DEAR EDITOR:
The county’s residents, especially here in the South County,
have lost one of the most dedicated public servants that we had
with the retirement earlier this month from the Superior Court of
Gilroy’s own Judge Joseph Biafore.
DEAR EDITOR:
The county’s residents, especially here in the South County, have lost one of the most dedicated public servants that we had with the retirement earlier this month from the Superior Court of Gilroy’s own Judge Joseph Biafore. The bench and the bar will miss him. He was one of those rare judges whose wisdom and temperament were rewarding no matter if you won or lost. In 25 years I’ve never met anyone who did not respect, and accept his decisions.
Although he was presiding in San Jose, he found time to dedicate to our kids as the SCCBA’s representative in the Adopt-A-School Program at Gilroy High. On Law Day about 10 years ago I saw him address a rapt audience at the Gilroy High auditorium, where you could have heard a pin drop when a student asked him if he would impose the death penalty. Yes, he had their complete attention, just as he has had ours over these years, and we will be sorely tested in finding someone to fill his shoes. On behalf of the Gilroy-Morgan Hill Bar Association, the Adopt-A-School Program, and our town’s residents, I am grateful to Judge Biafore for his inspiration and dedication, and wish him long and happy travels in retirement. “Caveat viator” to one of Gilroy’s finest!
Joseph P. Thompson, Gilroy
Submitted Wednesday, Jan. 14
