The late Judge Jim Butterworth was honored Friday with a portrait that will be displayed in the Habersham County magistrate courtroom to honor his years of service.
Practically the entire Habersham County legal community was on hand to celebrate along with Butterworth’s family. His children Boen Butterworth Nutting and James Butterworth did the ceremonial unveiling.
“He immersed himself into the community right away and continued to be a leader throughout his career,” Judge Chan Caudell said. “He wanted everybody to feel welcomed and comfortable in the courtroom. If we could all be more like him in the way we treat people, we would all be better off.”
Butterworth was born in Marietta, went to Gainesville High School and got his law degree at Mercer University. He moved to Cornelia in 1974, where he practiced law until becoming a magistrate judge in 1998. He also was a state judge from 1985-96.
He served the community as a Scoutmaster and also was one of the initiators of Takeback Habersham, one of the first programs for helping people on drugs rather than throwing them repeatedly in jail.
“He was invested in that before it was popular,” Judge Rusty Smith said. “He was unfailingly dignified, kind and patient. He made me a better lawyer and judge.”
His brother Dr. Jack Butterworth of Bristol, Tenn., attended as well.
“Jim put God, his family, his profession and his community in that order, and he learned those growing up from several places – scouts, parents, church,” Jack said. “He followed those ideals along the way.”
Jack shared an amusing story about his brother coming back from Atlanta a shade over the speed limit when a state trooper pulled him over. His brother pulled out his license and his judge’s card for the trooper to see.
“Oh, state judge huh? I got a federal judge this morning,” he recalled the officer saying.
His fellow judges all respected what Butterworth brought to the bench and the community.
“He was hilarious, funny, witty and wise, but more than anything he was kind,” Smith said. “He offered to mediate cases for free. He said that if he could help people and they couldn’t pay, he would be happy to help.”
“He was a Southern gentleman who really wanted you to bring your best for how you handled anything,” Judge Steve Campbell said.
Butterworth, who passed away March 28, 2020, has six grandchildren.