Retiring Southold Judge Reflects On More Than 36 Years Of Service

SOUTHOLD, NY — As Judge William H. Price, Jr. stepped out before the Southold Town Board Tuesday night at a meeting where he would be awarded a proclamation for more than 36 years of service, he wore a reindeer hat that played music, with ears that moved, a brightly lit strand of Christmas lights around his neck.

Those in attendance laughed, but his longtime staff said the humor was a hallmark of their days spent working with Price; his office at Southold Justice Court has an actual light show, a musical selection that includes classics such as "Let it Be," and posters of Mohammad Ali and Malcolm X — "both peaceful men and both Muslim," he said — the Rat Pack, Jimi Hendrix, as well as many with inspirational messages on the walls, including the Buddhist expression, "Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle. . .Happiness never decreases from being shared."

The lights, music, posters and reindeer ears are a side of Price that reflects his innate warmth and an outlook on life that's marked by humility and the ability to see the humor and laughter in everyday moments.

Throughout his career, he's clearly touched scores of lives: The crowd that turned out at his recent retirement party at Greenport Harbor Brewery in Peconic was a testament to a man who, they agreed, has spent his career helping others.

"God has ben very good to me, given me compassion and empathy to work with all people and I'm thankful for that," Price said.

Speaking to Patch about his long and meaningful career, Price, who was born at Eastern Long Island Hospital, said his career path wasn't immediately clear. He had been in an automobile accident while attending business school at Boston University, majoring in finance, and was walking down the street when he saw the sign for the LSAT, he said.

"I walked over and asked the guy at the door, 'Can anybody take it?' He told me if I had $20, I could. I took the test and did very well," Price said. Next, he attended Albany Law School.

But when it was time to set down roots and open a practice, Price returned to Greenport. "It's home."

His family has deep roots in the Greenport community, Price said, and after he returned to the village, he shared a second floor office with his father, who had the front section for an insurance agency, and his uncle, who was a lawyer.

"I asked my uncle if he had a space for me to put a desk and I ended up being in a spot the size of a closet," he laughed.

Price moved into the Greenport office where his law practice is currently sited in 1979, he said.

His career as a judge began when he was elected in 1981, and took the bench in 1982, he said.

Over the years, Price has presided over countless cases, shaping lives with an outlook colored by compassion and empathy.

Some defendants have seen their lives changed by his quest to effect change.

"I had one young man who just kept getting into trouble," Price said. "He was drinking heavily. I finally said to him, 'Next time you come here, bring your toothbrush.' He thought he was going to jail. But I surprised him and sent him off to rehab. He made it."

Substance abuse has been a steady concern impacting the criminal justice system over the years, with so many defendants struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, Price said.

"The problem of substance abuse, whether it's alcohol, opiates, crack cocaine or fentanyl, the taking of the substance is not a criminal matter," Price said. "It's a public health issue and it should be dealt with that way. Of course, it's criminal to drive when you're drunk or under the influence of drugs. But throwing people in jail for possession of narcotics is counterproductive," he added.

Price, who served for 8 years at the East End Regional Intervention Court in Riverhead, said he learned a lot as a "drug court judge."

He feels there is not enough participation in that program for a number of reasons, primarily because drug crimes are treated as criminal matters and not health issues. "Something like drug court could work for people who truly had the desire to stop," he said.

Price attended drug court convention seminars, taking classes on the impacts of addiction. "The use of opioids actually changes the composition of your brain," Price said. The issue needs to be looked at medically and treated, he said, adding that addiction is a disease.

"I've never met somebody who said, 'I can't wait until I grow up so I can be an addict,'" he said. "Nobody ever said, 'I can't wait until I'm 21 so I can drink and turn into an alcoholic.'"

Other cases haunt forever, Price said, including a murder/suicide that took place when he was first on the bench. "It was terrible," he said.

Speaking of Southold Justice Court, Price said the greatest challenges include an uptick in trials and motions as the population continues to grow and as the North Fork and Greenport continues to emerge as a destination.

His work ethic, has been deeply ingrained over a lifetime, he said.

Price, who began working at 14, spent time at Preston's, building docks for Larry Tuthill. "I loved it."

But the time has come, he said at his retirement party, to retire. "I'm 66," he said. "If I don't take time now, I won't have it. It's time, time for me to walk away. This is my swan song. Now I go to private life."

While he begins his retirement from Southold Town on Jan. 1, Price said he has no plans to leave Greenport and will still have his law practice, although some of his caseload will be handled by others.

Looking ahead, Price said he looks forward to spending time on his boat and traveling. And, he said, "I want to take piano lessons." He smiled. "I've got a lot of other interests. I'm not going to be bored, by any means."

His father, he said, retired at 88 and is 99 now; he visits Florida once a month to visit and has, for the past 10 years. Price lost his beloved mother Helen earlier this year.

Looking back over years in the courtroom, Price remembers moments when his daughter Ashley came to court for arraignments. "It was a nice thing, for both of us," he said.

Presiding over a jury trial, he added, is like being a director. "If you're paying attention, you can defuse a situation, call somebody out of order," he said.

There are issues still to be resolved, he said: For years, Price has implored the town to invest in a new justice court; the facility is currently sited in a double wide trailer as it has been for years, he said. "We need a dedicated facility," he said.

And other moments that bring great pride, Price noted. He was the first to suggest a Spanish-speaking justice court clerk, a greatly needed service.

Some of his happiest memories, he said, involve working with his longtime friend, the late Judge Rudolph Bruer.

His life, he said, has been touched by so many he's been blessed to work with — so many of whom attended his retirement party.

"Everybody who was there, contributed to my life, whether they know it or not," he said. "It's been fulfilling. You go into law either for the money or to help people. I like to help people."

At his retirement event, Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard said, of Price, "He's a Greenporter, through and through."

Price, Hubbard said, has long been committed to the community, giving back and going the extra mile to "do whatever Greenport needs."

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, in remarks laced with humor and memories, talked about decades of friendship with Price, beginning when Russell was first elected as an assessor.

"He's made a difference in everyone's life," the supervisor said. Turning to Price, he added, "I'm going to miss you every day."

And, when he presented Price with a proclamation at the Southold Town board meeting Tuesday, Russell said, "On a personal level, you're far more important to me than I think you know. Thank you."

Coucilman Jim Dinizio said he'd known "Billy Price" his whole life and said he was proud to call him a friend.

Justice Louisa Evans said Price had been a mentor for years, advising her and giving her confidence in court.

Price, looking out over the crowd at his party recently, said, "It truly is humbling."

When asked what he'd say to the people of Southold Town upon his retirement, Price said simply, "Thank you."

Before he took the bench for the last time, and after he was thanked by his staff, Price looked out over the justice court and the room filled with defendants and said words that echoed his life's philosophy and one he's embraced every day of his career: "Everybody counts — or nobody counts."

Photos, video by Lisa Finn.