Celebration on Friday evening marks an area judge’s retirement

By Jenna Wilson

A retirement celebration was held for Judge Patrick K. Robb after a 38-year career behind the bench.

Judge Robb will ring in the new year by handing in his gavel for the 5th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri.

Community members and area officials gathered in the Division Three Courtroom at the Buchanan County Courthouse on Friday evening, Dec. 6 to honor Robb’s retirement which officially begins on Dec. 31, 2024.

Robb has served as a Circuit Judge for the State of Missouri since 1988, bringing justice to a countless number of families in both Andrew and Buchanan counties.

Local judges and juvenile officers reflected upon Robb’s career in which he made impactful court decisions for youth and advocated for abused or neglected children.

Linda Meyer, Chief Juvenile Officer for Buchanan County, was one of the many attendees at Judge Robb’s retirement ceremony on Friday evening.

Officer Meyer spoke of Judge Robb’s commitment and effort to remove a child from its home to be placed in secured detention, ordering a youth be made to stand trial as an adult, granting an adoption and other demanding decisions that the judge has made over the years.

“It’s really unheard of that you would have a judge that would remain committed to a juvenile court program for 35 years,” said Meyer. “We really have been blessed because these are hard cases that are day in and day out, from child abuse, neglect, delinquency charges where kids have made a bad decision and just making impactful life changing decisions overall.”

The judge himself, spoke about the challenges that came with his role, how he aimed to serve the community in the best way and how he is confident that he has left an impact that will remain within the area courts system, even after his retirement officially begins at the end of the year.

Juvenile officers shared that they plan to continue developing a rapport and individualized case plans with Judge Robb, despite his retirement.

“I’ve looked up to Judge Robb ever since I held my current position,” Meyer said. “I’ve learned more information about this role than I can even detail just from working alongside him and he will be missed but I know we’re going to utilize every skill we’ve learned from him and stay dedicated to serving our youth and community.”

The Buchanan County Commissioner’s Office made a proclamation renaming the Buchanan County Academy to the Patrick K. Robb Academy.