Chief Douglas County District Court Judge Robert Fairchild and his wife, Marty, are shown by their boat, which provides relaxation for the couple from stressful weeks at work.

“I’m not one of those people who knew from birth what he wanted to do with his life, nor was I inspired to find my vocation by one person,” admits Chief Douglas County District Court Judge Robert Fairchild.

He says he’s been inspired and encouraged by many people, including teachers, clergy, lawyers, judges and family members.

“My family placed a heavy emphasis on education and using your life to make a difference for other people,” he says.

Most people assumed he’d become a doctor like his pediatrician father, but he disliked science and math and became interested in social sciences in junior high. After graduating from Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, in 1966, he studied economics at Texas Tech University.

“All my family, as far back as my great-grandfather, attended KU, so I decided to do something different,” he says.

“In my first term I knew I’d made a big mistake and should have gone to KU with my friends, but I decided to stick it out in Texas.”

As graduation approached, he debated whether to pursue a doctorate in economics or attend KU’s law school like his great-grandfather, grandfathers and uncle before him.

“I knew how much small-town lawyers helped and supported people in crisis at crucial stages in their lives,” he explains.

“I finally decided I could serve people better as a lawyer.”

After graduating from Texas Tech in 1970 with a degree in economics, he enrolled at KU. During summers he worked for the county attorney, then a local law firm who offered him a job when he graduated with a juris doctorate in 1973. He continued in private practice, worked as a mediator, taught (and still teaches) classes at KU law school, and was appointed district judge by Governor Bill Graves in 1996. He was appointed chief judge in 2002.

As district judge, Fairchild carries a full docket of cases; as chief judge, he’s responsible for the day-to-day issues involved in running the 7th Judicial District. He says it’s challenging wearing two hats, and recent financial cuts means he spends more time than ever on budgetary issues.

He admits murder and abuse cases that involve children are particularly harrowing. He says his faith, ongoing support from fellow judges, family and especially his wife, Marty, clinical operations manager at Children’s Mercy Hospital’s gastroenterology department, helps him de-stress and keep things in perspective.

Despite the many challenges, including having to make some difficult and unpopular judicial decisions, Fairchild remains passionate about his job. He enjoys combining and applying the intellectual and pragmatic elements of his work, and using his head and heart to help those who appear before him, or ask his judicial advice.

“It’s an honor for me to have been entrusted with this position, and to be able to continue to serve my community, my profession and society in this way,” Fairchild says.

“I know I can’t always make a big difference in people’s lives, but I can keep making little differences that can hopefully bring about change over time.”