JUDGE JESSE P. RICH...veteran attorney and city judge, who’s a noted historian and leader. He was raised in Bear Lake who’s a noted Cache Valley historian and leader. He was raised in the Bear Lake area of Idaho. IN THE SPOTLIGHT City Court Judge Provides Career Of Community Service Traditionally, a judge is supposed to be a heartless individual who knows only how to make people unhappy with quick, harsh decision. But all the people who know Judge Jesse P. Rich can couch that the man presiding over Logan City Court has none of these negative qualities. Instead, the local judge is known for his fairness and justice administered each day in the Oldham Building courtroom. In law and judicial activities for a major part of his life. Judge Rich was nominated to run for public office while he was still attending school. Native Utahn Although he is a native Utahn, born in Salt Lake City, Judge Rich was brought to Bear Lake when only two weeks old and was raised in that area. In 1901 he came to Logan, attending Brigham Young College. Then, for 2 ½ years he fulfilled an LDS Church mission to Germany, teaching school at Paris, Idaho one year upon his return. Next, the young man attended the University of Chicago Law School on Chicago’s South Side, where he remained nine quarters. And it was before he had even graduated from there that the people of Bear Lake nominated him for county attorney. Upon returning home after graduation the new lawyer won election and served one term in that office. In January of 1915 the Utahn n oved to Preston and went into partnership with Arthur W. Hart. After six years he came to Logan and began a private law firm. Before III He suffered severe rheumatism in 1926 and went to Arizona to recuperate from the physical disorder. Coming back to Logan, he was an instructor at the Hurricane LDS institute for a year and then returned to Logan, where he ran for city judge and was elected to that office in 1928. He has remained in that post except for a short period starting in 1936. During his time on the Logan City bench, Judge Rich notes that he’s heard several thousand cases. Commenting that many people accused of disorders “often try to minimize” the situation, “a few will admit their guilt.” “But,” states the judge, “the people generally go out of the court in pretty good nature and feeling pretty good.” Other Activities In addition to his court duties, Judge Rich finds time for other things too. He’s currently president of the Cache County Bar Association and was first president and an organizer of the local chapter of Sons of Utah Pioneers. Mrs. Rich is the former Louise Rogers, of Salt Lake City. They have nine children and 35 grandchildren, as well as two great grandchildren. To celebrate the judge’s recent birthday anniversary, 48 members of his family were on hand.