Thirteenth District Circuit Court Judge Robert Evans has been unable to preside over cases for some time due to an illness. Judge Evans’ district includes Covington, Jasper, Simpson and Smith Counties and he is the only judge in the district.

Judge Frank Vollor has stepped in to preside over cases in the district on an interim basis. Judge Vollor retired from the bench in 2009 after serving as a Circuit Court Judge for the Ninth District, which includes Warren County.

I am sure that Judge Vollor will do a great job, but Judge Evans is irreplaceable. If I could pick one state or federal trial judge to try a case before, it would be Judge Evans. He maintains complete control over his courtroom while basically having an open chambers for the lawyers during a trial. Lawyers from both sides spend a lot of time in Judge Evans’ office during trials drinking coffee and shooting the bull.

When Judge Evans rules he has a way of softening the blow for the side that he is ruling against. In addition, he has a great judicial temperament and I have never seen him “poison the well” with a jury by using different tones of voices to lawyers on opposing sides. He is a great trial judge.

I have heard Judge Evans state how much he loves his job and how fun it is. That passion is evident in the courtroom and he makes trying a case fun for the lawyers.