Muskingum County Judge Remembers a Longtime Colleague and His Legacy

A retired judge who served on the bench for Muskingum County Probate Court for 23 years has died at the age of 75.

Judge Joseph A. Gormley passed away Wednesday and today he is remembered as an iconic and legendary public servant and what some describe as a true gentleman.

“He never lost his temper, he always help everybody he could, he was a pleasant people to be around and he did an excellent job as a judge and as an attorney,” said Judge Mark Fleegle, Common Pleas Court Judge. “He was always involved in the community and everything else that he could he did a lot of plays, acting a lot with my wife. He enjoyed that, he enjoyed life and he and his wife we always involved in everything that they could be.”

Fleegle said although Judge Gormley may be gone his legacy for all he’s done for the juvenile court will always be remembered.

That is a significant contribution that will carry on as well as demeanor and the way he set things up as far as dealing with the juveniles and his demeanor in dealing with everybody. Like I said I’ve never seen him get upset. Nothing seemed to rattle him and he’s always came across as like I said a gentleman in what he did,” said Judge Fleegle.

Judge Gormley’s family will host a memorial on June 4th at Bryan place in Zanesville from noon to 3 p.m.