WESTFIELD – Judge Phil Contant retired Thursday – sort of.
Philip A. Contant, First Justice at Westfield District Court for 33 years, heard his last case on Thursday after the court staff gathered in the courtroom to wish him well on his last day on the bench in Westfield.
The staff at Westfield District Court applauds as First Justice Philip A. Contant takes the bench for the last day of his 34 year career as a judge. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Retired Clerk-Magistrate Carol Katany-Casartello returned to the court for the session. “She came back for an encore performance” Contant said, “ We really had a great relationship for 25 years.”
“I’m not really going to be retired” he said, “Thirty four years wasn’t enough”, he said with a smile, “I gotta do more.”
”I’m actually serving as a recall judge.” He explained that as a recall judge he may serve in any court other than Westfield to alleviate the shortage of justices in the district courts.
After work on his last day on the bench, Contant gathered with friends, family and colleagues for a party and offered some farewell remarks to the assembly after dinner.
“I’ve always felt it’s the best job in the world” he said. “The district court, I love it because its sort of a street level (court).”
He had high praise for the court and the staff he has worked with, calling the Westfield court the best in the system and saying that it has been a favorite court for lawyers to try cases..
Contant said that he was inspired by Judge Sidney Cooley, the First Justice of the Westfield court when Content was a lawyer arguing cases before him when the court was in Westfield’s City Hall.
Judge Philip Contnat cuts a cake at his retirement party Thursday as his granddaughter, Alyssa Plante, 7, waits for her piece. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
“Not a month goes by (when) I don’t think about Judge Cooley” he said, “he was a phenomenal human being.”
As he departs the courthouse, Contant said that he is optimistic about the court’s future.
William O’Grady has been named to succeed Contant as First Justice of the Westfield court and Contant said that he has been well received by the court’s staff.
“I’m thrilled and excited that my successor is going to be Judge O’Grady” Contant said.
Contant said that he has seen defendants grow up as they pass through his courtroom, first as juvenile defendants when the court heard juvenile cases, and later as adult defendants. And, he said, he has seen their children and grandchildren appear before him.
“I may be on my third or fourth generation of people I have dealt with on this job” he said.
He said “four different defendants that showed up (in court) in the last four days used to be in (court) every week. I haven’t seen them in at least ten years” he said.
“It was like somebody sent out an invitation” he said.
