, saying only that he has several options, both public and private, that hell weigh with his family after his retirement takes effect. Dixon, for her part, said she was not surprised by the retirement news and confirmed she intends to seek re-election, defending her prosecutorial record as the political speculation swirled.
Wilters will step down from his presiding judge duties immediately, handing that role to Judge Langford Floyd, who Wilters said was selected unanimously by fellow judges. A five-member judicial vacancy commission will now begin the process of identifying candidates to fill Wilters seat once he departs, ultimately narrowing the field to three names that will go to Governor Robert Bentley for a final appointment. Wilters noted the timing works out well for a transition, since the circuit wraps up its jury trial calendar in May and has no trials scheduled for June or July.
Looking back on his career, Wilters pointed to founding Baldwin Countys drug court in 2007 as his proudest professional achievement. The program, which offers drug offenders a path outside of incarceration, was recognized as the states best drug court in 2012. Whenever you have a chance to put lives back together and help make Baldwin County a better place, that is priceless, Wilters said.
Wilters said the reach of his two decades on the bench has become part of daily life in the county, noting that he regularly runs into former defendants and their families at local stores, many of whom greet him warmly. Whoevers appointed to replace him will inherit a circuit docket and a drug court program that Wilters says he hopes will continue to serve as a model for the rest of the state.