Judicial Profiles
| Publication year | 1992 |
| Pages | 28 |
| Citation | Vol. 5 No. 3 Pg. 28 |
Profile of Judge Timothy R. Hanson
Elizabeth Dolan Winter, J.
BACKGROUND
In college Judge Hanson swore he'd never "drive a desk." I guess he technically "drives a bench, " so he stayed true to his word.
Judge Hanson had a great deal of experience in the working world before he became a lawyer. He mowed lawns for a living when he was eight; started spending his summers on a cattle ranch when he was twelve; and worked for a construction company operating heavy equipment while he was in college. With Huber, Hunt & Nichols Construction Company Judge Hanson helped build the "Boulevard of the Stars" in Century City and the first round theater in Hollywood where "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" premiered.
After Judge Hanson graduated from law school, he joined the firm of Hanson, Russon, Hanson & Dunn where he had the honor of working with his father, Rex J. Hanson, an outstanding lawyer and excellent role model. Judge Hanson says his father had a significant impact on his view of the profession and his approach to the practice of law. According to Judge Hanson, his father was "absolutely honest;" "his word was his bond, literally, " and that "with perhaps the exception of his family, the law came first in his life." Judge Hanson remembers one time when his father represented to the opposing party that his client would settle the claim for a certain amount. The client backed out, so Judge Hanson's father personally paid the settlement to "make good" on his promise.
In practice, Judge Hanson loved trying cases. He candidly admits that he hated office politics; billable hours; hiring decisions; and worrying about whether there would be enough money to pay the rent. After twelve years of practice, working long hours often seven days a week, he says he realized that work had consumed him, and that he wanted the opportunity to maintain some sort of balance between work and his personal life.
In the spring of 1982, Judge Hanson learned that Governor Scott Matheson was appointing "reasonably young" trial lawyers as judges on the trial bench. Matheson, Hanson says, didn't care about the lawyer's personal political agendas; instead, he looked to see if the candidate had good skills and if they were hard working. (Hanson admits being a "conservative, " and a "devout republican, " but says Matheson didn't hold that against him). Hanson was appointed to the trial bench in 1982.
According to Judge Hanson, being a trial judge allows him to do every day what he loved most in practice — try cases. Hanson says sometimes he misses "being the one getting to ask all the questions during trial, " and says sometimes it's hard to keep his mouth shut when he sees how much fun a lawyer is having delving into the facts with an intriguing witness.
VIEWS ON THE LEGAL SYSTEM
A significant problem with our current legal system, according to Judge Hanson, is that young attorneys who want to be "trial lawyers" don't have the opportunity to try cases. "Trial lawyers, " says Hanson, "shouldn't have to wait until they have been out of school ten years to try their first case." (Judge Hanson dislikes the term "litigator, " he says it sounds like a bunch of people running around never accomplishing anything).
Judge Hanson tried his first case after he had been admitted to the bar for three days. His opponent won a directed verdict, and Hanson was devastated. Whether you win or lose, says Hanson, new lawyers need to try a few cases to learn how to convince a jury that their version of the facts is correct.
Judge Hans on...
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