DiSalle steps down as president judge in Washington County
In a surprise announcement at the Washington County Bar Association’s winter conference Friday, President Judge John DiSalle revealed that he is stepping down from the chief judiciary position in the courthouse.
DiSalle, who has served as president judge since January 2021, will immediately hand over the reins to Judge Gary Gilman, who will be sworn-in during a private ceremony upon receiving his formal commission at a later date.
While delivering his “state of the judiciary” address, DiSalle told the various lawyers and judges gathered at the Winter Bench Bar held in Southpointe that it was time for a “changing of the guard” as he stepped aside but planned to still remain on the bench.
“It’s been a long couple of years for me,” DiSalle said. “I’m going to step aside and pass the torch to Judge Gilman.”
DiSalle noted the various challenges he faced over the past three years, including navigating the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and trying to quell the unruly behavior by some of the county’s elected row officers who challenged his authority.
“I would like to think I helped us weather the storm and get us through the bad times, and hopefully they’re behind us now,” DiSalle said. “Having survived all that, I think it’s time for me to step aside.”
He said he’ll work closely with Gilman to help the transition and pointed to other counties in which the president judge has stepped down from the position but remained on the bench in a judicial position below his or her successor.
“It’s better now to make the transition rather than when you’re up against it,” DiSalle said, alluding to eventual retirement.
However, the move seemed to indicate that DiSalle would not run for retention in 2025 and will likely leave the judiciary when his second 10-year term expires in January 2026. DiSalle has served on the bench for 18 years after being elected in 2005.
After speaking for several minutes and touching on other changes with the judiciary, including courthouse renovations and the recent addition of a seventh courtroom, DiSalle called Gilman up and the two judges shook hands. Gilman praised DiSalle’s handling of various controversial issues during his tenure, which included holding former clerk of courts Brenda Davis in contempt and sending her to the Washington County jail for 15 days after she disobeyed his court orders and then created a commotion in the courthouse during an incident in November 2021.
“To put it diplomatically, Judge DiSalle had some unprecedented problems put on his plate … and I know it takes a toll,” Gilman said.
DiSalle now has the honor of being bookended by spouses since Gilman’s wife, Senior Judge Katherine Emery, served as president judge from 2015 until her retirement from the bench at the end of 2020.
His announcement preceded a speech made during the conference by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Todd, who praised DiSalle for his work ethic and supervision of various specialty courts in Washington County.
“I think we all owe him a debt of gratitude,” Todd said.