Chuck Patterson is a talker. He readily admits that.

But the judge-elect of the York County Court of Common Pleas doesn't prattle, he doesn't ramble.

His parents recognized his flair for the spoken word and he chose a field, at a young age, that gave him the opportunity to use that skill.

In fourth grade, fascinated by TV lawyers Perry Mason and Lawrence Preston, Patterson knew he wanted to become an attorney.

"I was attracted to trial practice and the art of rhetoric and oratory," Patterson said Wednesday, the day after his election.

Patterson, 60, who will become the county's first black judge, recalled "an ordinary childhood" growing up in Roanoke, Va., in the Jim Crow era.

"I grew up in the segregated South," he said.

Judicial candidate Chuck Patterson shakes hands with district attorney-elect Tom Kearney on Tuesday night after Patterson's victory was presumed. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS -- BIL BOWDEN)
"Separate bus stations, separate water fountains, separate restaurants, separate parks, separate schools.

"We always recognized that, that segregation and discrimination were a barrier. But we were not to believe it was an excuse."

Patterson said his parents valued education "highly." He graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1971 where he focused on political science and history, a preparation for law school.

His younger brother, Juan A. Patterson, an independent urban planning consultant in Plano, Texas, has bachelor's and master's degrees from MIT. Most recently, his youngest son, Khamal Patterson, graduated from Howard University and is contemplating a law career.

Patterson's Roanoke community "placed a high value on achievement," he said. "After graduating from high school, you were expected to go to college, enlist in the military or take on a trade." He said four of the Tuskegee Airmen were from Roanoke.

"I'm proud of my heritage," he said. "I admire the struggle of persons who overcome barriers."

And Patterson sees himself as "the perpetual student."

"If you stop learning, you might just as well roll over and die," the longtime chief deputy prosecutor said.

Patterson came to York County after graduating from law school in Indiana. He said he was just looking for a place to establish a law practice. Two years after arriving, District Attorney Stan Rebert offered him a job.

He said the past 23 years in the DA's office have been both "exhilarating and exasperating."

"When prosecuting, there's a feeling of a sense of triumph when cases you have painstakingly prepared resulted in justice for the victims," he said.

"On the down side, it is when you truly believe the person you prosecuted is guilty as charged and there's a verdict of acquittal.

"But I have absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed my time here."

Patterson said, starting in January, "I will keep my eyes and ears open and my mouth shut and learn. I want to be a good judge. I want to be contemplative and deliberative and I want to decide wisely.

"I am bound to make mistakes. I am bound to make errors. But I will learn from them and make corrections where necessary. You need to keep an open mind. None of us knows it all. There's a lot to learn."

IN HIS WORDS

Patterson on society today:

"Our society is increasingly less civil. People are less patient. There is an increasing willingness to use violence as a tool for conflict resolution. There are other factors. Massive unemployment, urban areas in poverty, a frightening rate of young people dropping out of school, less literacy, less life skills and employment preparation.

"It's a world that is increasingly competitive. Too many young people are frustrated, falling behind. Family dysfunction. A whole host of continuing social ills.

"As judge, most of the solutions are going to come from outside our court. Judges have the challenge within the bounds of law to rule in a way that accentuates the positive and to look for measures and means by which we can encourage, particularly young people, to seek alternatives to negative behavior.

"The law is not a social worker, but it has a role. It's not going to be easy, but the most meaningful endeavors are not easy."

ABOUT HIM

Name: Clarence Nicholas "Chuck" Patterson Jr.

Age: 60

Residence: York

Family: Widowed; three sons, Clarence N. Patterson III, 35, Damon K. Patterson, 30, and Khamal Patterson, 22; five grandchildren

Occupation: Judge-elect to the York County Court of Common Pleas; chief deputy prosecutor of litigation for the York County District Attorney's Office

Education: Oberlin College, degree in government; Indiana University School of Law, law degree



Also of interest

· Check out these updated lists of pioneering York County minorities, women.

· Pioneers Kim Bracey, Chuck Patterson successfully vied for elected office.

· York's first mayor Daniel K. Noell named one of his sons, well, 'York.'