SAN ANGELO, TX — After 44 years of service as San Angelo's Municipal Court Judge, Justice Allen Gilbert signed off in a retirement ceremony before family, friends, and colleagues.
“Gilbert called me back in December and said I’m retiring on March 1,” said former San Angelo mayor and close friend to Justice Gilbert, Dwain Morrison. “I said you ain’t going nowhere boy. You’ve been telling me this for 20 years, but it looks like today the Judge is finally hanging up his spurs.”
WATCH: Judge Gilbert's retirement ceremony remarks:
For Judge Gilbert his tenor on the bench has been about the relationships made along with his love and support for the people of San Angelo. “That is something that I surely have, and it’s been my pleasure to be able to serve for this period of time,” said Judge Gilbert.
Judge Gilbert took the bench in 1974 and has served San Angelo with honor. The judge has also been a mentor to a number of justices over the years. “I teach the new judges schools for the state,” said Judge Gilbert. “One of the first things I tell them is that when a person comes in and he’s got concrete all over his pants, and he’s hot, sweaty and he’s dirty that’s the guy that’s welcome in my courtroom. That’s the guy that’s hardworking, he’s trying to make a living, and he’s doing everything that he’s supposed to do. That guy, that lady is welcome in our courtroom.”
Gilbert will continue to serve as a parttime municipal judge as needed, according to City records.
Freddy DeAnda contributed to this report.
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