U.S. Magistrate William H. Askey has donned a federal judicial robe for 43 years and handled more than 100 criminal cases a year out of his Williamsport office.

The phrase "he's seen it all" is often misuses, but not in this case.

At the end of the year, the 88-year-old Askey will hang up his robe.

It will end a career that, by its very nature, has been understated for the most part. The federal magistrate is the first level of processing at the federal court level. So very much of what he does is the court equivalent of an office visit.

At the other end of the spectrum, Askey was in the national spotlight in 1977 when he signed the order giving Watergate figure G. Gordon Liddy.

That hearing had to be moved to the federal district courtroom to accommodate a national crowd and the hearing led the national nighttime news. Be it Liddy or a no-name defendant, Askey said in an exit interview with the Sun-Gazette that he has treated all defendants alike.

Beyond his humility and his keen understanding of the awesome responsibilities of his job and office, we were struck by an observation that Askey couched as the common thread of all his professional years.

He said he is amazed at the trouble people can get themselves into and the things they are capable of doing to harm themselves and others.

That sums up, as well as anything could, why our court system is overloaded with cases and our prison system is overcrowded.

People are willing to do amazing things when they suspend reality in favor of rationalized, criminal behavior.

Magistrate Askey has represented not just the court system, but our region, with distinction for more than four decades.

That's quite a robe he is leaving behind for someone to fill.

Back to:  LLA Member, Bill Askey, to Retire as Federal Magistrate

# # #