TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Vigo County Judge Michael Rader will hang his robe for the final time at the end of 2020.
“I’ve had people say I’m such a work-aholic, I won’t know how to retire, but I think I can probably approach retirement, like I’ve approached work, accept the challenge and see what I can make out of it,” Judge Rader said.
Judge Rader spent over a decade in Division 5 court handling a variety of cases from drunk driving to murder to divorce.
It’s clear though, when talking to Rader, that his biggest passion during his career was Drug Court. It’s an alternative to incarceration for drug-related offenses.
Listen below: What/who will Judge Rader miss the most?
Rader was instrumental in rehabilitating drug offenders with the Vigo County Drug Court for over a decade.
“You have to fully engage with each one of those participants and determine what their personal struggle is … What keeps them from being successful,” he explained.
Listen below: Judge Rader talks how to handle a sentence if it’s believed to be unfair
In 2016, Rader fought to keep the then 20-year-long program open when the Vigo County Council did not appropriate funds for the program. After a months-long back and forth, the council did fund one position that helped the court continue.
Drug Court staff also applied for a $1 million federal grant in 2018, which helped the program grow.
“We’ve got more staff because we have the funding, so I think the quality of the service we’re delivering now is far better.”
Rader says since his time overseeing the court in 2009, the court has been able to easily double the number of participants.
Listen below: Judge Rader talks Drug Court staff, volunteers, challenges and successes
Given his successful career from behind the judge’s bench, it’s hard to imagine Rader’s previous career as a physician. He says prior to becoming a judge he stayed busy with his practice in Sullivan, working 80-90 hours a week. It wasn’t until age 40 that he took an interest in law.
“It was just one of those things that at a certain point in life, where I knew I wanted to make the change and that sounded like something that I could be genuinely interested in.”
Listen below: Rader says you have to love what you do
Rader says he thinks younger generations are getting away from the idea of just one profession in a lifetime.
You almost have to be willing to accept change as it comes, which is coming very rapidly, be willing to retool, learn new skills, take on new challenges, maybe go in a new direction.”
Judge Michael Rader
So what’s in store for the soon-to-be retired judge?
“Like most people, I’d like to do a little bit of traveling.”
Italy, Europe and Asia all on his list.
Listen below: Judge Rader reflects on challenging judicial situations
Spending nearly a lifetime working, since he was 15, Rader says he hardly took any time away from work. Certainly some changes will come Dec. 31, but it’ll be just another chapter for Rader.
“It’s been an interesting life, I’ll say that.”
