By James F. Maguire | Editor, Indiana Court Times
This is the forty-sixth of our Court Times articles that highlight up close and personal a member of the Indiana Judiciary.
Judge Darrin M. Dolehanty is the Superior Court #3 Judge in Wayne County. Judge Dolehanty is a 1989 graduate of Indiana University and a 1992 graduate of Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Following graduation, he practiced law for two years before joining the office of the Wayne County Prosecutor. He served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from 1994 to 1997, and as Chief Deputy Prosecutor from 1998 to 2002. He was elected to the Wayne County Superior Court in November, 2002 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2014.
Judge Dolehanty currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Judicial Conference of Indiana and is a member of its Strategic Planning and its Juvenile Justice Improvement Committees. He is on the Board of Managers of the Indiana Judges Association (IJA) and its Secretary-Treasurer. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (ICJFCJ) and its President. Judge Dolehanty is a member of the Supreme Court GAL/CASA Advisory Board.
Judge Dolehanty met his wife, Cherie, at IU in 1991. They were married in July, 1996. Cherie’s degrees are in Education, and she currently works as the new Director of University College on the local IU East campus. They have two rescue dogs, Stella and Kona, who have been with them for 8 years.
What was your childhood like?
I am the third of four kids, and had a fabulous childhood, growing up in the stretch between Centerville and Richmond, in Wayne County. Our parents made sure we got to parochial school in Richmond through the 8th grade, and because we did not have an associated high school, we all went to Centerville High School (Go Bulldogs!) for 9th – 12th grades.
Our back yard butted up to the neighborhood elementary school, and we had probably a hundred acres of field to explore and play. We had fabulous neighbors while growing up, and I still count many of them among our closest friends.
What prompted you to study law?
I went to university with a mind to become a teacher, and spent my freshman year at the IU School of Education. I switched direction to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs during my sophomore year. I cannot pinpoint when I came to the decision to study the law, but I can credit the direct influence of three powerful personalities: Judge J. Brandon Griffis (instructor of Juvenile Law), Dean Frank Motley (Critical Legal Studies instructor), and Judge John Baker from our Court of Appeals (while he was teaching at IU Bloomington).
What is the most challenging and most rewarding aspect of being a judge?
I am consistently guilty of telling people that being a trial court judge in Indiana is one of the best gigs around. We have the opportunity to influence, hopefully in a positive way, the direction of our community and state. And, I enjoy the dynamics of a high-volume courtroom, which can be pretty inspiring, and frequently entertaining.
The downside to all of this is the ever-present stress that comes along with presiding over so many cases that arise from family dysfunction and childhood trauma. The impact that years of stress has on our health cannot be overstated.
What profession would you choose outside of the law?
Other than my wife, I don’t know that too many people would anticipate this response. I would like to try my hand at songwriting. Imagine being the person who wrote the lyrics for “Lyin’ Eyes,” “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” “Eleanor Rigby,” or the music for “Gimme Shelter.” I’m not suggesting I have the required skillset, but I would sure like to give it a go someday.
Do you have any hobbies or favorite leisure activities?
Although my joints, bones, and muscles frequently object, I like to fill my time being physically active. Running, cycling, swimming (well, not so much with swimming, but it is a big part of triathlon, which is an awesome sport), and walking our dogs, are important parts of a good day for me. Last summer a good friend challenged me to try Spartan racing, and it is a total blast. You won’t see me on the podium for sure, but I have a great time with it nonetheless. Bonus: Spartan races have great t-shirts for finishers!
Who are the people you most admire and why?
I am lucky to have crossed the path of so many inspirational people that this could get to be a lengthy list. Without a doubt, I admire my wonderful wife. She encourages, tolerates, and shapes me. And, of course, I greatly admire my parents. They gave their everything to raise four kids, and remain dedicated to the institution of family.
Do you have a favorite saying or quote?
As far as “sayings” go, something I say often (perhaps too often) is “4 out of 5 people will tell you to never trust someone who cites statistics.” That one cracks me up every time.
The quote that most resonates with me comes out of the “Rocky” movies (and who doesn’t like a good “Rocky” movie?)
“[The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.] But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.”
Name one or more books that would make your recommended reading list.
I’m a lifelong comic book fan! I remember in the late 60’s going to Hook’s drug store and spinning the comic book rack, admiring the stories of those superheroes who are all over the movie screen now.
My 7th grade teacher read Stephen King’s The Shining to us over a period of several weeks, and by the time we survived the “hedge animals” and room 217 of the Overlook Hotel, I was completely hooked. If I had to pick just one favorite King novel, I would go with The Talisman, which he co-wrote with Peter Straub. At the same time, it’s hard to look past Christine, It, Cujo, and the entire Dark Tower series, when looking for quality reads.
I admire colleagues who can recommend books on Adams, or Grant, or Lincoln, or the Civil War, but I use fiction as an escape. I am currently bouncing back and forth between a few books: Spartan Up!, World In My Eyes (autobiography of Richard Blade, a DJ from the 1980’s), and the latest Stephen King release, The Outsider.
Do you have a preferred getaway spot or place where you like to relax, alone or with your family?
Key West. Cherie and I have been blessed to visit several times. Warm, friendly, ever-changing island, with great food choices and incredible live music year-round.
Do you have a favorite meal/recipe/restaurant?
My mom was a great cook, and kept us well-fed on a very modest budget. So, no slight to Mom’s culinary skills, but my favorite food is my wife’s awesome Paleo almond cookies that she makes from time to time as a special post-workout treat.
What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years?
If I am blessed enough to stay on the bench for another term, then my sights will be set on retirement, and working as a Senior Judge. I would like to remain involved in our new judge orientation program. And, you never know, perhaps I will have a song or two to share by then.
What question did we not ask, that you think should be asked, and what is your response to that question?
I was hoping that you would ask, “If you could have one superpower, what would it be?” I think the best response I have read came from actor Craig T. Nelson, who chose “forgiveness.” When I started on the bench, a good friend gave me a nicely-framed version of the Bible passage where King Solomon requested “wisdom” for his superpower. Kind of hard to top that one for a trial court judge – but it would be pretty cool to be “invulnerable” too!