Butler Township District Judge Kevin O’Donnell remembers the only man in his 30-year career he didn’t look in the eye when finding him guilty.

O’Donnell remembered questioning what he should do. The defendant was “out of control,” and O’Donnell had a feeling the guilty ruling would agitate him further. So he didn’t look up, he said. It was the only time he didn’t in the estimated tens of thousands of cases he’s seen.

“How you treat people is probably one of the biggest things about this job,” O’Donnell said.

Now 30 years into his career as the only county judge elected to five terms, O’Donnell is proud of the way he’s done the job.

District judges see criminal cases at the preliminary level one day per week. The judge conducts a preliminary arraignment, where they explain to the defend

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