SNOW HILL – After more than half a century, the “jack of all trades” who keeps things running smoothly at Worcester County Circuit Court will retire.
Richard “Dickie” Outten, the court administrator for Worcester County Circuit Court, ends his lengthy career in Snow Hill Friday.
“I think it’s time,” Outten said in his usual quiet manner.
Outten, 72, was hired in June of 1962 by the Worcester County Clerk of Court’s Office. After more than a decade as chief deputy clerk, the Pocomoke native was named the court administrator for the First Judicial Circuit of Maryland. In 1988, he was appointed Worcester County Clerk of Court. Though he retired in 1999, he was asked to return as Worcester County Circuit Court’s first ever administrator just a few years later. It’s that position he will retire from June 17.
“Part of the reason Dickie came back is his passion for the welfare and performance of the circuit court,” Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Groton III said. “Through Dickie’s foresight and guidance that’s now a function of the judiciary rather than the clerk’s office which makes a lot more sense.”
Groton, the county administrative judge, works with Outten on a daily basis and is sorry to see him go.
“He’s a jack of all trades,” Groton said. “He’s seen it all.”
Outten admits he’s managed a variety of roles during his time in the courthouse. He says he knew as soon as he landed his first job in the clerk’s office that he wanted to turn it into a career.
“Once I started, I knew I’d be doing it for a long time,” he said. “It’s just interesting.”
Though each of the positions he’s held has been different, they all relate to what Outten calls “the business side of court.” As court administrator, he’s charged with managing all of the non-judicial aspects of circuit court and planning for its future needs. He oversees more than two dozen employees, prepares the court’s budget, handles purchasing, record keeping, emergency preparedness and special projects.
Outten says the court has grown increasingly busy in recent years. When he started in the 1960s, there was just one circuit court judge. Now there are three judges and a magistrate. Jury trials used to take place just a handful of times each year. Now it’s not unheard of for all three judges to have jury trials at the same time.
“The administrative end of it has gotten more complex,” Outten said. “There are several divisions now that did not exist 20 years ago.”
As court administrator, Outten works under the direction of Groton.
“Dickie makes my job easy,” Groton said.
Outten credits his coworkers with ensuring court business proceeds smoothly.
“We have excellent personnel,” he said. “I’m going to miss the people I work with.”
Groton praised the relationship Outten had developed with his staff.
“That’s part of the reason we’re so effective,” he said. “They work with him not for him, that’s his attitude. Things run smoothly because of that.”
Though Outten says he’s looking forward to retirement and relaxing on his Snow Hill farm, he won’t be cutting ties with the courthouse completely. He has agreed to help his successor settle in.
“Dickie’s going to help with the transition,” Groton said. “He has such a wealth of knowledge it’d be a shame not to make use of it. He’s just a great guy.”
