Superior Court Judge David Cates passed away Dec. 9, 2020. His legacy in Kosciusko County is still unfolding as programs he supported, such as Court Appointed Special Advocates and initiated, Teen Court and the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative continue. Shown is Cates as his friends and family knew him best, as an avid fisherman. Photo provided by Kim Cates.

By Lauren Zeugner
Staff Writer

SYRACUSE — Thursday, Dec. 9, marked the one year anniversary of the passing of Judge David Cates. His friends and family remember a man who loved to fish, Purdue University and the law.

“David was an avid fisherman and you could find (him) a day or two each spring out with the DNR stocking muskies or cultivating their eggs,” his wife, Kim, wrote in an email. “He supported ecology and clean lakes … most people didn’t know that he read profusely every day updated information on migrations, stocking and the health of all fish species. As a lifetime ‘Muskie Inc.,’ he served the international board for 20 years and was international president for four years.” Kim noted Cates often spent one to two hours before work answering emails regarding Muskies Inc.

As a Superior Court judge and an attorney, Cates has left a legacy in Kosciusko County that is still unfolding. As an attorney, his commitment was to families and children. A family practice attorney, he became the second attorney in the history of the Wawasee Community School Corporation, a position he held for 26 years, from 1987 to 2013.

“He was an excellent school attorney and advisor for the Wawasee Community School Corporation board and a great friend,” said Dr. Tom Edington, former school superintendent.

As a family practice attorney, Cates “continued fighting for children and was a guardian ad litem for many children while in family practice,” wrote Kim.

“With his work for the school, not only as an attorney, but as a coach, as a judge, that (kids) was a passion for him,” said Andrew Grossnickle, a friend and former law partner.

Both Grossnickle and Erin Rowland-Jones, executive director of Kosciusko Court Appointed Special Advocates believe Cates advocacy for children will be his legacy for years to come. Grossnickle said he believed Cates “had a positive impact on kids in the Wawasee area and county. I think that will be his legacy going forward for years to come.

“He started some programs here, Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative, where instead of throwing a kid into detention, looking at alternatives,” Grossnickle said, going on to explain Cates believed, when appropriate, juvenile offenders should be treated as juveniles instead of criminals. “Judge Cates saw where detention could be detrimental … That’s what I always think of him as judge, not a passive role, but in an active role as judge,” Grossnickle said.

“Judge Cates is greatly missed every day,” Rowland-Jones said in a voice mail. “He had a passion for helping the vulnerable children in our community. We’ve been lucky to have others in the justice system step into his shoes and keep his legacy alive by advocating for and taking seriously the vulnerable children in our community.”

“Judge Cates was the key figure who brought Teen Court to Kosciusko County,” said Betsey Vastbender, executive director of Teen Court, and Lana Horoho, interim director of Teen Court, in an email. “His vision for helping children and teens continues in our program with the cooperative efforts of both adults and teens. We keep his legacy alive by fulfilling his vision.”

“I believe that David’s legacy will only grow in the future as people realize the gifts brought by his quiet and effective leadership skills, big picture thinking, excellent judgment (not a pun), great sense of humor and natural problem solving skills,” Edington said. “He had a unique ability to connect various individuals, groups and organizations together for a common purpose. Teen Court is an effect and wonderful achievement like that in Kosciusko County.”