Bob Matichek retires today. Bob has been in charge of treatment for the City’s Treatment Court (Division 25A) for as long as I can remember.
He was often the only friend a defendant — and the defendant’s attorney — had when applying for drug court. Literally every time I’ve been at the conference table in drug court arguing to have my client accepted into the program, Bob would be on my side patiently explaining to the rest of the team why my client needed treatment. Often, the vote would end up 2 for treatment — Bob and me — with everyone else in the room voting ‘no.’
One of my clients once barricaded himself in Bob’s office. Bob let him stay there, called me, and patiently waited while I talked my client into coming out. I’ve never seen him get angry or frustrated.
I will miss Bob.
He is a genuine bodhisattva.