Like father, like son.
The newest Lewis County District Court judge, R.W. Buzzard, was sworn in Thursday morning.
The man administering the oath of office in the Chehalis courtroom was his father, Steve Buzzard, who presides over municipal courts in Chehalis and three other Lewis County communities.
"I'm proud. Proud of my whole family," a beaming Steve Buzzard said after the formalities ended.
"I'm all choked up; I'm pleased as punch," the younger judge's maternal grandmother, Sally Merrow, said.
Merrow was among the dozens of family members, friends, attorneys, judges and others who joined the 35-year-old Centralia man at the start of his first day on the job.
After a little more than a year as the appointed Centralia Municipal Court judge, R.W. Buzzard this summer tossed his hat into the ring to run for the district court bench. Wednesday's final official results of the Nov. 2 election put him ahead of sitting judge Merle Krouse with 51.04 percent of the votes.
On Thursday, between shaking hands and accepting congratulations, R.W. Buzzard took his niece, nephew and 4-year-old son, Jackson Buzzard, into his new office, where the youngsters looked out the window at the Lewis County Jail.
"This is a cool work, Daddy," Jackson said, and asked about the people inside the jail.
"They're on a big time-out," R.W. told his little boy.
The new district court judge was in awe of the large turnout for his swearing-in and robing ceremony. He was joined in the front of the courtroom by his wife, Amy, holding their 1-year-old daughter, Audrey, in her arms, and his son.
"Lots of faces here; I was humbled by it," he said.
In the $118,458-a-year position, Buzzard will work with Judge Michael Roewe. The judges hear criminal matters such as driving under the influence or minor drug cases that involve a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail, and civil cases that amount to a maximum of $50,000.
It's busy place, with between 14,000 and 15,000 cases filed each year. Roewe called his new co-worker enthusiastic, and said he expects "he'll do fine."
"A new start, a time of change is invigorating," Roewe said.
R.W. Buzzard's departure from Centralia Municipal Court leaves a job opening there. Centralia City Attorney Shannon Murphy said the city has put out job announcements at law offices in the area. It hopes to fill the position by the first of next year, she said.
In the meantime, Judge Steve Buzzard will begin filling in this coming Tuesday, she said.
Centralia's City Hall is a familiar place for the Buzzard family. R.W. Buzzard's mother, Missy Buzzard, is a former Centralia council member and mayor.
Public service is a family tradition that goes way back, Missy Buzzard said Thursday. She has traced back 10 generations of family that have served in elected office, she said.
Including her son, and herself, she said, others include her father, her grandmother, her grandmother's father and so on, she said.
"We're incredibly proud, another generation of service to the people," she said.
Sharyn L. Decker covers law enforcement, local fire departments and the courts for The Chronicle. She may be reached by e-mail at sdecker@chronline.com, or by telephoning 807-8235.
