A tree dedicated in honor of retired state district judge Charles J. Hearn shades a corner of the lawn on the northeast side of the courthouse.
Judge Hearn served for 14 years as District Judge in Houston. He retired in 1992, and was honored by State Sen. Rodney Ellis with a resolution (a customary thank you):
By: Ellis S.R. No. 184
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, For more than 14 years Judge Charles J. Hearn
loyally and ably served the people of Texas, and they will deeply
miss this eminent jurist who retired on December 31, 1992; and
WHEREAS, Elected judge of Houston's 263rd District Court
in November, 1978, the Honorable Charles Hearn served without
opposition until his retirement; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, Judge Hearn
dedicated himself to a justice system that applies the law equitably
to all individuals; and
WHEREAS, Noted for his expertise in legal matters, Judge Hearn
maintained a strict decorum while showing a genuine compassion for
those involved in legal entanglements; he upheld a standard of
excellence that serves as an example for others in his profession;
and
WHEREAS, A native of Port Arthur, Texas, Judge Hearn graduated
from Thomas Jefferson High School and received a bachelor of science
degree in psychology from the University of Houston; he attended
South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in May,
1967; and
WHEREAS, During his college years, he gained extensive
experience as a social worker and a juvenile and adult probation
officer; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his duties on the district court,
Judge Hearn served with distinction as an Administrative Judge
for the Criminal Division of the District Courts and as Chairman of
the Executive Board of the Justice Information Management System;
and
WHEREAS, He has freely given of his time and energies to his
community as a director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, as
a member of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Association International
and President Lions Club International, and as a board member of
"Family Time"; and
WHEREAS, Presently a mediator with the Judicial Arbitration
and Mediation Services, he works as a visiting judge as needed; and
WHEREAS, The State of Texas has benefitted immeasurably from
the wisdom and dedication of this notable public servant who has so
conscientiously performed his duties; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
73rd Legislature, hereby commend Judge Charles J. Hearn for his
meritorious service and his unswerving support and improvement of
the Texas judicial system; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
Judge Hearn as an expression of highest esteem and respect from the
Texas Senate. _____________________________________
I here certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 9, 1993.
Once he retired, Judge Hearn made the kind of headlines that no judge ever wants to make. From the Los Angeles Times: (
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"Inmate's Lawyer Frowns Upon 'Happy Face' on Death Warrant
July 29, 1993| Associated Press
HOUSTON — A lawyer for a Death Row inmate is complaining because a judge sent the condemned man an execution order signed with a little "happy face" flourish.
"It's like someone laughing at a funeral," said William Kunstler, attorney for Robert Nelson Drew, who was convicted of killing a hitchhiker in 1983.
Kunstler said Drew "was shocked by it. Who would not be shocked?" The lawyer told the New York Times that his client interpreted the grinning face as callous mockery. "It's like he's saying, 'Have a nice death,' " Kunstler said.
But Judge Charles J. Hearn said Tuesday that he meant no disrespect on the execution order. Hearn, 62, said he has put a happy face on his signature for as long as he can remember, in hopes of brightening someone's day.
The same happy face flourish caused a stir last year when Hearn used it on the bottom of a letter to other judges announcing a peer's death.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's a good signature. You've got to be a happy person. We've got too many people . . . walking around with grim looks on their faces," Hearn said.
Kunstler said the signature shows the prevailing callousness regarding the death penalty.
"Everybody has become so jaded . . . that now we greet it more with smiles than tears," he said. "Maybe Hearn's done one good thing here: Maybe he's exposed the feeling that these things have become routine."
Kunstler, who maintains Drew is innocent, said he plans to study whether the happy face can be used to get a new trial. Hearn was the trial judge in the case." [end]
This led Texas Monthly magazine to feature Judge Hearn in its annual "Bum Steers" compilation of brainless screw-ups, miscellaneous episodes of bad taste, and human awkwardness in 1994. See here: (
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Fame is fleeting but infamy and stupidity lives forever: Three years after his death, Hearn landed on TM's list of "Best Bum Steers EVER:" (
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"The Best Bum Steers. Ever.
We published the first Bum Steer Awards in January 1974, and we haven’t missed a year since. We pored over all 32 installments—and more than 2,500 items—to come up with… the BEST BUM STEERS. EVER.
1994
P.S. BON VOYAGE
State district judge Charles J. Hearn, of Houston, sent death row inmate Robert Drew a letter informing him of the date for his execution and added a happy face after his signature."
This episode with Judge Hearn is also featured on page 118 of the book "Stupid Texans: Idiots in the Lone Star State" by Leland Gregory: (
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And, probably more embarrassingly for the Judge, in the "Dogs and Snipes" column of the Oct 1993 issue of the Journal of the American Bar Association: (
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What's not funny is that Drew did not get a new trial and was executed in the Texas death chamber on 02 Aug 1994 for murder.
Blasterz cannot help but point out the irony of choosing a red oak to commemorate a judge who embarrassed himself and his state with his inappropriate "usual" happy-face signature on an execution warrant.