There are thousands of heroes in the Drug Court profession around the world. We honor those who have passed away by remembering their legacy of improving justice and serving others.
Patty Lee Gilbertson - Virginia
Senior Director of Planning and Marketing, Hampton-Newport News Community Sevices Board
April 5, 1951 - August 13, 2010Patty served as Chair of the Virginia Coalition of Drug Treatment Courts since 2002 and represented Virginia in the Congress of State Drug Court Associations; her passionate leadership commanding attention across Virginia and beyond. She also served as staff to the Chief Justice’ Commission on Mental Health Law Reform from 2006 until the present. Patty was devoted to assisting individuals addicted to alcohol and other drugs. She passed away on August 13, 2010 at the age of 59.
Submitted By: John Haywood
Hon. Michael Stella - Massachusetts
First Justice of Lawrence District Court
May 6, 1944 - February 16, 2010Judge Michael Stella practiced law in Lawrence, MA until 1993 when he was appointed to the bench by Gov. William Weld. In 1996 he was appointed First Justice of the Lawrence District Court where he served until his retirement in 2004. Judge Stella was a strong supporter of Drug Courts and was the founding First Justice of the Drug Court in the Lawrence District Court.
Submitted By: Kerin Raymond
Tommy Edward Smith - Arkansas
Deputy Prosecutor
August 1, 1957 - January 16, 2010Mr. Smith served as the Drug Court prosecutor in the 16th Judicial Circuit of Arkansas. He was a charter member of ADCPA and served on the board. He had practiced law since 1985 in Heber Springs and served as deputy prosecutor for many years for Cleburne County.
Submitted By: Carol Roddy
Hon. Darrell Stevens - California
Judicial Pioneer
Feb. 20, 1938 - March 18, 2008Judge Darrell Stevens was an innovative leader for judicial change throughout his career. He was one of the first Judges in California to not only embrace Drug Courts, but to make them a force for change in his community. Central to his leadership and vision for Drug Courts was that to be effective, collaborative courts must be a community process and not a court process, and that “collaboration” could effectively take place among a team of disparate partners. He blazed a trail and left a legacy in California that remains the benchmark for Drug Courts, DWI Courts, and Collaborative Justice.
Submitted By: Hon. Stephen Manley
Robert J. Koch - Florida
Miami-Dade County Drug Court Coordinator
June 4, 1953 – August 1, 2005PASSIONATE – a word that describes Robert Koch’s interest in Drug Courts. When Drug Court came along, Robert found his life’s mission. His vision and creativity saw where Drug Courts could go, and how vast was the opportunity to help so many in need. In Broward County, he created a Hispanic Treatment Track and coordinated jail-based and out-patient treatment. He chaired the Model Drug Court Legislation Committee for NADCP, and served as a board member. In 2006, the Florida Legislature enacted the Robert J. Koch Drug Court Intervention Act, which expanded Drug Courts throughout the State of Florida. In the end, his focus was on Reentry Drug Courts. Taken from us too soon, his presence is still felt by the legacy he left behind.
Submitted By: Judge Melanie May
Hon. Stanley M. Goldstein - Florida
First Drug Court Judge
d. May 17, 2004Stanley Goldstein was the first Drug Court Judge in history. He was appointed in 1989 to the experimental Miami Drug Court, developed by Associate Chief Judge Herbert Klein with a team from the County Executive's office in response to the cocaine epidemic in South Florida. Judge Goldstein's charismatic personality, his abiding faith in the human spirit and his willingness to do whatever it took to help his clients get clean and sober, literally set the model for Drug Court judges for decades to come. Judge Goldstein's influence is felt by Drug Court judges around the world to this day.
The NADCP named their Hall of Fame in his honor as a lasting tribute to his legacy.
Submitted By: Tim Murray
Judge Larry Brown (Rusty) Ladd - Texas
County Court of Law Judge
August 8, 1952 - Sept. 30, 2011Honorable Judge Larry Brown (Rusty) Ladd went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 30, at the age of 59. A dedicated jurist, a devoted husband and father, and a deeply faithful man of God, Rusty was known and loved by many. In 1999, Rusty took the bench as the judge of Lubbock County Court at Law No. 1, where he remained in office until his death. In addition to his work on the court, Rusty presided over Lubbock County’s DWI Court and served from 2010 on the Board of the Texas Center for the Judiciary and as Vice President of the Texas Association for Drug Court Professionals. Rusty is survived by his loving wife, Irene; their daughter, Katie Kendle and her husband Josh; their sons, Matthew, Joshua and Paul Ladd; their grandchildren, Gabriel and Anna Kathryn Kendle; his mother, Nelwyn R. Ladd.
Submitted By: Hon. Ruben Reyes
Hank Pirowski - New York
Hank Pirowski lived a remarkable life. He was a New Yorker through and through, a life-long resident of Lackawanna, NY. His only significant time away from the state that he loved came when he served his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1971 to 1976. A corporal in Vietnam, Hank was awarded several commendations for his outstanding service. In 1993 he became a court analyst in Buffalo, where he served until 2010 and coordinated the city’s Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Treatment Court alongside Judge Robert Russell.
Hank’s contribution stretched far beyond Buffalo. He recognized early on the need for Drug Courts to develop long-term funding and sustainability strategies and developed the pioneering Management Information System (MIS) to facilitate data tracking. Hank traveled the country teaching Drug Courts that “data equals dollars” and spent countless hours training hundreds of courts on how to utilize data to improve performance outcomes and secure funding. His work is the foundation on which Drug Courts evaluate their programs to this day. In 2002, a grateful Drug Court field bestowed upon Hank its highest honor, electing him to the Stanley M. Goldstein Drug Court Hall of Fame during the 8th Annual NADCP Training Conference. It was one of many awards Hank would receive for his service.
In 2008, Hank helped implement the nation’s first Veterans Treatment Court as a means of coming to the aid of the men and women who suffer with substance abuse and mental illness following their service to their country. For the next two years Hank fielded literally thousands of calls and visits from people interested in adopting the model. He made each individual feel welcome in the way that only Hank could.
Those of us who were lucky enough to know Hank will remember his deep conviction to serve those less fortunate and his belief that everyone deserves a helping hand. Of course, there was also his unparalleled sense of humor and his unmistakable laugh. Hank left an indelible imprint on Drug Courts and his legacy will live on in the millions of people whose lives have been touched by the programs he loved so much. May he rest in peace.
Submitted By: NADCP