THE CHATHAM County court system felt the loss of two noteworthy contributors last week, Magistrate Court Judge Robert E. Barker and official court reporter William M. “Bill” DeLoach.
The courts are a challenging place to work, but the fundamentals are always the same. Everyone is entitled to their day in court. Treat all parties as equals and with respect.
Both of these men did that in their own way. They left positive marks on the local legal scene. The fact that they died on the same day, last Thursday, was a sad coincidence.
Judge Barker, 82, an Air Force veteran, moved to Savannah in 1947 and graduated from Armstrong Junior College. One of his most impressive accomplishments came early. He passed the Georgia Bar exam in 1951 — after forgoing law school and studying on his own.
Judge Barker was known for his warm heart for people, his fortitude and his commitment to jurisprudence. As a private attorney, he took on the toughest cases involving accused criminals and didn’t blink. He was appointed co-counsel on the Troy Anthony Davis, Jack Edward Alderman, Christopher Lucas and William Furman trials.
The Furman case was nationally significant. It led to the 1972 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled Georgia’s death penalty statute unconstitutional.
He also was one half of the law firm of Barker and Edenfield. His partnership with attorney Tom Edenfield lasted 22 years. It was said to be the longest lasting in Savannah history.
Mr. DeLoach, 80, was a public person. He didn’t wear black robes, make decisions from the bench or represent accused killers. But his role was significant, as he was responsible for the efficient and accurate transcriptions of courtroom proceedings.
He was a Savannah native that learned typing and shorthand at Savannah High School before mastering his craft in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. A short time later, he found himself at the center of the Chatham County court system in 1954, when he became the official court reporter.
Mr. DeLoach was a constant presence in the courthouse for almost 60 years. He smoothly adapted to many changes in judges, lawyers and courtrooms during his long tenure and remained at the top of his profession. He was a class act as well. And more. Senior Superior Court Judge Perry Brannen Jr. referred to Mr. DeLoach as “the heart and soul of the courthouse.” No one will appeal that judgment.
His daughter, Janet DeLoach, 51, will succeed her father as the official court reporter for the Eastern Judicial Circuit. It seems the obvious choice; she learned from a master.
Judge Barker and Bill DeLoach were legal eagles who left positive impressions on the court system. But more than that, they are role models for others to follow.