Pesek to continue serving community after retirement

Judge slated to retire Saturday

Judge Leon F. Pesek Jr. speaks Dec. 16 at his retirement party. He and colleagues reflected on his early career, his relationship with his father and his quirks.
Judge Leon F. Pesek Jr. speaks Dec. 16 at his retirement party. He and colleagues reflected on his early career, his relationship with his father and his quirks.

One of Bowie County's most experienced judges is retiring, but his service to the county and community will continue.

Judge Leon F. Pesek Jr., 61, retires Saturday from the 202nd District court, where he has served since March 2004.

"I like the challenges, especially that district court provided," Pesek said. "I enjoyed being pushed to make decisions that were consistent with the law and facts of the case before me."

Pesek said the felony drug court he established is one of the most positive experiences he has had as a judge and that he expects to continue sitting as drug court judge one day per week following retirement from the 202nd.

"Looking back, it (drug court) is the high point of my career," Pesek said. "There's nothing like the feeling you get when someone you think you recognize walks up and says, 'Judge, remember me? I've been clean for four years, I've got a family and a good job.' To know I played some part in that is amazing."

Pesek said some of his most memorable cases include the trial of Joe Bradshaw. Bradshaw was sentenced to 50 years in prison for stabbing his wife, Toy Bradshaw, to death Sept. 8, 2005. The trial was held in Gregg County amid concerns Joe Bradshaw could not get a fair trial in his hometown.

Pesek recalled the case of a 2-year-old girl who was tortured to death by her father and his girlfriend Sept. 14, 2007. Latoya Smith was convicted of capital murder by a jury and sentenced to life without parole. Neil Patrick Dewitt, the baby's father, pleaded guilty to capital murder and is serving life without parole, as well.

Pesek remembers a civil case involving a man working for a crane-operating company that ended in a multimillion-dollar judgment.

"I remember it because it was such a hard-fought case. Outstanding lawyers on both sides," Pesek said. "And the surgeon who put this man's leg back together, his testimony was impressive."

Pesek's career as a jurist started in 2001, when he became the first person to serve as a judge in the newly created Bowie County Court at Law. Pesek ran for and was elected to the court and assumed the bench for the first time Jan. 1, 2001.

Before that election, Pesek worked about six years in private practice. He had already served as an assistant district attorney for seven or eight years and was appointed to serve as district attorney for 18 months when the position was left vacant.

Pesek attended law school in Fayetteville, Ark., after taking a year off upon the completion of his undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin.

"During that year, I sold cars at Orr Chevrolet," Pesek mused. "Things were good until gas got over a dollar a gallon and nobody wanted a big car."

Pesek said the sales job did lead him to develop empathy and an understanding of others that served him well in his legal career.

Of his decision to follow in the footsteps of his father, Leon Pesek Sr., who served Bowie and Red River counties for many years in the 102nd District, Pesek Jr. said, "I made the right choice."

Pesek said he married his wife of 34 years shortly after taking the bar exam.

"Beth held out just long enough for me to study for and take the bar exam," Pesek said. "We got married the next weekend."

In addition to maintaining his role as judge of Bowie County's felony drug court, Pesek said he looks forward to serving the community as a volunteer.

"So many agencies need volunteers, but they need them during the day," Pesek said.

In recent years, Pesek and his wife, Beth, have volunteered in the Salvation Army's pantry. Pesek said that when he realized the pantry, which provides food to the area's needy, shut down during the holidays when volunteers are busy with bell-ringing and Angel Tree fundraisers, he volunteered to help keep it open.

"It's been a true blessing," Pesek said. "I want to continue that. They are reaching people in this community who are really in need."

Pesek said he also expects to begin service on the ethics committee at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System in the coming months.

"I've had a phenomenal staff," Pesek said, mentioning his court coordinator, court reporter and several bailiffs. "They've become like family."

Sitting in a stiff-backed chair behind a fold-out table where his large, antique desk used to sit, Pesek remarked, "The only thing I hate more than shopping is moving. I'm really looking forward to the future."

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